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Shared knowledge between Mike Hesson and his All Blacks counterpart, Steve Hansen, will play a role in New Zealand’s campaign in the knockout stages of the World Cup

Andrew McGlashan14-Mar-20150:42

‘Win shows depth in batting’ – Guptill

Shared knowledge between Mike Hesson and his All Blacks counterpart, Steve Hansen, will play a role in New Zealand’s campaign during the knockout stages of the World Cup.New Zealand completed an unbeaten group stage with a tight three-wicket victory against Bangladesh in Hamilton and now have a week before their quarter-final in Wellington. Their opponents will not be known until late on Sunday when the West Indies-UAE and Ireland-Pakistan fixtures are complete.However, regardless of who New Zealand face on March 21 it will come with an entirely new set of pressures. There are players who have been visitors to global quarter and semi-finals, but this is on home soil and with a team whose unbeaten run has pushed levels of expectation to new heights.That is something the All Blacks, New Zealand’s most famous sports team, are used to handling. In 2011, they won the World Cup with an 8-7 victory over France at Eden Park. Hansen was assistant coach to Graham Henry at the time and then assumed the top job at the end of 2011. There are also other connections between the two teams with captain Brendon McCullum an acquaintance of Richie McCaw, the current All Blacks captain. Before the tournament McCullum hinted he may seek out McCaw when the knockout stage arrived.”I’ve already done that, a long time ago, and continue to do so,” Hesson said of taking advice from Hansen who has been a friend for a considerable time. “Luckily enough that I have some friends in those environments and we talk on a casual basis. There are some good learnings from them. I won’t go in to what he said but we talk pretty regularly and are both aware of the pressures you face at a World Cup at home.”Hesson believes he is getting a first-hand experience of the pressures that surround the All Blacks during a major tournament, admitting it has been hard to keep everyone happy even while New Zealand have beaten all-comers so far.McCullum’s heart-stopping fielding

Mike Hesson admitted that Brendon McCullum’s gravity-defying dive near the boundary against Bangladesh was not the first time his heart had nearly been stopped by the captain’s dynamic fielding.

“He does it three or four times a game, that’s the way he plays. He likes to set the tone and it was a pretty miraculous effort.”

He said he had considered the ramifications of McCullum throwing himself around on many occasions, but conceded there would be no changing him.

“I’ve thought about that many times in the last couple of years, but he sets the standard and guys feed off his energy. We live and die by that, I guess.”

Three of the victories – against Sri Lanka, England and Afghanistan – have been very comfortable. The win over Scotland was a little messy with the bat, but with the defence of improving the net run-rate, while the Australia match became a low-scoring epic. The Bangladesh contest was the toughest all-round challenge New Zealand had received.”The All Blacks are a good analogy, they have to win by a certain amount of points to get respect and if they win by more than that the opposition are rubbish – it’s quite hard to find a middle ground,” Hesson said.”In all honesty I’m not sure what a perfect win is because we’ve beaten a lot of teams convincingly and we’ve been told we should have a closer game, and are under done, then you win a close game and you haven’t played very well. In all honesty it’s quite difficult to know what you have to do.””We’ve won a lot of games comfortably but last night we were challenged chasing a score and to get over the line with different players standing up breeds a lot of confidence.”The chase included New Zealand’s first hundred of the campaign, by Martin Guptill, and the highest partnership as he and Ross Taylor added 131 following the early losses of in-form pair of McCullum and Kane Williamson.However, Hesson did concede the team had not been at their best against Bangladesh, especially in the way they closed out both innings. With the ball, they shipped 104 runs in the final 10 overs and then none of the established batsmen could finish the chase, leaving it to Daniel Vettori and Tim Southee to strike the final blows.Four of the overs in the last 10 were bowled by Mitchell McClenaghan, who had been drafted in for the injured Adam Milne, the first change of the tournament for the New Zealand XI. He finished with eight overs for 68 and Grant Elliott was required to bowl two overs at the death.”If you keep picking up wickets in the middle the death doesn’t become as big a factor,” Hesson said. “To be fair in the first 10 overs we could have won the game with the ball, it swung plenty and we created opportunities and if we’d taken them the death wouldn’t have been a factor. But we didn’t nail the death and we’ll have to keep working on it.”While Milne’s exclusion was framed as erring on the side of caution, Hesson said it was unlikely the fast bowler would have played even if it had been a knockout match but, with a week until the quarter, he was hopeful of him being available.

