The Pink Report

Blasting Off

What a difference a week makes. There we were fretting about our limited fortunes in the Ford Trophy campaign, the top start to the Plunket Shield suddenly tempered by being winless and dead last on the one-day points table after four rounds. But there’s plenty of hope to be taken from the nature of the twin wins in the Ford Trophy in Wellington and the HRV Cup opener in Rangiora in the last eight days: it’s been a positive, confident, emphatic turnaround.

Just between you and me, the team got a right verbal barracking in the changing sheds after the six-wicket defeat by the Stags a few days earlier, so I was interested to have a chat to coach Grant Bradburn to see what went down between the losing and the winning - and what sorts of things the guys look at and tell themselves as they look to turn it around. Here’s what Grant’s been turning his attentions to.

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So what went down in the Seddon Park home dressing room after the whalloping by the Stags? What needed to be said?

Grant: It certainly was a whalloping. Both James and I were very disappointed with what we saw in the guys’ performance. We all know each other well enough that we can talk straight and to the point without offending anyone personally, so although we didn’t speak for long, it was direct. James spoke to the guys on his own and then I spoke to the group as well - but ultimately it doesn’t matter what we say, they’ve got to act as well. The guys know. We didn’t play good cricket at all, but in hindsight that absolute hiding was a timely wake-up call for us. We needed to switch into gear. We needed to play with more urgency and for the guys to train more specifically around what they need to do in their roles.

And then the squad got freshened up big-time in time for the next match. Where has Brett Hampton sprung from?

Brett’s impressed over last two years at Northern Districts A level and has had some significant performances for them. He’s been one of the standout performers in the Fergus Hickey, as well - he has really earned his spot in the squad with both bat and ball. In this Twenty20 format we think he’s got special skill as a batting allrounder, so it’s an opportunity for him to show what he’s got and to try to make his way into other formats for us, as well.

He’s another youngster in the squad.

Yeah, Brett’s around 20. He went to school with Kane Williamson actually, but was more a tennis player at school. But Kane knew that he loved cricket and apparently suggested Brett would go all right in the Gillette Cup team. So we can thank Kane for bringing him over! We have a group of four or five younger guys in the squad now and actually I think the earlier losses weren’t a bad thing in that it gave them a really valuable experience about the pressure and what to expect at this level. They’ve all come through great and it was so nice to win so well in Wellington after that. I have no doubt the experiences and learning you gain from losing helps fast-track the skills they need at this level. It’s been a good glimpse of what will come from them.

What was the most satisfying aspect about that one - smashing the Firebirds, even before you got all your Blackcaps back?

I was very proud of the work guys put in there. On a pitch like that against Wellington, it was awesome to see that performance and to see the platform being set from the top of the order.

Corey must have absolutely smashed it. Was his spot under pressure?

We know that Corey’s got skill and we’re just so impressed with what he’s been doing on the field and off. His growth as a person and his commitment has been evident over the last six months, so we believe in Corey - and we like to give guys ample opportunity to show their skill. We were supporting him all the way through and while he wasn’t scoring the runs he wanted to initially, we were very proud of him focussing on good processes. I believe he won’t be in our environment for long; he’s destined for the next level. We’re trying to give him the skills to be not just a successful domestic player, but a successful international player. In Wellington, sure, he hit some beautiful long balls, hit a few out of the ground, but I was really impressed with his batsmanship and the composure he displayed at the crease in between those big hits. That was cool to see. He’s advancing his game all the time. He’s also the quickest and fittest of the lot, now - he has lost 19kgs over 10 months. We’re not looking to bowl him this season though, focussing on getting his body completely right after his past injuries and surgery and getting that confidence right.

Then you turned to the HRV Cup and the guys deliver again. The weather was never going to save Canterbury the other day in Rangiora…

It’s been really productive week! In the two games since that round four hiding from the Stags, we’ve set a really good platform in each innings, the guys at the top doing the basics right and from there it ensures we have wickets in hand. We’ve always got the power on paper, but we have to do it right.

