By RICHARD BOOCK
David Trist is backing his Unlikely Lads to cause a massive upset in the first cricket test against Australia - if the weather permits.
New Zealand head into the final day of this fascinating test still needing 130 runs with five wickets in hand, after heavy showers ruled out any chance of play on the fourth day at Eden Park.
A win against the raging favourites would give Trist's New Zealand side the satisfaction of breaking the tourists' attempted record winning sequence, but for this to happen several struggling players will need to defy the form-guide - when and if their country calls.
As if it wasn't enough that the pitch is turning square just as an Australian team containing Shane Warne visits these shores, as an extra twist New Zealand's main hopes are resting on a trio you would not necessarily nominate to bat for your life: Craig McMillan, Chris Cairns and Adam Parore.
However Trist, who was speaking so positively yesterday there was a suspicion he had just come from a session on team shrink Gilbert Enoka's leather couch, said he was happy the players in question were carrying the main responsibilities as they had an opportunity to demonstrate their undoubted talent.
"There's a time when you've got to step up to the plate," he said. "And this is a marvellous opportunity. We've talked about it during the test, we've clung on, and at the final flurry we've found ourselves in a position where we can win.
"It's good that some of the players with points to prove are faced with this challenge. As Craig [McMillan] showed yesterday, you might lose form but you never lose your talent, and that applies to everyone."
Unbeaten on 57 after taking the long handle to the Australian attack on Monday evening, McMillan probably could have done without the extra pressure of a washout yesterday, but can at least now concentrate on the job at hand, safe in the knowledge that his place in the team is secure. Batting in contact lenses after a brief experiment with spectacles earlier in the summer, the New Zealand No 6 breathed life back into the chase after the customary top-order collapse, and will be well aware of the need to start strongly again if the weather allows today.
"He's got some unfinished business and he knows that," said Trist. "We knew he would return to form, but he's certainly shown exquisite timing."
Trist appreciated the pitch had made for an absorbing game as far as the spectators were concerned ("there was always going to be a result this time, wasn't there?") but suggested future surfaces would want to be a shade more "batter-friendly" for at least some stage of the match.
He agreed with the Australian view that his side were slightly off the pace, but said he would have accepted the challenge of 130 runs with five wickets in hand had it been offered to him before the match started.
"The game's beautifully poised," he said. "On one hand we'd love to be the team who broke Australia's sequence and on the other, I'm sure Australia have a strong desire to maintain their winning march.
"At this level winning's everything and losing's nothing. We've set out to win the test and nothing else, from our point of view, will be satisfactory."
Cricket: Trist believes NZ can break Aussie streak
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.