The Blues are on the lookout for a new head coach, but who will Todd Boehly pick for his first managerial appointment?

Todd Boehly does not mess around! Seven games into the new season, and Thomas Tuchel has been relieved of his duties as Chelsea manager, with the man who delivered the club its second European Cup sacked less than 18 months later.

Defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in their Champions League opener on Tuesday proved to be the final straw for new Blues owner Boehly, who now has the job of making his first managerial appointment at Stamford Bridge.

But who should he be looking to recruit? An out-of-work big name, or can he tempt a coach who is already in a job to move to west London?

GOAL breaks down the top candidates for one of the biggest managerial jobs in world football…

Getty ImagesMauricio Pochettino

Pochettino was linked with the Chelsea job around the time that Frank Lampard was starting to come under pressure in late-2020, only for Paris Saint-Germain to swoop in and hire the Argentine to replace Thomas Tuchel before the Blues could act.

Now history might be about to repeat itself in England, with Pochettino still very highly-rated within Premier League circles after the job he did at Tottenham.

He would arrive with some silverware under his belt, even if winning Ligue 1 with PSG is a bit more straightforward than earning trophies with Chelsea, and a track record of uniting a dressing room, which given the number of new faces at Stamford Bridge needs doing quickly.

Pochettino's tactics were criticised during his time in Paris, leading to his eventual sacking in July, but his reputation remains strong and it is no shock to see him among the favourites to step in at Stamford Bridge.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesGraham Potter

The outstanding candidate from within the Premier League, Potter's stature has grown steadily during his three years in charge of Brighton.

Now, with his side having enjoyed an electric start to the new campaign, the Seagulls' boss is widely being recognised as a 'Big-Six' manager in the making given the way he has matched tactical thinking with garnering respect from his players.

Stepping up to take on the Chelsea role would be the biggest test of his career to date, not least because he has never been part of a truly elite environment as either a player or coach, but Potter's achievements with Brighton should at least give him a standing within the dressing room to get his ideas across.

Chelsea and Brighton have done business already this season following Marc Cucurella's big-money move to the former, and they now could be set for more negotiations in the coming days.

Getty ImagesZinedine Zidane

Zidane has been out of work since leaving Real Madrid in the summer of 2021, and has been linked with pretty much every vacant managerial position ever since.

It is easy to see why a three-time Champions League-winning coach would appeal to Todd Boehly, and being the man to lure Zidane back to coaching would certainly put an early feather in the American's cap.

Zidane has been criticised for not being the most gifted manager when it comes to tactical ideas, though that might be just what Chelsea's players need after the intense and constant tinkering of Tuchel.

There is a feeling that Zidane is happy to wait and see whether France require a new manager following the 2022 World Cup before deciding on his next move, but Chelsea have the finances to make him an offer he might not be able to refuse.

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GetyMarcelo Bielsa

While it would be slightly out of left-field, there is no doubt that Bielsa left his mark on the English game during his Leeds United tenure, impressing fans and owners around England with the job he did at Elland Road.

Whether he would be able to replicate the job he did at Leeds at a club that is already part of Europe's elite remains to be seen, however, and it would be a risk were Chelsea to appoint him.

Bielsa demands buy-in from and control of all aspects of a club, but what he creates in return are teams that are exciting to watch and that produce results on the pitch.

Whether, at 67, he would be happy to return to England and take on such a high-profile project as Chelsea remains to be seen, but Boehly and his board will surely weigh up the pros and cons of making Bielsa a Blue during their hiring process.

Virgil van Dijk thought he had broken the deadlock for Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final, only for a hugely controversial VAR call to rule it out.

Article continues below

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Dutch defender powered home headerWild celebrations among Reds at WembleyEffort eventually chalked off after reviewWHAT HAPPENED?

