Aussie view: Black Caps lack durable attitude

BY PETER ROEBUCK

OPINION: New Zealand need a few Doug Bollingers. Although he has been bowling with pace, swing and bounce, it's not so much his work with the ball that is required. Bollinger has two other assets missing in the local ranks: aggression and simplicity.

Whereas the Kiwis seem tentative, the lefty grabs the ball and without ceremony sets about the task of removing as many batsmen as possible as quickly as possible. It is not a complicated approach.

That's not to patronise him. Bollinger is not some hayseed but a strong, accurate and disciplined pace bowler. His returns and consistency speak for themselves.

Above all, Bollinger backs himself. If he has doubts, he does not let them show. Always he puts the pressure on the batsmen, not himself. He might growl and scowl but he does not step back. He shows the same willingness to have a crack and to bring his entire character onto the field as Merv Hughes. Life is for living, cricket is for winning.

And it has worked. Almost unknown outside Australia a few months ago, the belligerent speedster has become one of the most effective operators running around. Much the same attitude can be detected in Ryan Harris, another product of the system promoted beyond his supposed limitations. He too has bowled without any hint of inhibition.

Contrastingly the Kiwis seem muted. Obviously the sudden loss of cricketers as capable as Scott Styris, Shane Bond, Jacob Oram and Iain O'Brien has left a bigger hole than a small nation can reasonably expect to fill in a few weeks. But even these losses tell a tale. Kiwi cricketers are inclined to fly the coop or get injured or fall out with someone or retire early or otherwise withdraw ahead of schedule. As a result a country that desperately needs to fight with both hands often has one tied behind its back.

The same is not true in other sports. Overall New Zealand surpasses itself on the field. Rugby and netball are superbly played whilst to widespread surprise the football team secured a place in the World Cup finals. Yet the cricket community is often frustrated by its inability to produce the same collective spirit.

By way of explanation, locals point out that cricket is a poor cousin hereabouts; a long way behind rugby and even football. Had Hughes and Bollinger been raised in Auckland they might well have focused on the oval ball. Both are formidably strong and the money and glamour lie in that direction. In Australia the exceptionally gifted might well plump for cricket - it's sexy and not at all snooty, and nowadays riches await.

Accordingly, cricket has been played in part by more tormented souls or else by youngsters whose bodies cannot survive the rough and tumble to be found in mauls and scrums. Moreover the tradition is not as strong in cricket as in rugby so it is much easier to leave the Black Caps than the All Blacks. At times Kiwi cricket seems to be fighting itself as much as the opposition. Perhaps the influx of South Africans will help - locals expect three to be playing soon.

Yesterday's play underlined the qualities and limitations of New Zealand cricket. In the morning, the hosts played abominably. Losing Daniel Vettori in the first over was a blow but hardly a disaster. Alas those remaining seemed transfixed. Brendon McCullum hooked to long leg, Daryl Tuffey ran himself out and Tim Southee slogged stupidly. That Southee's decision ought to have been overturned by the third umpire is beside the point.

Things did improve in the second dig. Tim McIntosh gave the innings some solidity. Dismissed as a playboy and for years regarded as somewhat erratic, he matured in his late 20s and is belatedly dedicating himself to his batting. In a more demanding environment he'd have been made or broken years ago.

McIntosh played a composed hand and deserved his 83. But the rest of the top order looked fragile and the higher class players in the middle lost their wickets wantonly. New Zealand might need to change its line-up by summoning Matthew Sinclair, calling up Kane Williamson, a 19-year-old with runs and wickets to his name, and pushing the overnight pair down the list. But it's hard to avoid thinking that real problems run deeper.

- © Fairfax NZ News