By GRAHAM REDDAWAY
England A skipper Mark Alleyne is no ordinary cricketer.
If you talk to his Gloucestershire county coach, John Bracewell, he is not only an outstanding allrounder, but also an exceptional captain and that quality was evident throughout the doubleheader one-day international against New Zealand A played at Eden Park over the weekend.
On Saturday, when England A won by three wickets with 10 balls to spare, he quickened the scoring rate at a vital time with an unbeaten 38 from 42 balls and with Ronnie Irani added 39 for the sixth wicket from 34 balls.
In the rain-affected second leg yesterday he scored a classic 54 shortly before rain brought a halt to the match as England reached 187 for seven with three wickets and 26 balls in hand.
New Zealand A were disappointing in Saturday's match. In contrast with Alleyne's astute leadership the New Zealand skipper, Mark Richardson, seemed unable to generate the hard-nosed enthusiasm that the England skipper managed.
Yesterday the New Zealand fielding effort fell away again and coach Ashley Ross would have been a good deal less than enthusiastic about it. Nor would he have enjoyed watching his bowlers, especially Warren Wisneski and Andrew Penn, struggle yesterday to find line and length.
The opening pair sent down 11 of the 14 wides recorded, while on Saturday there were 21.
Saturday's win gave England a 2-0 whitewash of the one-dayers. The visitors had already won the two-match test series 1-0 for an unbeaten tour record, which included several matches in Bangladesh on their way to New Zealand.
For Alleyne these successes are the ultimate result. With fellow tourist Vikram Solanki, he is one of six changes to the full England side for a triangular one-day series with home side South Africa, and Zimbabwe and a three-week tour of Zimbabwe.
"The tour of New Zealand has been great," he said, "and I could not be happier with the way it has turned out. We have some exceptionally talented cricketers here and there has been marked improvement in many of them."
Alleyne, London-born of Barbados parentage, scored a carefree 150 against the South Island and grafted 96 in the first test. They were contrasting innings but each a gem in its own right.
"I am really delighted with my form," he said, "and I am very confident going into the South African tour."
* England A, Leicestershire and Canterbury batsman Aftab Habib will not be playing here in the England off-season.
Yesterday Habib, who has played for Canterbury since the 1995/96 season, said he would take a break. Habib, said he intended to eventually settle in New Zealand and is likely to end his career here.
Cricket: Alleyne leads from front for England A
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.