The Netherlands international defender had the ball in the back of the net at Wembley, with wild celebrations sparked among those of a Reds persuasion. Van Dijk outmuscled Chelsea skipper Ben Chilwell before guiding a powerful effort beyond Djordje Petrovic.

AdvertisementGettyTHE EXPLANATION

Van Dijk’s joy was short-lived as it quickly emerged that a VAR review was taking place. Those at Stockley Park noticed that Wataru Endo was stood in an offside position when the free-kick from Andy Robertson was floated in. As he ended up blocking Levi Colwill, the Japanese midfielder was interfering with play.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Chelsea also had an effort chalked off in the first half of a keenly-contested cup final, with Nicolas Jackson straying narrowly offside when racing away from the Liverpool backline and squaring for Raheem Sterling to fire home.

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

Questions have been asked of whether the right call was made with Van Dijk, as forward players act as blockers at just about every set-piece. Colwill was unlikely to get near the Liverpool centre-half as he nodded in, but there is no doubting that his path was blocked by Endo and that he was prevented from making any kind of play for the ball.

Rashid Latif, the former Pakistan captain and wicketkeeper, has been named chief selector of the national team

Umar Farooq26-Feb-2014Rashid Latif, the former Pakistan captain and wicketkeeper, has been named chief selector of the national team. He will replace Azhar Khan, who was named head of the selection panel for an interim period when the PCB was taken over by an eight-man management committee after Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif dissolved the board of governors on February 10. Latif will take over the role from April 1.This is the third time in less than a month that the chief selector has been changed. Earlier, the PCB, under Zaka Ashraf, had appointed Aamer Sohail as head of the selection panel, which was immediately denounced by the new management committee under Najam Sethi and coordinate member Azhar was put in charge to select the ODI and T20 squads for the tournaments in Bangladesh.Latif was in contention for different roles, including the head of anti-corruption department. He, though, has been given an additional responsibility to assist the board in imparting training and conducting lectures on anti-corruption matters.”I am excited on getting associated with PCB,” Latif said. “I will endeavour to build a strong team keeping in view the World Cup 2015. I will also assist PCB in whatever way I can in anti-corruption matters.”The other selectors in the selection panel are Azhar, Saleem Jaffar and Farukh Zaman. Pakistan’s next assignment will be a home series against Australia in the UAE in October.Latif played 37 Tests and 166 ODIs in a career that spanned 11 years. He last played in 2003 and since than has been engaged with the game, running a cricket academy in Karachi. He is currently working as a government graded officer – as sports head of Port Qasim Authority (also a first-class team). According to the PCB, he will join them on deputation from his parent department.

Essex’s limited-overs style pursuit of 400 cost them any chance of establishing a daunting first-innings lead over Kent

