Cricketer-turned-broadcaster Ian Smith wants veteran top-order batter Martin Guptill to be a part of New Zealand’s scheme of things for the upcoming ODI World Cup in India. Notably, New Zealand’s batting has been lacking experience after Ross Taylor’s retirement in 2022 and Kane Williamson’s injury in IPL 2023 has further exacerbated the situation. Thus, Smith wants Guptill to get more opportunities to seal his spot for the mega tournament.
“I get where they’re (selectors) going with Finn Allen but you’ve got to score runs. I’m sorry, he (Allen) just has to show some form for me. I still go back to Martin Guptill. Is his time over? Is he done? Should he just be put out to pasture? I do not know,” Smith was quoted as saying by SEN Radio.
“I probably would have thought yes before Kane Williamson became unavailable with all that experience, all that knowledge, I might have said yes about Martin Guptill. I’m having second thoughts now because Finn Allen ain’t doing it for me,” Smith added.
“If you look at a player like Conway — who’s tearing it up too in the IPL — you are really asking him to see off a new ball but belt it to the fence at the same time. There is risk in that, no doubt about it. In 50-over cricket, my late, great friend Martin Crowe said, ‘Always let your best batsman face the most deliveries’. I mean, that’s his stock-in-trade; let him face the most deliveries, fair and simple,” Smith added.
