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June 1, 2009Posted by Iain O'Brien on 06/01/2009 in World Twenty20 2009
I can't contain my excitement
It's a lovely day here in London; the weather has been great this last week to be fair, and because of that we have been able to train, play and enjoy our time leading up to the ICC World Twenty20.
We arrived in London on Saturday, the day of the FA Cup final and guess what, a group of us managed to get our hands on a few tickets and go. What an event, what a stadium, what a treat. We sat in the Chelsea section - it didn’t really matter as none of us really had an allegiance to either them or Everton.
Got to the hotel, checked in and then was straight out, with the wife, to a show. We went and saw The Lion King. Amazing. Really loved it and that is one of the treats of being in London, the things you can just go, see and do.
But back to the cricket news.
The two day previous to getting to London we had two more warm up matches, one against the PCA (which included a couple of Irish, Netherlands, and the left-over New Zealand guys not in our XI. And Darren Gough). It was a one sided match where we won easily and there were some standout performances. Taylor 74, Gups 56 and Jesse 37. I managed three wickets and am really starting to feel like my Twenty20 bowling is getting better and better. I’m doing everything I can to keep it simple, using Dan at mid-off to bounce ideas off, and making sure my run up is smooth. It’s starting to feel good.
Then on Friday we played the Netherlands, again a one-sided match. We scored 194 off our 20 overs, Baz top scoring with 62 and some great cameos in there from Broom, Styris, and Oram. This match for me was another step forward. With no disrespect to the Dutch boys, the quality of the opposition wasn’t of that of India and Australia that we face today and tomorrow in two more warm up matches, but it was still good to bowl well with rhythm and control. The run up was my real concentration in this one and it seems the more I cruise in, the better position I get myself in at the crease and therefore give myself a better chance of getting where I want it. I know I can’t always have such a cruisey run up as when the wind blows you have to battle a bit more to get to the crease, but for now, it’s working really well.
This evening we head off to Lords for our 5th warm up match against the current T20 World Cup Champions, India. Our last series was against them at home and in the two T20 matches we had some good success; we won them both. The ODIs that followed weren’t so good for us though. It’ll be a good match tonight against a seriously destructive batting line up and a very experienced T20 bowling attack, a real insight to see where we really are in our preparation for this event.
The following evening we play Australia at the Oval in our final hit out before we start, for real, on the 6th against Scotland.
I’m really excited with this event. Sure the word “excited” is used a lot in interviews and chats with the media, but I really am. This is my first World event where all nations are attending. Just four months ago I wasn’t even in the Black Cap one-day team and now I am here at the T20 World Cup... I’m excited. But hopefully I’ve learnt enough lately to realise that my excitement levels can hinder my performance, so I have to keep it simple and keep those emotions under control.
Posted by: Sachin Mani at June 1, 2009 6:05 PM
My best wishes for you and the New Zealand team in this tournament.
Posted by: Prabeesh at June 1, 2009 7:14 PM
Hey ian,welcome back,,been missing the insight story from you.Nice to hear from you and all the best!
Posted by: Joseph Jenkins at June 1, 2009 8:22 PM
Iain O'Brien, a legend of NZ cricket in my mind. Great player, great bowler, great sportsman. I watched todays match against India and it was a great game and as a Kiwi myself I was proud to see my country with. Thanks Iain. Oh and by the way if you read this say hi to Daniel Vettori for me, I used to live next to him in Hamilton and he bought soem vegies off us sometimes. Cheers mate, good luck!
Posted by: Chintan Kachhi at June 1, 2009 8:53 PM
I hope you do well in the tournament, and India wins ;)
Posted by: ninoo at June 1, 2009 9:00 PM
Once again, yet another neat piece of work for my favorite blogger. The world T20 excites everyone, not only the players. I wish you guys all the best in this coming month and hope that either you or South Africa win this as it has been quit long that you guys have had your fair share of bad lucks in the semis. Best of Luck!
Posted by: pavan at June 1, 2009 9:22 PM
good to c u back O'Brein. Good luck for T20 World Cup
Posted by: JMKRaja at June 1, 2009 9:37 PM
nice blog mate.. Though u got hammerred on the warm up match vs India-you guys played well. Would like you guys to smash OZ in next match :-)
Posted by: Andrew at June 1, 2009 10:21 PM
Well done on you boys beating the Indians. No wonder they gave them a favourable draw to get into the next phase while Australia has to get through both Sri Lanka and the West indies, and every other country has at least one other established team in their group. They get to compete against two minnow teams. best of luck with the competition, but i am and Australian so i hope you we do better :P Best of luck Iain
Posted by: blogger at June 1, 2009 10:50 PM
hey brien.... guess wat.!!! u came to wembley just a mile away from wer i live ..... so exciting ..keep bloging mate ....good to hear from u....cheers!!!!!
Posted by: mikkey at June 2, 2009 12:11 AM
you need to develop slow bouncers, these are very effective in 20 cricket, I didnt see you bowl those..
