Schedule hole
Weren’t we supposed to have played a warm down match against a Sri Lanka XI last night? It’s listed on my schedule. TBC admittedly, but the criterion for us playing this game was failing to get into the final of the Compaq Cup, a criterion we fulfilled of course. In fact, the match was part of the deal that turned our 5-match ODI series against Sri Lanka into the stunted Compaq Cup along with India. The mysterious cancelling of this game means that our preparation for the Champions Trophy has been cut down by 3 whole games compared to our original schedule. And boy do we ever need some preparation.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:57 am
We have a Champions Trophy warm-up game against India on Sunday, so that might provide some good preparation. It also gives the top order a chance to get it right against the same opponents who dismantled them last week.
September 17th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
We have a Champions Trophy warm-up game against India on Sunday, so that might provide some good preparation. It also gives the top order a chance to get it right against the same opponents who dismantled them last week.
Yes, and we have another warm up with a provincial side. However, the change in our schedule adding the Compaq Cup has cut our lead-up/warm-up matches for the Champions Trophy down to 4 from 7 – and 5 of those 7 would have been full-intensity internationals.
The games in the Compaq Cup showed how out of sorts and in need of game practice we are. A full series of ODIs against Sri Lanka would have been invaluable for getting into the 50-over mindset and sorting out our game.
September 18th, 2009 at 6:33 am
Who would’ve thought we’d have difficulty getting into a 50 over mindset! And this is the side which almost beat Australia away from home a few months ago. The Bracewell era saw a change in focus from tests to ODIs, and I’m hoping we don’t see the balance tilt completely towards T20s under Moles. Or am I being naive?
September 18th, 2009 at 8:53 am
Ben,
Are you trying to overwork these guys?
No extra money in these warm-up games
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Well after a difficult series against Sri Lanka the Black Caps have bounced back in the Champions Trophy. I fancy them to beat Pakistan and make the final!