A tribute to our very own E.T.
Whenever I see Grant Elliott come out to bat I have got into the habit of pointing a crooked finger at the screen (or the man if I am there in person) and saying in an E.T: The Extra Terrestrial voice: "Elllioooott....Elliooooottt". He does actually look a little alien-like with that skinny frame and long neck.
But this post is not about his anatomy or my odd idiosyncrasies. It is about the fact that Grant Elliott is turning into a veritable Kiwi cricket hero through a series of intelligent, measured, mature batting performances.
He has begun to craft a damn good one-day international record - he's averaging better than 45 with the bat and less than 22 with the ball after 27 matches. For me, his bowling is an added bonus, as in the New Zealand batting line-up his adhesive style has seen him fast become our much-needed South African superglue.
With Redmond, McCullum, Guptill and Taylor all "expressing themselves" before he makes it to the crease, there is something reassuring about his presence.
Sunday morning's imperturbable unbeaten 75 to steer New Zealand home against Pakistan was a terrific knock, but it was not out of character. Since being elevated to national honours, in the 50-over format at least, he has turned in a number of crucial match-winning innings beneath the black helmet.
NZ v England, 21 June 2008: His debut performance at Bristol last June highlighted what he brings to the New Zealand side. Entering the fray at 42/4, he soon lost Flynn but over more than 2 hours and 35 overs, he forged micro-partnerships with Hopkins (26), Vettori (35), Mills (54) to ensure New Zealand posted a defendable 182.
His 102-ball 56 that day acknowledged the awkwardness of the pitch, as he played within his limits. With the ball (2/9 from 5.2 overs), he secured the crucial wicket of Ian Bell and fittingly won the match by dismissing Tremlett to end England's meek chase for 183 at just 160.
NZ v England, 28 June 2008: A week later at Lord's, Elliott was on hand to help Scott Styris smear the English bowling for 65 from the last 6 overs of the New Zealand innings, bringing up their 50-partnership in just 30 balls, and lifting NZ to 266. ET's unbeaten 23 from 17 balls was very much second fiddle to Styris's brilliant 87 not out, but it again showed that the Kiwis' new number seven had an old head atop his less than massive shoulders. (On a related note, will they be given the opportunity to bat together again on Tuesday morning - will Vettori advocate Styris in for Broom? It makes sense to me, although post-match comments from the bespectacled one indicate any changes are unlikely.)
NZ v Australia, 6 February 2009: I was pretty sure this was set to be NZ's juiciest win of 2009, but the Pakistan win has certainly wrestled that mantle away. On Waitangi Day, chasing Australia's pedestrian 225, it was Elliott who led New Zealand in a composed chase that was achieved in the 49th over. Batting at number 5, his 61 not out was top score, but more importantly his demeanour steadied any fears that New Zealand were in for a case of the wobbles after Guptill, Fulton and McCullum had been dismissed.
Elliott worked with Taylor (47) in a tense 72-run stand then brought home the kangaroo bacon, courtesy of an unbroken partnership of 50 with Neil Broom (26* from 21 balls).
NZ v Australia, 8 February 2009: Elliott turned in one of the best ever innings for New Zealand in a losing cause as the Black Caps struggled in an excruciating then pulsating then disappointing chase for 302 that ended 33 runs shy. Moving from number 5 to number 4 in the order, Elliott was in the middle of the SCG in the 6th over with still 286 runs to hunt down. When he departed more than three hours later, NZ needed just 50 more runs from 34 balls and he had 115 (124 balls) to his name.
If you could write the batting script (the bowling is easy: Shane Bond carnage) for Tuesday's Champions Trophy clash with Australia, it would focus on the resurgence of McCullum at the top of the order and a prayer that Guptill does not throw his wicket away with an injudicious shot once he is set.
But if things go awry and Johnson, Lee or Siddle put the leather amongst the Kiwis early on, the Australians won't be overly excited to see Grant Elliott coming out to play at Centurion, albeit with a busted thumb. He is a far cry from Michael Bevan, but the ability to construct partnerships, build the confidence of his batting partners, run cheeky singles and above all not get out to dumb shots indicates he may have the manual of ODI cricket's most frustrating opponent somewhere in his hotel room.
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Holden, what a superb piece - loved it! Come on fellas, make us proud tonight!