Posted by: sumit at June 2, 2009 12:15 AM
nice blog keep it up
Posted by: Sam Kent at June 2, 2009 1:26 AM
Hey Iain I just checked the scorecard for the game against India. Really good to see you guys hitting some form at the right time. Ross and Dan are in great form and Baz looks to be finding some of that explosive form he is known for. I think you and Butler should expect to be taken for a few, it seems to be the faster guys that cop it in T20's now. James looks to be working out as an allrounder too, if he can bring his economy down a bit he will be ideal. It is a bit of a worry that Oram has not been in the runs but his bowling is as frugal as ever. T20 is all about economy and strike rates as you guys showed against India, a top score of 41 but still a good total. Wickets are great for stemming momentum but the game is just not long enough so I think economy is the key for the bowlers. Good to hear you are excited and as apssionate as ever. I had a chat to Andy Bichel yesterday and he gave me some great insights into T20 which just compounded my belief in the NZ squad. Good luck
Posted by: Muthu at June 2, 2009 1:51 AM
Gd luck for u n ur team...
Posted by: Jadu Saikia at June 2, 2009 3:05 AM
Iian is back :-) Love to see your posts again after the India series. Keep posting, its always very special to read your blog.
Posted by: Paresh at June 2, 2009 5:29 AM
Hey Brian! good to read you once again.
I like your run-up. Any tips on that ?
N'Yeah, we all are "excited" about watching you guys performing in WC.
Good luck!
Posted by: D Joshi at June 2, 2009 5:49 AM
BLACKCAPS beat India once again! Brilliant Work and all of your fans here in NZ wish you the best of luck for the tournament. GO BLACKCAPS!!!!!!!
Posted by: prabhjit at June 2, 2009 6:34 AM
hey i'm from india,i must say getting to know ll insights of the game from a player itself is gr8 .i have been a regular reader of your blog and looking forward to ur performance in WCT20 ,after all i have u in my cricinfo fantasy team.
Posted by: Vikram at June 2, 2009 7:33 AM
Good win for you guys! You looked more keen to win the game and deserved to win.
And you kept up on your unbeaten streak against India!
Which Indian bat do you consider a bigger threat among the new crop btw?
Posted by: Aamir Akhund at June 2, 2009 8:51 AM
Ian my friend. I can only hope that your team translates the exitment onto the field with an excellent performance in the tournament.
As for your upcoming match against India, i advise that any team playing against the Babies in Blue, just stick to the basics and the whole Indian team will fall like a pack of cards
Cheers and best of luck
Posted by: CricFan at June 2, 2009 9:05 AM
Excellent win against India.
Play well in the remaining games also.
ALL THE BEST BLACKCAPS.
Posted by: johnno mate at June 2, 2009 9:27 AM
yea 1st post woot woot, good blog chyeaaa
Posted by: Auchi, Sri Lanka at June 2, 2009 10:40 AM
I really do enjoy your blog. Good luck for the T20!
Posted by: ppppppp at June 2, 2009 11:18 AM
Hi Ian you Should concentrate on your performance instead of writing blogs. These blogs are very boring seriously
Posted by: Neeth at June 2, 2009 12:46 PM
i guess u pitched it up to try and swing and it didnt swing at all!!! and thats y u went for runs against india. anyways all the best against aussies. get warner for a duck.
Posted by: Gaston at June 2, 2009 11:08 PM
Iain
Great Blog - thanks for writing it. I thought you bowled a couple of great overs at Ponting tonight. Nice one. thanks too for signing an autograph for me. Its very much appreciated by us anorak wearers. Cheers.
Posted by: PDIDY at June 3, 2009 12:57 AM
nice to hear from you again
Posted by: Blake at June 3, 2009 3:16 AM
Thanks for the update Iain. We are all cheering the Black Caps on. You are an integral part of a great side. Remember that when your marking out your run up vs Scotland. And to 'pppppp' who thinks the blog is boring feel free to press that pretty red X at the top right of your screen, so the rest of us can enjoy it in peace.
Posted by: Harsha at June 3, 2009 5:37 AM
Hi Ian,
A good win against India. u guys r lucky to have Captain Dan.
Though an Indian, I wanted India to loose the warmup game. Its important to keep them grounded.
Have a Happy World cup hope to see NZ in the semis. And wish India wins the cup.
Cheers!!
Posted by: Raft at June 3, 2009 6:41 AM
Ok, winning the warm up games is good but the actual tournament is something else.
It feels nice though, just to take the same nice feeling into the tournament.
Enjoy the tournament and for godsake don't get intimidated by the hard hitters... patience and stick to batsmen's weak areas.
Concentration, Temperament, Fitness at this level are the keys for success.
No dropping catches Ian, you remember that lolly you fumbled against India in New Zealand and wished the ground had opened up to engulf you away :)
Good Luck... i enjoy your blogs dude am waiting for the tournament to start.
Posted by: Azza at June 3, 2009 4:41 PM
Good luck Iain, hope you put in some good bowling efforts. I'll be at the Oval on Sat 13th watching NZ and cheering on the boys, of course you guys will make the Super 8 stage, and even go all the way.
Posted by: David O'Shnackenhebra at June 4, 2009 10:38 AM
Iain - great win against India, but poor against the Dingo's, shows the nature of the game I guess. Need to make sure weather doesn't play a part in the game against Scotland. Good luck!
Posted by: Tasha at June 7, 2009 11:11 AM
Sigh...you guys continuously manage to upstage India- i hope we get back at you this time- if we do face you- that is. Well, sportingly, I wish you a great tournament, and selfishly, that you don't beat us a second time- all in all GOOD LUCK!!
- Iain O'Brien must type as fast as he bowls. After stumps most days he adds to his popular personal blog, covering his take on the play, dressing room snippets and personal insights (he really doesn’t like bouncers). A fast-medium bowler, O’Brien has become a regular member of the New Zealand Test side over the past year and is enjoying his time at the top.