David Lloyd at Canterbury09-Jun-2014
ScorecardEssex nearly missed out on maximum batting points despite a bright and breezy 46 from James Foster•Getty ImagesPerhaps Essex were right to embark on a harum-scarum chase for maximum batting points in a game most likely to end as a draw but their limited-overs style pursuit of 400 cost them any chance of establishing a daunting first-innings lead.At 361 for 3 this afternoon, the visitors were just 26 runs behind Kent and apparently in prime position to press on towards the 500-plus total that century-maker Ravi Bopara identified the previous evening as being the main requirement.For better or worse, though, captain James Foster had his eyes set on reaching 400 before the end of the 110th over, thereby earning a full set of batting points. And reach it Essex did – but by the skin of their teeth and at a cost of five more wickets as a touch of T20 drama came to Championship cricket.It was great fun to watch, especially when Essex almost ‘died in the hole’ by losing three batsmen in the space of six deliveries with the total stuck on 399. But Kent were probably even happier than their opponents when the dust settled.In fairness to Foster and the Essex think tank, the loss of 19 overs during a rain-hit morning session made a mess of any calculations they might have cooked up the previous evening. But there was still just about enough time for them to score in excess of 500 and still have an hour or so at Kent this evening (or there would have been but for another heavy shower around tea time that removed a further 20 overs from the allocation).Indeed, that appeared to be the plan as the two hundred-makers, Bopara and Tom Westley, attempted to bed in again during the morning. And nothing much changed when first Westley – after sharing in a second wicket stand of 243 – and then Jesse Ryder fell to the deserving Mitch Claydon.But then in came Foster at No. 5, ahead of both Ben Foakes and Ryan ten Doeschate, to step on the accelerator with a bright and breezy, near run-a-ball innings of 46 that included five fours and a swept six off Darren Stevens.At 361 for 3 in the 104th over, Essex were in a position to have their cake (full batting points) and eat it (making 500-plus). But then Foster was well caught by keeper Sam Billings, standing up to the stumps against Stevens’ medium-pace, and the fun and games began.Bopara’s long innings ended on 162 as he attempted to force Ben Harmison off the back foot, then ten Doeschate – having guided Essex to 399 – put the cat among the pigeons by edging the same bowler.The visitors only needed one run at the start of the 110th over. But spinner Adam Riley made sure it was touch and go with a clever piece of bowling to defeat an ambitious drive by Foakes before enticing Monty Panesar – somehow batting at No. 9 – to drive a catch to mid-on while trying to clear the infield.Now Essex needed a single off the final ball of the over, Riley’s delivery was too short and Tymal Mills did the necessary with a confident pull. Phew! Missing out on both bonus point and big total would have been careless in the extreme.In hindsight, perhaps they should have sent in Mills ahead of Panesar and David Masters. The fast bowler bludgeoned his way to 30 in no time, helped by a six driven so sweetly off Riley that the ball ended in the top tier of the Colin Cowdrey Stand at long-on.Essex were dismissed soon after play resumed following the final rain break of the day, giving them 15 overs at Kent. A lead of 53 was not enough to create unbearable scoreboard pressure, however, and the hosts survived unscathed.

Cricket Victoria has endorsed a redevelopment of the Junction Oval and hopes to have the venue upgraded to first-class status by the start of the 2016-17 season

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Dec-2014Cricket Victoria has endorsed a redevelopment of the Junction Oval and hopes to have the venue upgraded to first-class status by the start of the 2016-17 season. On Saturday, Victorians elected a Labor state government and new premier Daniel Andrews, who as one of his election promises had committed $25 million to enable the development of the new Victorian Cricket and Community Centre at the Junction Oval.The venue has traditionally been Victorian cricket’s second home after the MCG but Cricket Australia had in recent years declared that the facilities had become so run-down that it no longer met first-class status. That meant that when the MCG was unavailable late this summer due to the World Cup, Cricket Victoria had no choice but to look interstate for venues, and will play their final three “home games” of the Sheffield Shield in Alice Springs and Glenelg.Geoff Tamblyn, the chairman of Cricket Victoria, said he was pleased with the Andrews Government’s commitment as it also included $10 million to establish a fund to respond to the needs of community cricket in towns, suburbs and regional cities across the state. The Junction Oval, though, will be the major beneficiary, and will become a base not only for Victoria’s elite cricketers but also community levels of the game.”The Junction Oval development will give us the capacity to compete with other major cricket states that have had dedicated homes for cricket for many years,” Tamblyn said. “Our cricket community has been crying out for this level of support and the game at every level will now have a platform for future growth.”We lead Australia in cricket participation and this funding will help to meet current and future demand, underpinning the continued success of cricket in this state. The provision of a second first-class ground in Victoria also frees up the MCG for use by AFL football in the opening rounds of each season, delivering a great result for cricket and football fans and an economic boost to the AFL, MCC and the state.”The Cricket Victoria board has long maintained a position that the Junction Oval provides multiple solutions for cricket in this state. As well as satisfying the needs of cricket in Victoria, it ensures that the 159-year history of the St Kilda CC at the oval will continue long into the future.”The new VCCC will serve the local St Kilda/Albert Park and wider community, with which we have been deeply engaged for many years. This development will positively impact cricket at all levels. It includes vastly improved facilities for women and dedicated capacity to support cricket for people of all backgrounds and all abilities. It also provides a training centre and accommodation for regional cricketers.”