Elliott deserves another crack in the test team, as long as he understands he's playing as a specialist batsman (presumably at 6). He and Ryder can fill the fourth seamer back-up role between them but any bowling he does, particularly in the test format, needs to be seen as even more of an "added bonus" than in the ODI format.
Surely they can't bring Styris in for Broom as Broom isn't injured. You can't just jettison someone from your squad cos you've decided you don't like them can you?
As my mate put it the other day on his facebook status: Grant Elliot, 3rd best South African cricketer after Pieterson and Strauss
I got up groggily on Sunday morning thinking the cricket to be over. I flicked on the telly and was stoked to see we required 80 odd runs with just over 80 balls remaining. I witnessed something (with squinty eyes)rarely seen in our batsmen that morning; composure. Ofcourse it could have gone pear shaped had Elliot not been dropped, but that's what I love about cricket. There are so many variables, will the next delivery go to the boundary or will it take out the middle stump?
Congratulations to the BC's. Now go and beat the Aussies!
P.S. Thanks Rana for the no balls.
Econ: Yea that seems a tad harsh, but I have to admit I'd rather see Piggie coming in to bat than Broom if the game is on the line.
While there will be a lot of focus on ponting, I see Watson as the danger man. I fear he will slog a quickfire 50+ and put the game out of our reach early.
Q: What does Bondy average V Aussie? My guess is it's low. He must salivate at the prospect of bowling to his bunnies.
His technique is pretty to look at as well. Hitting 6s over cover inside out with the top hand seemingly doing most of the work is something you don't see from many batsmen in world cricket. I thought he looked absolutely wretched on test debut but he's won me over and deserves another shot in the test side.
Just been having a closer look at Younis Kahn's suddenly controversial dropped catch, which is up on Youtube here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azqurRSjzRo
My conclusion is that he's just stuffed it up - made the early decision to reverse cup and then it just kept dying on him. If it was a deliberate drop he's succeeded in making it look very, very spontaneous! Nothing in it I reckon.
Yeah good call Dr Z, he often starts shakily but plays some lovely drives later in his innings. An ideal man to have around the flashier players. The other thing is he seems a solid down to earth type of a guy, a meld of South African and Kiwi stereotypes perhaps. Interesting that the media overseas were a bit stingy with their praise of his innings vs Pakistan, a lot of them seemed to focus on the amount of balls he used up and almost suggesting that he was a bit lucky to have hit a couple of fours and a six of Gul otherwise he might have blown it. The general gist I got was that a lot of them still didn't think he was up to it as an international batsman.
Yes Styris can't come into the team, because technically, they have a full squad. So unless Styris tries to run Broom down with the tour bus, it'll be business as usual.
The only way I can see Broom missing out is if Jeets comes in, because I can't see them going without Mills or Butler.
IF and I do mean 'IF' Franklin bowls tonight, he is really going to have to lift his game. The Australians will surely target him for easy runs. Would love to see Franko develop into a more Bracken-esq mould. Am also curious about his pace, he's clearly only putting the ball on the spot and not following through, is he carrying an injury too?
I expect we'll see
Redmond, McCullum, Guptill, Taylor, Elliott, Vettori, Franklin, Mills, Butler, Patel, Bond
Broom will be unlucky to miss out
GO THE KIWI'S!!!
@#3 - Economist, I'm pretty certain Pig can only play if ET (I like that Holden, it mmay stick) is ruled out with the dodgy thumb so Pig for Broom is not an option.
His bowling, even in ODIs is clearly an added string, potentially sharing 5th duties with Franklin. I'm not convinced he's a test-class batsman, but then, neither are many of the incumbents so he's worth a shot this season ahead of the goalkeeper.
Tonight's game, on paper I think it's closer than many are making out. It's not often you can say this but at present there are probably 4 or 5 of the NZ team who could easily replace Australians in their team (Vettori for Hauritz, Bond for Siddle, Elliott for one of their middle order - probably Hopes, McCullum for Paine and on current form, Taylor for Hussey).
p_p, that's a bit harsh. there are a few other pretty decent ones playing in the best side in the world (excluding during world tournaments) at the moment.
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There is a bit of Chris Harris about ET's batting. Similar to the bald one, he can look a bit at sea early in his innings, preferring to nudge and deflect rather than take the long handle to bowlers. But he can hit the important boundaries when needed and importantly (given the aggressive/slapdash approach of some of our players) possesses the skill of pacing an innings.
I'm going to nickname him "The Finisher". Or maybe "The Deciderer" as a tribte to GBJ.