International NewsBack to International news Preparations begin in Brisbane ahead of Sri Lankan tour
Thursday, 17 June 2010With the tour of Sri Lanka getting closer by the day, seven BLACKCAPS have taken the opportunity to adapt to sub-continent conditions and will be spending the next two weeks in Brisbane.
The seven include Kane Williamson, BJ Watling, Daniel Flynn, Daryl Tuffey, Grant Elliott, Andy McKay and Brent Arnel, who weren’t part of the side to play in the West Indies recently. Some of the players are returning from injury while others, such as Kane Williamson haven’t experienced Sri Lankan conditions.
The two week training camp is overseen by New Zealand Cricket performance director Roger Mortimer, who will be putting each player through their paces to ensure they are fit and ready to be selected for the tour. “We have selected a squad of 20 to prepare for Sri Lanka in August,” he said. “They need to get outdoors, so Brisbane is ideal given the facilities, bowlers and temperature.”
Bowling is the main focus while in Brisbane. The pitches in the sub-continent are traditionally low, and the players need to prepare accordingly. “They are using this as part of their preparation for the upcoming tours of Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh, with a special focus on playing spin,” he said. “It is a great chance to get outdoors as practising indoors just isn’t the same.”
Although the players have been chosen in the wider squad, they are still vying for a spot in the final touring squad which will be named during the next month. Mortimer said the players are focusing hard on reaching that selection goal. “It’s tough for the selectors to make decisions purely on preparation, outside of playing, but as we know the better the players prepare, the better they will play,” he said. “So it all helps in terms of the direction being taken now, which is turn up to play knowing you have done everything you could to play at the very highest level.”
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