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Less than a year out from the 2027 Cricket World Cup, a well-taken risk by Black Caps selectors appears to be ready to pay off.
While headlines rightly went to the pair of Matt Henry and Will Young for their heroics in New Zealand’s 244-run demolition of India at Bay
Oval – with career-best displays of 125 and 6-27 respectively – the performances of Tim Seifert and Finn Allen should not be overlooked.
With the pair, aged 31 and 27 respectively, plying their trade as T20 freelancers in cricket’s modern landscape, a gap in the franchise schedule has given both Seifert and Allen the chance to feature in the Black Caps’ One-Day International (ODI) plans against India.
For Seifert, who made his debut back in 2019, this series has been his first chance to play in his preferred position at the top of the order. Allen, meanwhile, has been moved down the order to No 5 and been given licence to attack through the middle overs.
In New Zealand’s emphatic win on Friday, both players nailed their roles. Opening the batting after losing the toss, Seifert started on the front foot to hit 58 off just 48 balls, while Allen added 41 from 30 as part of the Black Caps’ innings of 333, before the New Zealand side bundled India out for 89 in reply.
At the other end, Young easily had the best seat in the house to watch the pair of them bat, adding 85 in 73 balls with Seifert, and 90 in 66 with Allen, on the way to his fifth ODI century.
And while the pair’s T20 records can lead to thoughts that they’re just sloggers, Young outlines that Seifert and Allen offer far more than that to the 50-over side.
“It’s brilliant having Tim and Finn in the ODI set-up,” said Young. “You can see the enjoyment and the energy they both bring to the group.
“It certainly rubbed off on me yesterday. They showed the power that they’ve got, but both of them are better than ‘crash, bash’ players.
“They showed that yesterday, they adapted to what was in front of them, built some meaningful partnerships, and it contributed to the win.
“It’s an exciting time having Tim and Finn in the team.”
For Allen in particular, the return to 50-over cricket could well prove a masterstroke by the selectors.
Since his international debut in 2021, Allen’s talent has never been in doubt, given his ability to dominate bowling attacks from the word go.
Earlier this year, he hammered a 33-ball century against South Africa to guide New Zealand to the final of the T20 World Cup in India, and was rewarded by becoming the most expensive player in the history of Australia’s Big Bash League.
However, considering his playing style isn’t one that will offer consistency, Allen’s critics have no shortage of ammunition in taking aim against a batting record that doesn’t exactly jump off the page.
But cricket is about more than just statistics. In 2022, in New Zealand’s first game of the T20 World Cup against hosts Australia in Sydney, Allen hammered a 16-ball 42, laden with five boundaries and three sixes.
And while he might not have passed 50 as a tick in a statistical column, Allen’s innings effectively knocked Australia out of their own tournament, as the 89-run defeat ended the hosts’ World Cup defence.
Now, even when he’s batting down at No 5 in a depleted outfit, Allen’s teammates know the exact danger he brings, and the rewards the Black Caps could reap over the coming year – if the move continues to reap rewards.
“There’s no doubt, he’s got such a high ceiling,” said Henry. “He’s been such a good cricketer.
“It’s a good place for us to be in, we’ve got guys getting experience in different positions – it’s great for him. He’s hitting the ball cleanly as well, it’s exciting.”
However, with 15 World Cup spots up for grabs, the pair still have a lot to do if they’re to book a ticket to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia next October.
Seifert will be competing with ODI regulars Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway and Young if he’s to take a spot at the top of the order. Allen faces a similar fight for No 5, a spot usually filled by wicketkeeper Tom Latham.
Either could also find themselves in position to take a No 3 spot vacated by Kane Williamson’s retirement.
Naturally, the explosiveness of T20 can be more eye-catching than players who find themselves as 50-over specialists.
But for Young, who’s become a staple of the ODI side, competition for places isn’t something to fear, even if it means high-quality players missing out on a pinnacle event.
“The best thing about this team is it’s all about contributing to team success, rather than looking over your shoulder to see who else is doing well,” he explained.
“But it is an important series, and there’s a couple more as well leading up to the World Cup to try and stake your claim – but the most important thing is being a good team man and trying to contribute in different ways towards the team success that’ll get you on that plane.”
Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.
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