Chappell-Hadlee/Hadlee-Chappell ODI Series Preview
The real Manu
In a wonderful example of the shambles that is international cricket scheduling, the Chappell-Hadlee ODI series, or as we prefer to call it; the Hadlee-Chappell ODI series, gets underway on Sunday. Nestled in after a two Test series against Pakistan (what a dumb idea) and in-between Test series for the Aussies, it just seems like common sense doesn't apply to those who are paid to apparently display it.
But hey, we've got Hadlee-Chappell cricket and this comes on the back of the first ever Trans-Tasman Trophy hockey series. The more trans-Tasman sport the better and all we're waiting on now are annual fixtures in football and basketball.
The lack of Ross Taylor does nothing to lessen my excitement for this series and besides the excitement that the Hadlee-Chappell series brews naturally, it's this Blackcaps squad that has me intrigued. Auckland trio Lockie Ferguson, Colin Munro and Colin de Grandhomme come into the ODI team while it also appears as though Todd Astle has leap-frogged Ish Sodhi in the pecking order for that role.
In Australia, Astle might struggle for game time with Mitchell Santner operating as the main spinner. Santner's stats suggest that's he is a better spinner in Test cricket than he is in the 50-over format; 37.92avg/2.95rpo vs 39.05avg/5.52rpo. It's equally possible that Santner proves to be a raging success in this series, or that he gets smoked all round the park by Australia's batsmen, so how Santner handles his 10 overs in each game will be an interesting narrative to follow.
The headline that Ferguson can bowl over 150km/h is sexy and has already whipped kiwi cricket fans into a frenzy. We shouldn't expect too much from Ferguson though as he'll A) be behind Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Matt Henry in the bowling line up and B) he's only played eight 50-over domestic games with a 28.12avg/6.19rpo combo (compared to 22 First-Class games and 25.09avg/3.31rpo). Ferguson has effectively been selected in the format that he's least experienced in and while he's been in great form recently, that's come in Plunket Shield cricket, not Ford Trophy cricket.
Nonetheless, Ferguson has an opportunity to show what he can do and as one of the premier bowlers in kiwi domestic cricket, he deserves that opportunity. Premier bowlers in the country, not just the fastest and Ferguson's skill with the ball will be tested as the Australian batsmen won't have too many issues with extra pace. Australia have Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins in their squad, both of whom will probably bowl faster than Ferguson.
How the two Colins transfer their work in the longer formats will also be fun to observe. De Grandhomme made his Test debut and looked at home in the black cap, while Munro returned from injury to smash a century for Auckland in the Plunket Shield. So like Ferguson, they are coming in hot, it's just that their form is in 4/5-day cricket.
That middle order is cluttered and who Mike Hesson and Kane Williamson pick to do that job will be a talking point. Tom Latham, Martin Guptill, Williamson and BJ Watling are the only real certainties in that batting line up (is the Latham/Guppy ODI opening combo a certainty?) and that leaves a couple spots up for grabs. De Grandhomme and Jimmy Neesham will likely get the first look in thanks to their ability to bowl 10 overs, although the battle between Munro and Henry Nicholls could determine whether there's space for another all-rounder or not.
Consider this team; Latham, Guptill, Williamson, Munro/Nicholls, de Grandhomme, Neesham, Watling, Santner, Henry, Southee, Boult.
What really excites me are the options available to the brains-trust. These options ensure that if the brains-trust want to change the look of their squad, they can do so without loosing too much productivity; a spinning all-rounder in Astle over the medium-pace of Neesham/de Grandhomme or Munro's power hitting over Nicholls' noodling ... or Ferguson's pace over Henry's consistency.
These options definitely offer variety and can completely change how the Blackcaps' batting/bowling line up looks, which could be crucial as Australia are skillful enough to suss out a bowler/batsmen fairly quickly. The Blackcaps have 14 players who can all do a job and I wouldn't be surprised to see changes made from game to game.
Assuming that Australia won't be very good, or will be down on confidence after their Test series against South Africa is dumb. They have enough quality cricketers to pick an ODI squad that is somewhat exclusive to their Test squad and the likes of Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell, George Baily, Pat Cummins and James Faulkner are all world-class, but weren't playing Test cricket a week or so ago.
See ya on Monday for some thoughts on the first ODI.