Black Caps taking each game as it comes

Black Caps leg-spinner Todd Astle talks to the media at Dunedin International Airport yesterday
Black Caps leg-spinner Todd Astle talks to the media at Dunedin International Airport yesterday
Any talk of World Cup trials and selection questions have been swatted away by Black Caps spinner Todd Astle.

Astle spoke to the media yesterday as the Black Caps arrived in Dunedin to get ready for their final game of the one-day international series against Bangladesh at the University of Otago Oval tomorrow.

The Canterbury leg-spinner said the side was just concentrating on the game and enjoying playing.

"The guys are really excited in how they have improved in each game of this series so it is really important to do the same here again and make it a 3-0 whitewash. So we have to make improvements,'' Astle said.

"The World Cup is a few months away so we just have to rely on what we are doing first. Taking each game as it comes. Now we have this third game and it would be good to win it and be the icing on the cake and take the series 3-0.''

Astle, who is coming back from a knee injury, managed to get 10 overs under his belt on Saturday at Hagley Park as he has been swapping positions with fellow leg-spinner Ish Sodhi all season.

"It was great to be back playing in that last game in front of a home crowd and contribute with a couple of wickets is always nice. Our team first ethos is what we are about and that is to put the need of the team first. To me it is just about going out there and do my thing in the plans first.

Te Paea Henman (16), of the King's and Queen's High School kapa haka group, welcomes the Black...
Te Paea Henman (16), of the King's and Queen's High School kapa haka group, welcomes the Black Caps. PHOTOS: CHRISTIME O'CONNOR
"It was great, really great. Just being able to play and get through 10 overs. I had that knee injury in the UAE [United Arab Emirates] so to be able to come back and play was great. And we won too.

"Because it is only 10 overs then you know that is the most you can do. So whether it is one or 10 overs I am ready to roll.''

The Black Caps have won the first two games of the series, chasing down targets as Bangladesh has failed to make a sizeable target. That has left a few of the Black Caps batsmen underdone. Astle said that did not mean the side would want to bat first tomorrow.

"We will have a look at the pitch first. The weather is supposed to be nice, but that [batting first] could be the option moving forward. We have done so well in these past couple of games so it is working for us.''

Astle said coach Gary Stead was good for his game.

"There is really good depth in the squad ... he just has a good grasp on the big picture.

"There is an even keel in terms of emotions and you can go out there and express yourself as the best you can. That has been really helpful in my career.''

Trent Boult was fined for swearing in the match in Christchurch and Astle said it was a reminder for the players to keep to a high standard.

There are still a few hundred tickets left for the match tomorrow.

DVML marketing and communications manager Kim Barnes said ticket sales had been steady with only a few hundred left before match day.

She would recommend if anyone is still thinking about it to make sure they get their tickets online from Ticketek.

The match will start at 11am.

 

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