You had even more power on paper this time with all the Blackcaps back in, apart from Dan.

Yes and we were really proud of all of them. It was great to have them all back from Oz.

I was really impressed by the way Trent Boult handled himself over there on debut - we’ve seen so many quick young bowlers burst onto that ultimate scene over the years and then push themselves so hard that they break, but he looked very much in control of all that.

We’ve been really proud of the way he’s been super-disciplined to do the work. You wouldn’t wish a stress fracture on anyone, but he’s been through it and framed it as a real positive. He knows what he has to do in terms of strength, loads and conditioning and is so much more aware of those things at 21 than perhaps many young bowlers are - he’s very professional in his preparation and recovery from bowling, and that’s a real credit to him. He’s still filling out, too, and working through ‘what is soreness and what is just normal bowling aftermath’ - it’s not easy. Those distinctions are never easy for a young guy of his age full of ambition who just wants to play.

So with a cricket-free Christmas week, yesterday at Seddon Park you decided to hold an extra Twenty20 practice match between the squad and Northern Districts A, and then you had some scrimmaging this morning as well. How did the practice match go?

Brilliantly. It was a tight match with the As, who pulled up just 15 or so runs short in the end, so a good learning opportunity for those guys as well. We’ve just sent them all home today for their Christmas break and I did so feeling very good about where we’re at. After our practice game yesterday Scott Styris and Kane also delivered a “masterclass” - from time to time we get the guys to do a masterclass on a skill we believe they have to help teach the younger guys. Pete has done one in the past on sweeping; James did one on running between the wickets; Brad Hodge last year did one on planning and motivating. So yesterday, Scott and Kane did a fantastic one on playing spin. For one so young, Kane is so knowledgeable around the finer points of that technique. Guys soaked it all up. That was cool. We keep them all on video, too.

Next stop: Colin Maiden Park to play the Aces in round two of the HRV Cup on Boxing Day. The Aces at Colin Maiden Park in the HRV Cup brings mixed memories for me - we’ve had some big ones and some bad ones there. Never in-between!

It doesn’t matter who or where we play, I’m just really pleased Scotty and I have had a good couple of weeks together and that we both have a good feeling about how the team is shaping up now. We’ve been planning the HRV Cup in detail for the last four months, so to have some quality time to put some finer details into the plans and to spend time with individuals has been absolute gold. I couldn’t be happier with way the last week and a half has gone. And Scott is very clear and strong with his messages and what’s expected, which is very good. Having that freshness of a different voice has been working very well for us as a team.

Do you reassemble as a squad on Christmas Day or on the day of the match?

The day of the match. We had a look at the schedule when it came out months ago and were adamant from the start that family time is really important to us and our values. With our schedule before Christmas being pretty full on, we decided to take the opportunity wherever we could to send guys home to spend time with families. And we’ve had a great opportunity over these last few days to train, so I’m really happy that we’re good to go.

So just not too many roast spuds and Yorkshire puds, unless you’re the coach!

Ha ha, well the guys have good education around nutrition so it’s second nature to them and we have faith and trust in their professionalism away from the environment! So no qualms there. On Boxing Day we’ll meet again around lunchtime for our pre-game meal, which is always about three hours out from game-time, at the hotel in Auckland. Everyone will come in, we’ll have meetings and then into it. Once again I’m really pleased with what we’ve got out of last two days, it’s advanced our understanding of our roles from last week and guys have got good experiences so I’m really happy and comfortable we’ll be ready.


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One last thing from me today.

Respected Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid proved himself an exceptional and spellbinding orator about the game when he was invited to give the 10th annual 2011Bradman Oration in Canberra on the cusp of India’s tour of Australia.

Poignancy, wit, history, candour, insight, foresight, a pertinent message about finding the right balance between cricket’s three formats - this speech had it all and is absolutely worth your time to listen. There’s an audio link here.

And plucked from it, what a great quote this is:

“Every game we play leaves a footprint in cricket’s history. We must never forget that.”