New Zealand team are not bringing any of their key main team players in the upcoming Bangladesh tour. Instead of playing in the five-match T20 series in Bangladesh, the Kiwis prefer to let the World Cup team play in the IPL. However, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has also created an opportunity to see some new players play in the Bangladesh tour.
Some of Bangladesh’s cricketers practiced at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Monday, With the likes of Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das and Shamim Hossain. Tigers batsmen should be aware of some newcomers in the New Zealand team and one such newcomer is Ben Sears. In the eyes of Devon Conway, who is in New Zealand's T20 World Cup squad, is one of the fastest bowlers in the world. But how will Sears perform on Bangladesh's spin-friendly wickets, only time will tell.
Conway, his Wellington Firebirds team-mate, in a South African interview last year: “There’s a guy in our set-up, Ben Sears, probably the quickest bowler in New Zealand and potentially one of the quickest in the world.”
New Zealand cricketers are very optimistic about Sears, who have played just 12 recognized Twenty20 matches. Sears' unyielding attitude on the cricket field has earned him the nickname 'Future Star'.
Glenn Pocknall, who will coach New Zealand during the Bangladesh tour, is also excited about Sears. Pocknall watched Sears emerge through the ranks in Wellington and can barely contain his excitement about the quietly-spoken Victoria University law student with all the skills and attributes of a fast bowler. Harnessing that is the key for coaching staff.
At 23, and with just 10 first-class appearances, Sears already has a reputation for express pace, in the Lockie Ferguson and Adam Milne stratosphere. The latter two will be absent, along with most of the frontliners at the Indian Premier League, when Sears takes aim in Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Sears announced himself across a weekend in January when he took a combined 7-55 for the eventual Super Smash champions against Otago and Canterbury.
With his pace and bounce enticing edges, plus a hint of outswing bowling into the strong Wellington northerly, it was a winning formula. He also showed resilience after Canterbury’s Ken McClure took 20 off his first over, and snared 3-14 off his next three including Kings skipper McConchie for a three-ball duck.
Of course, Ben Sears does not only rely on speed. The outswing is also done well by this bowler who has taken 20 wickets in 12 T20s. Let's see how much Sears can do in Bangladesh's slow wicket.
Bangladesh batsmen should also be wary of him and not give this talented prospect of New Zealand cricket any opportunity to shine on Bangladesh’s soil.