Sri Lanka head coach Graham Ford has said the upcoming series against Pakistan in the UAE will be a tough challenge for his team

Sa'adi Thawfeeq01-Dec-2013Sri Lanka head coach Graham Ford has said the upcoming series against Pakistan in the UAE will be a tough challenge for his team. Ford added that Pakistan have been on the move of late despite the fact that their home venue is the UAE whereas Sri Lanka have been relatively dormant recently.”The advantage Pakistan’s got is that they have played a lot of international cricket in the last six-eight months whereas unfortunately we haven’t played nearly as much because of weather and various other things,” Ford said. “We’ve done as much as we can to make sure we are sharp and ready but nothing’s quite the same as being match-tight and match-sharp. They have got an advantage from that point of view and they have got some fantastically talented cricketers.”In the past eight months, Pakistan have played four Tests, 23 ODIs and eight T20s compared to Sri Lanka who have played no Tests, 17 ODIs and five T20s. The first Test against Pakistan, which starts on December 31 in Dubai, will be Sri Lanka’s first in nearly ten months and Ford said the players were keenly looking forward to the tour.”They have been out of cricket for a while and their energy and their effort in the training sessions has been exceptional. It is a great group to work with and motivation is never really anything of a problem,” Ford said. “I am not sure whether people realize just how proud these guys are to represent their country and they have often shown their characters when the chips are down. The time out of real top-class international cricket and tours being cancelled has made them hungry.”On their last tour to the UAE in 2011, Sri Lanka lost the three-Test series 1-0, the five-match ODI series 4-1 and also went down in the only T20. This time around they will again be involved in three Tests in addition to five ODIs and two T20s. The team is scheduled to leave for the UAE on December 6.”When Sri Lanka went their last it didn’t go all too well,” Ford said. “Hopefully we can show that we have made some progress. They are a very tough team to beat in the UAE and they are playing good cricket no matter where they play. They have done well against South Africa just recently. It really will be a tough challenge for us.”Some of the players have been talking about some of the things they need to expect are going to happen there. Everybody is that much wiser on the conditions and what to expect.”We had the advantage of a pretty good home series against Pakistan and we know quite a bit about their team and some of our boys have performed well against them so psychologically that’s also a boost for us. But at the end of the day it’s about getting down there and playing really well session for session.”

“Not having him around is a bit of a challenge but we’ve gone through periods without him before when he’s had injury problems and we managed pretty well. It’s something that the team is learning to adjust to and that’s something that they will have to in the future be able to do – go and play and win without him.”Graham Ford on Mahela Jayawardene

Ever since Pakistan made the UAE their home base in 2010 they have not lost a single Test series there but Ford felt they were not invincible. “They cleaned up England 3-0 and from a psychological point of view they are aware that’s their fortress, that’s where they play well. But for us it’s an exciting challenge. That’s the way to make history, that’s the way the boys can make heroes of themselves. It’s tough but it’s not something that’s impossible.”One of the key points for Sri Lanka if they are to emerge victorious against Pakistan is how well their batsmen tackle the world-class spin of Saeed Ajmal. Ajmal was the leading wicket-taker for Pakistan in the 2011 series against Sri Lanka in the UAE with 18 Test wickets and 11 ODI wickets.”I’ve been involved only in one series with him and we played him quite well in that,” Ford said. “Certainly one or two of our players play him pretty well. Most batsmen in the world do have problems with him. It’s not like you are going to dominate him or he is an easy option. He is a factor in any series that he plays but we did cope with him last time around.”Obviously more players are comfortable than others against him. He is more successful in the UAE and the challenge is there. Any bowler that turns the ball in both directions and is difficult to read is a very effective man to have in your side. Added to the fact that he’s got the disguise and the ability to turn the ball both ways (is that) he’s got fantastic control. Those ingredients make him a tough bowler. Pakistan will be looking to him as a match-winner and we’ll be looking to try and neutralize him as possible.”Apart from Ajmal, Pakistan have got a few newcomers such as the seven-foot tall left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Irfan and left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar, whom most of the Sri Lanka batsmen have not faced.”We got video footage and the analyst prepares information for all the players and they’ll get their copy of the footage of players in the next day or two to study them,” Ford said. “There’s always a sharing of information. News gets around and some of these guys will have played against some of these chaps and seen them. You get some info about them from one or two people who played against them and get some sort of an idea of what type of cricketers they are.”Fortunately these days there is so much TV coverage that players can’t hide away. You are going to find out a lot about them. It’s one thing knowing about them and it’s another thing going out and playing against them.”Ford said Sri Lanka will miss Mahela Jayawardene’s experience during the limited-overs leg of the tour. The former captain has opted out for personal reasons. “You can’t say enough about Mahela’s contribution,” Ford said. “He is such an important person in the group. He is brilliant as a player, he sets the tone and he is a great example for the youngsters. His knowledge of the game is just unbelievable. I’ve learnt a huge amount from him.”Not having him around is a bit of a challenge but we’ve gone through periods without him before when he’s had injury problems and we managed pretty well. It’s something that the team is learning to adjust to and that’s something that they will have to in the future be able to do – go and play and win without him.”Ford dismissed the notion that Jayawardene’s absence would bring added pressure on the other two senior batsmen Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan. “Those two guys have thrived on pressure throughout their careers. They are both strong mentally and pressure might even be a good thing for them. I don’t think that is something to be concerned about. They know their game so well.”

