Until recently the New Zealand cricket squad for the World Cup looked settled.
Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum would open; Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor would provide the bulk of runs from Nos 3 and 4; Corey Anderson and Jimmy Neesham would share the all-rounder responsibilities; Luke Ronchi would keep; Daniel Vettori and Nathan McCullum would divvy up the spin rights; the pace attack would be built around Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Kyle Mills and Mitchell McClenaghan; BJ Watling and Tom Latham would keep the pressure on the batsmen and Ronchi; Dean Brownlie and Matt Henry would consider themselves unlucky.
However, the "A" matches in the United Arab Emirates have presented evidence that will generate fresh thinking, namely in the form of Adam Milne and Anton Devcich. That's healthy. Complacency was unlikely to feature in the New Zealand build-up to the World Cup, especially seeing the country's never won it in 10 editions, but this is a hunger guarantee.
Adam Milne's pace has always astonished but in the past he tended to be erratic. However, the 22-year-old, who clocked 153km/h with a delivery against the West Indies in January, has been consistently accurate in the UAE and appears to have lost none of his pace. The evidence is anecdotal with no speed ball radar at the International Cricket Council Academy ground, but wicketkeepers Luke Ronchi and Derek de Boorder positioned themselves somewhere near the horizon and when the ball hit the gloves it sounded like the cracking of a whip. Milne shapes as a wildcard for selectors Mike Hesson and Bruce Edgar to ponder.
He cleaned up the tail to take five for 33 against Ireland yesterday and earlier took three for 24 against the United Arab Emirates.
"People know I can bowl fast but I've been working on that consistency," Milne said after the UAE game when he helped put the locals into the irreparable position of 21 for five by the 12th over.
"I've grooved my action better to help with line and length. It's always good to see batsmen jumping around."
Elsewhere Devcich appeals as much as a fieldsman as a batsman. He saves runs at will with his energetic displays prowling about the turf and, without any disrespect, could come in handy as a 12th man.
He has also put together a series of effective performances (41, 55, 61 and 23) at the top of the order in the last fortnight, making 180 runs at a strike rate of 84. He's managed it in 30-plus degrees with a beard better suited to minus 30 degrees.
New Zealand play five one-day internationals against Pakistan starting December 8, and two Twenty20s on December 4 and 5.
* Andrew Alderson travelled to the UAE courtesy of Emirates
By Andrew Alderson of the Herald on Sunday in Sharjah
