After suffering a Test-series whitewash, New Zealand were able to turn the tide in the opening ODI against England. PHOTO: AFP
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum looked forward to the upcoming Champions Trophy in the UK with confidence after a five-wicket win in the first One-Day International (ODI) against England at Lord’s on Friday.
The Black Caps were whitewashed 2-0 by England in the preceding Test series, suffering several batting collapses including a slump to 68 all out just a few weeks ago in a 170-run first Test defeat at Lord’s.
This win put the Black Caps’ 1-0 up in the three-match series and lifted their morale ahead of the Champions Trophy, a ‘mini World Cup’ tournament featuring the world’s top eight ODI nations.
“At one for two, I wasn’t thinking the top order was firing but Martin and Ross put together a brilliant partnership,” said McCullum.
“We’ve got most bases covered as a team. If we can build up some momentum, who knows where we can get to in the Champions Trophy,” he added ahead of today’s second ODI at Southampton.
McCullum also praised his older brother Nathan, New Zealand’s lone specialist spinner at Lord’s after veteran left-armer Daniel Vettori’s planned return from a lengthy lay-off was shelved.
Off-spinner Nathan responded to the challenge with two wickets for 34 runs in 10 overs.
England captain Alastair Cook said the absence of seamers Stuart Broad and Steven Finn in the opening ODI was ‘more than precautionary’.
“They are key parts of our full-strength one-day team and they are world-class bowlers,” Cook told reporters. “The guys coming in haven’t got that experience. They are quite hard boots to fill.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 2nd, 2013.
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