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Vincent takes Jonty's Hints
[Lynn McConnell] | [Original
Article]
Watch out for even more improvements in livewire New Zealand batsman
and fielder Lou Vincent's game before the next World Cup.
Vincent has added another dimension to what was already a combative New
Zealand fielding unit since his introduction last summer. He, and Andre
Adams, have built on the natural, and continuing, athleticism of cover-point
fielder Chris Harris to give New Zealand absolute agility against most
sides.
And on the recent tour of Australia, Vincent was able to look at other
masters in the 'in-the-circle' positions like Jonty Rhodes and Ricky Ponting,
but especially Rhodes.
Vincent also made full use of the chance to watch Rhodes' batting style
as well. He liked what he saw and is keen to develop that part of his
play.
While he has been moved around the order, it is becoming increasingly
obvious that in the one-day style of the game he is best equipped, at
this stage of his career, to bat at five or six and to work the ball around.
That worked perfectly on the slow pitch at WestpacTrust Stadium on Saturday
in Wellington when New Zealand made good use of what was a useful batting
mix to recover from a position of 52/3 and still post a score of 244.
"I watched Jonty Rhodes up close and I'm not trying to adopt exactly
what he does because I want to be my own player.
"But I think he signifies the style of fast-running, aggressive middle-order
sort of player and I think that can be my role.
"There are enough guys in New Zealand who can hit the ball at the
top and get the boys off to a flyer. Consolidating the middle with Macca
[Craig McMillan] and Cairnsy [Chris Cairns] that's going to be my role,
I love it.
"It doesn't matter where I bat, for now I'm pretty comfortable at
four or five or six or seven," he said.
Vincent said he had a good chat with Rhodes after the second VB Series
final in Sydney.
"He just said: 'Yeah, keep going hard, keep going hard. Bat on ball
and run hard,' that's what he said."
Vincent also talked to him about aspects of their fielding craft, how
to work on his balance. He also talked about the way Rhodes tends to go
sideways in his movements. Vincent's movements tend to go forward so he
doesn't quite get to cover the same amount of ground as Rhodes achieves.
Missing balls that pass by in that region have been frustrating Vincent
and he will be working on different muscle development in the future to
help him cope with the sideways type of movements.
Vincent's fielding skill is no accident. He works hard at it and has catching
practice most days, something that CLEAR Black Caps manager Jeff Crowe
advocates as one of the better first slippers New Zealand cricket has
had.
Vincent, Harris and Adams also spend time talking about how they can further
improve their fielding and their fielding philosophies. They talk about
how they prepare and how to get the ball faster into the hands.
"It's agility. Stretching and flexibility," he said.
"We always think about aspects of our game, batting, bowling and
fielding, we're getting quite tactical as a team now. It's all part of
the New Zealand make-up," Vincent said.
The very eagerness of the fieldsmen allows batsmen no respite at all and
there is always the nagging fear created by batsmen looking to take a
quick run.
But with Vincent looking to further develop his style, with bat and ball,
even more exciting times are in prospect.
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