KEY POINTS:
Twenty20 cricket has moved past simply being a hit-and-giggle game at the start of a cricket tour. It is quickly becoming a traditional tour opener, played in growing competitive spirit. Therefore New Zealand Cricket must take these games seriously and not treat them as revenue-generating experimental forums.
The selection of Northern Districts teenage rookie Tim Southee to the Twenty20 squad does appear experimental. Southee looks to be a promising cricketer, one to keep a close eye on. However, right now I do not see anything that distinguishes him from the plethora of other bowlers in this country who bowl 130-135km/h and swing the ball - apart from maturity beyond his years.
If he was freakish in nature - a Murali or a Shaun Tait, for example - then perhaps, yes, rush him in and test him out. But right now I'd rather see him earn his place through a couple of consolidated years of leading performances at first-class level.
Since Southee is there, then he must play. I really cannot see the rationale in having him carry drinks just so he can rub shoulders with the incumbents. And is Twenty20 the place to be trialling young talent, other than the type who looks like a slog-fest specialist? What can we glean from four overs, and what can he really gain?
While I agree Southee is bright talent, I would have selected Jeetan Patel, who by chance comes into the squad as cover for an injured Daniel Vettori. I would've had both spinners in my original squad. Patel is battle-scarred enough to cope with a potential mauling, but his form in the State Twenty20 - having achieved the second-best economy rate of 5.68 after round robin play - suggests this doesn't happen that often.
Also, Twenty20 cricket requires extraordinary variation, a skill Patel is learning with every game, a skill that is making him better and better.
England has embraced Twenty20 cricket and, when it comes to the volume of Twenty20 matches played, their players lead the world. Thus it becomes even more important for the Black Caps to win because a loss by England would hurt them.
If there is one team in the world that struggles to shrug off losses, it is England. Perhaps it's because of the unduly severe and cynical media and public that surround them. England is on a bit of an ODI roll at the moment, having won their last two series, but before that they had been a poor ODI side.
New Zealand is, according the ICC ranking system, a far superior ODI side, and that superiority must be flaunted in front of the English in the first two limited overs fixtures of the tour.
