New Zealand A's George Worker. Photo / George Novak
New Zealand A's George Worker. Photo / George Novak
Although India A hammered New Zealand A by 75 runs in the final one-day match at Bay Oval on Tuesday night, the home team's coach Bob Carter is convinced of the value of the matches and is satisfied with the showing of his team during the series.
India A won all three of the one-day matches, although only the third game was decisive. Three unofficial "test" matches all ended in a draw.
"It was a disappointing end to what had been a very good series," said Carter after the loss on Tuesday.
"We scored 308 in the first match, we probably left about 20 out there. In the second match we should have easily got 340 or 350, but we saw how good a side India A are with some very fine players and they make you pay if you don't quite get it right."
The second match saw a batting collapse after George Worker and Will Young had the home team in a position of absolute dominance at 199 for 1 in the 33rd over. New Zealand A could only score a hundred more in the remaining overs.
In the final match, New Zealand A restricted India A to what was, till then, the lowest score of the series at 275 for 8. Then at 130 for 3 in the 28th over, the home team was well poised to make a run at that score.
But a series of poor shots from well established batsmen saw the team's demise for just 200.
"We were accumulating well but we just took a couple of poor options, and when you take poor options against a good team, they don't let you back in."
Carter reckons a New Zealand A programme of matches is vital for the continuing success of the Black Caps.
What is effectively the country's second XI bridges the gap between domestic play and the international game.
"It lifts us, it helps find where our players are. I'm trying to move our players forward to the Black Caps and that's what I'm trying to see. Is that player ready for the next step? So it's very different from domestic cricket," he says.
"We've got to have more and more of this and hopefully we'll get to play India A again."
Already from this series the Central Districts batsman Will Young has been promoted to the Black Caps test squad for the series against Sri Lanka starting in Wellington on Saturday.
Khaleel Ahmed balls against Will Young. Photo / George Novak
Young was in sublime form at Bay Oval on Sunday making 102 from 106 balls in the second one-day match. He'd already made 123 in the rain-affected four day match in Hamilton and 136 in a one-day match against Pakistan A at Abu Dhabi in late October.
Carter identifies a couple of his other players as distinct prospects to go back to the Black Caps soon.
"If you look at the way Doug Bracewell has bowled here, I think he's knocking on the door. I think Tim Seifert has had a couple of good innings so that puts a bit of pressure on what's at the top."
With the Black Caps home season comprising five tests, 11 One Day Internationals and four T20 Internationals between now and mid-March, there are numerous opportunities for players from the A side.
India A captain Manesh Pandy was also effusive about the worth of his team's visit.
"It's been great playing in New Zealand conditions to prepare us for the matches back here next month."
India A's Siddarth Kaul in action. Photo / George Novak
The 29-year-old, who's already appeared in 23 ODIs, scored 42, 111 not out and 5 in his three innings during the one-day series at Bay Oval. He reckons that will be enough to get back into the top India team.
