Former New Zealand seamer Mitchell McClenaghan has expressed reservations around the excessive confidence from the New Zealand management in Finn Allen for the opener’s spot for the ICC World Cup 2023, scheduled for later in the year in India.
The Black Caps have made it clear that they have all but moved on from Martin Guptill. Finn Allen, the ultra-aggressive opener, started the T20 World Cup 2022 against Australia with a bang, hammering 42 off just 16 balls. However, after that Allen’s returns with the bat have diminished: 56 runs in six T20Is, at an average of 9.33.
Then, in the 6 ODIs against Pakistan and India, Allen bagged three single-digit scores, including two ducks, and a high score of 40.
After the T20I series against India, New Zealand’s next white-ball assignment will be 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is against Sri Lanka at home, most of which Allen could miss as the IPL will start around the same time.
Mitchell McClenaghan says that New Zealand management should be cautious while putting all their chickens in Allen’s basket as the ODI opener while approaching the ODI World Cup 2023.
Speaking to SENZ Afternoons, Mitchell McClenaghan said: “His high score is 40, he hasn’t really done any damage really. I think they’ve put their foot in it really, they’ve said that he’s what they need for this World Cup, he’s what they need to win this World Cup. So I guess what they need to do is he’s in line to go to the IPL and miss the Sri Lankan tour that’s going to start on the 25th of March.”
“If I was New Zealand Cricket I’d be putting my foot down and saying, ‘Well, hold on, Finn I need you to play some one-day cricket. We need to find what tempo you need to bat in the one-day format of the game if you’re going to be any chance of playing in this World Cup.”
Finn Allen vs Martin Guptill: who should be New Zealand’s ODI opener?
McClenaghan further opined that Martin Guptill, the veteran opener, should not be discounted yet. He suggested New Zealand have both Allen and Guptill open together against Sri Lanka when Conway will be in India for the IPL.
“I know there’s a few extra games, another nine games outside of those three games against Sri Lanka before the World Cup starts but that’d be the starting point. In that tour, I’d be looking at bringing Guptill back.
“Conway’s going to go to the IPL, send him off he’s done his job. Guptill and Finn head-to-head, see who’s going to make that side for that World Cup squad,” the left-arm fast bowler asserted.