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Newcastle United are interested in signing Benfica midfielder Andreas Samaris and Monaco left-back Antonio Barreca, according to The Daily Mail.

The Magpies have thus far failed to sign a new player in January, but manager Rafael Benitez is keen to reinforce the club’s squad before the transfer deadline.

What’s the word?

The Magpies are just one place above the relegation zone, two points clear of 18th-placed Cardiff City.

And Benitez is desperate to bring in new blood before the transfer deadline at the end of the week in his side’s bid to avoid relegation, as per The Daily Mail.

According to the aforementioned report, Newcastle have enquired about the availability of Samaris, as they look to strengthen their midfield.

Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…

However, they face competition from Portuguese giants Porto, with Samaris in demand, as per The Daily Mail.

A defensive midfielder, the 29-year-old has struggled for minutes thus far this season, playing just three games in the top-flight, per Transfermarkt.

Barreca, meanwhile, has played seven times for Monaco in Ligue 1, but he has been left out of the club’s squad for their last nine French top-flight games, also according to Transfermarkt.

Easy pickings?

Newcastle have already failed with two recent mooted deals, meaning they are still yet to sign a new player this month.

A loan deal for full-back Jordan Lukaku from Lazio fell through, per BBC, while a mooted move for Gelson Martins never even got to the point of negotiations, as Chronicle Live report that he instead wanted to move to AS Monaco, ironically becoming Barreca’s teammate.

Though they face competition for Samaris, bringing in two players before the deadline may placate Benitez, who is reportedly growing frustrated.

The Telegraph claimed last week that Benitez will quit the club at the end of the season if he is not given two signings between now and the end of the window.

It remains to be seen if whether these deals, even if they’re completed, will be enough to keep the former Liverpool boss around.

A dramatic day of three declarations and two stunning centuries ended with Australia A in the ascendancy. Ireland, 51 for 3, need a further 250 for victory.

