T20 allegiances don't matter in a World Cup: Bates
Sunday will be take two for Suzie Bates’s 100th One-Day International. The New Zealand captain missed out on reaching the milestone against South Africa with the game washed out, but that only allows her to bring up the landmark match against familiar foe Australia, which will be doing its best to spoil that party.
Australia and New Zealand have seen a lot of each other in recent times – both in international games and at the domestic Twenty20 leagues. The trans-Tasman rivalry played out most recently at the start of the year when Australia extended its 18-year hold on the Rose Bowl Trophy with a 2-1 series win. In 2016, it was an identical scoreline, the world champions again doing enough to bounce back after losing the first match.
As Elyse Villani put it on the eve of their ICC Women’s World Cup 2017 clash in Bristol, there are no secrets between the teams. It’s always competitive, and often close.
“It probably works for both sides,” agreed Bates. “There’s not too much of the unknown, in terms of how much we play each other, whether it’s in the Big Bash or in the recent Rose Bowl series. It probably helps me as captain in terms of planning, because you’re clued into what their players do. But on the flip side, they’re really aware of our strengths and weaknesses as well.”
“The most important thing is not thinking about them too much,” added Villani. “It’s about making sure we’re really working on the things we need to do well.”
July 1- Australia- Elyse Villani pre-match press conference
Australia holds the edge in head-to-head encounters: 89 won, 31 lost, with two no results; New Zealand, though, has come out ahead in recent times in the shortest format.
Meg Lanning, the Australia captain, has especially strong figures against her neighbours. Five of her 11 centuries have come against them, and her already impressive average of 54.51 rises to 71.16. Last time around, her unbeaten 104 off 116 balls had helped her side chase down 271 with four balls to spare.
Lanning laughed and said she can’t explain what it is about the rivalry that brings the best out of her, but Lea Tahuhu, the New Zealand pacer, has a theory on what gets her and her side going.
“You always want to beat the best, and for me Australia are the No.1 ranked team. If you can put a good outing against them, you can rate where you’re at around the world as well,” she said.
Greater interactions between the players as a result of the Women’s Big Bash League in Australia and the Super League in England mean there are more friendships, but the players are unambiguous: It means little in the World Cup.
July 1- New Zealand- Suzie Bates pre-match press conference
“You play alongside some of these girls in the Big Bash and the Super League and you get to know them off the field and they’re perhaps not as bad as you first thought!” said Bates. “You make friends in world cricket. It’s brought an extra edge. We know each other so well and we play a lot of cricket against each other, and when it comes to Australia v New Zealand, all those allegiances are gone and we just want to beat each other and be the best team on the day.
“Initially, you weren’t used to being in the same changing room as an Australian and Englishwoman and some of those Indian players. But when you get to a World Cup, you’re here for your country and those friendships go out the door when you walk over the rope. There’s probably just a bit more mutual respect about how we go about our business.”
This game, New Zealand will be looking to expose the Australian middle order, which hasn’t had much to do so far. “We’ve had an amazing preparation leading into the World Cup,” said Villani, explaining how they’ve been handling the situation. “It’s just about making sure we’re refreshed and ready to go every single game. If the middle order doesn’t bat, we’re not too concerned about that because it’s a job well done by the top order. If needed, we’ll be ready.”
On a good batting surface in Bristol – with the sun finally out as well – Australia’s challenge, meanwhile, would be to make an impact quickly with the ball and tidy up their fielding, Villani declared.
“We’re pretty relaxed. Which is good. That’s when we play our best cricket.”