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Journalism of Courage
CHRISTCHURCH, MAY 2: New Zealand cricket coach Steve Rixon wants his team to be the quiet achievers of this year8217;s World Cup.
When Rixon8217;s three-year term as coach began he was, at times, given to making bold predictions for the side which it could not match.
Before the team8217;s departure from Christchurch today, he expressed a quiet confidence in his charges8217; ability to challenge for cricket8217;s ultimate prize.
8220;I8217;m happy with the players and the preparation we have,8221; said Rixon. 8220;This is perhaps the most open World Cup and it will take a pretty good punter to pick the top six.8221; Rixon expects other teams to be wary of New Zealand after having shown the ability to beat the top-ranked sides.
8220;What we will do we when get over there is lift the intensity level. We want to up the ante with the fielding because that is a vital area. A brilliant piece of fielding can turn a game.8221;
8220;Now we have everybody fully fit, we have got aggressive top-order batsmen and some quality players the likes of ChrisCairns, Adam Parore and Dion Nash in the middle.8221;
While admitting the side did not have a strike bowling weapon in the Glenn McGrath mould, Rixon said he was again comfortable with the team8217;s bowling resources.
Rixon said a key factor of the campaign was the team8217;s flexibility 8220;having many bowling and batting options available for various conditions and situations. In some lineups we could have Daniel Vettori batting No 10 and that8217;s pretty handy.8221;
In the second part of the one-day series against South Africa, New Zealand showed some of its probable World Cup tactics which included using a pinch-hitter and having some bowlers deliver one or two-over spells.
8220;There8217;s not many surprises left in the one-day game any more, but if we can rotate the bowlers around it can keep the batsmen guessing and stop them getting into a routine,8221; said Rixon.
Rixon is happy for New Zealand to open its five-game section play against lowly-rated Bangladesh on may 17.
He said that should give his team an earlyshakedown before playing heavyweights Australia, West Indies and Pakistan.
New Zealand ends pool play with a match against Scotland on May 31.
After the World Cup, Rixon is looking forward to New Zealand taking on England in a four-Test series, his final assignment.
Thorpe proves fitness
LONDON: Graham Thorpe, sent home from England8217;s tour of Australia with back trouble, proved his fitness in the run-up to the World Cup with a match-winning century for surrey against Northamptonshire yesterday.
Thorpe hit 138 not out in an eight-wicket win at Northampton8217;s county ground. He faced 211 balls and hit two sixes and 20 fours in his 31st first class hundred.
Thorpe, 52 not out overnight, resumed his partnership with Ian Ward with the total on 112 for one as Surrey set off in search of the 301 they needed for victory.
Ward was out for 63 with the score at 177 but Thorpe and Alistair Brown 66 not out added the 124 needed.