16-Jun-2013
ScorecardPaul Stirling transferred his one-day hitting to red ball cricket•BCBA dramatic day of three declarations and two stunning centuries ended with Australia A in the ascendancy. Ireland, 51 for 3, need a further 250 for victory.Crucially, one of the Ireland wickets to fall on the third evening was first innings centurion Paul Stirling, who was unable to repeat his magnificent display earlier in the day.Following the Australians’ overnight declaration 22 year-old Stirling took a distinct liking to pace bowler James Pattinson, dispatching him for three boundaries in the first over which set the tone for another remarkable hundred – his 8th for Ireland.Stirling dominated the proceedings to such an extent that when he reached his half century off just 44 balls, with 10 fours and a six, the scoreboard read 58 for 3, which included six extras.Stirling found a willing partner in Andrew White, who excels in the longer format of the game. White was content to play second fiddle to the belligerent Stirling who hit 17 fours and a six. While the maximum was somewhat inadvertent, there was nothing fortunate about the other boundaries – many of which were magnificent cover drives and square cuts.His innings ended on 115 from 142 balls, when he was smartly stumped by Brad Haddin from the impressive Nathan Lyon who conceded just 34 runs in 16 overs.Debutant Fawed Ahmed went wicketless but following a nervous start he bowled with enough variety and control to suggest that he may indeed represent the senior Australian side before the summer ends.Ireland captain Kevin O’Brien declared their at tea, 126 in arrears, in an move designed to take the game forward after most of Saturday was washed out.What followed was a brutal assault by New South Wales opener Nic Maddinson. He made Stirling’s innings look positively pedestrian by smashing 113 from just 63 balls, which included 13 fours and 6 sixes.His partnership with Alex Doolan was worth 174 in just 122 balls before skipper Brad Haddin called off the carnage with the lead exactly 300.And his bowlers responded before the close as Moises Henriques dismissed John Anderson and Alex Cusack after Pattinson had made the initial breakthrough as Stirling edged through to Haddin.

Jimmy Neesham, the Otago allrounder, has been brought into New Zealand’s squad for the third Test against West Indies as cover for Corey Anderson

Andrew McGlashan in Hamilton17-Dec-2013James Neesham, the uncapped Otago allrounder, has been brought into New Zealand’s squad for the third Test against West Indies as cover for Corey Anderson who has picked up a problem with his right shin although he is expected to be fit to take his place in the line-up on Thursday.During Anderson’s career he has had to deal with a number of injuries, the most recent being with a rib which he picked up in Sri Lanka but he is confident that the latest twinge is nothing to be concerned about.”It’s more just a precaution, doing the right things,” he said. “With an early finish to that second Test it made it easier. It’s been niggling away over the past week or so. It will be nice to get the results back this afternoon to see what it is but I’m still confident.”Anderson’s own experiences help him to judge when a problem is worth serious concern. “I’m starting to learn about my body and know when something is bad. I’ve had plenty of them before and they aren’t nice but this doesn’t feel like one of those.”It has been an encouraging series for Anderson following on from his debut in Bangladesh where he scored a hundred in his second Test. After a first-innings failure in Dunedin he helped calm the run chase, albeit the rain had the final say, and in Wellington he struck a confident 38 to ensure West Indies could not hurry through New Zealand’s middle order.The latest injury bulletin on Anderson – even if it proves minor – supports what Mike Hesson, the New Zealand coach, spoke about after the second Test when he said he did not foresee Anderson becoming a frontline seamer in the five-day game because they don’t want to push his body too hard.His performance in Wellington – a solid contribution in the middle order, three wickets from 17 overs and a safe pair of hands – is the template Hesson will want him to follow, providing the much sought-after balance of a fifth bowler but also a batsman capable of playing in the top six.”I still think my job is to get runs,” Anderson said. “I’m a batting allrounder and if I can chip in with the ball then that’s a bonus. At the moment I’ve had a couple of starts with the bat but it would be nice to kick on.”So far in the first innings of this series Anderson has walked in at 380 for 4 and 189 for 4, so hardly positions of crisis for New Zealand, and while he is more than content to watch the top order go about their work efficiently he is confident that, as he hinted in the Dunedin chase, he has the capacity to bail his side out of trouble.”Someone would have had to fail if that’s the case which you never like, but if I have to be put in that position I’m more than happy for the challenge. I’d go out there with the same mindset.”Understandably there is plenty of confidence from the New Zealand players after the manner of the victory in Wellington and the belief they would have been 2-0 up already without the rain. However, series wins have been a rare breed and they know this is a chance they can’t afford to let slip.”The win at the Basin was nice, but we want to do more than that – not just get excited at wins every now and again,” Anderson said.It was a view echoed by BJ Watling. “Cricket can bring you back down to earth pretty quickly. We’ve got ourselves into winning positions twice so won’t be changing too much.”