Tim Seifert Anticipates Finn Allen's New Role in ODI Series Against India
Seifert Looks Forward to Allen's Contribution
Mount Maunganui [New Zealand], November 12: New Zealand cricketer Tim Seifert is eager to see his T20I opening partner Finn Allen take on a middle-order position ahead of the fourth ODI against India, scheduled for Friday.
The fourth match of the five-game series will be held at home, with India currently leading 2-0 after rain disrupted the previous match at Seddon Park, Hamilton.
Finn, known for his explosive T20I performances, may be shifted to the middle order, as coach Rob Walter has hinted at a potential change in his role within the ODI team. Despite his T20 success, Finn has a modest ODI average of 27.71 from 22 matches, accumulating 582 runs with five half-centuries.
In a pre-match statement, Seifert praised Allen's abilities, saying, “He is a talented player who has excelled for New Zealand and internationally. His skill set allows him to adapt to different roles, so it will be exciting to see him potentially in the middle order.”
Reflecting on his own experience, Seifert, who has recently transitioned to opening after playing in the middle order, expressed his enjoyment of the new role. “I have enjoyed it. It has been a while since I opened the batting. All my previous games were in the middle order, so this is a fresh challenge that I am relishing. Hopefully, we can win the toss or have a good pitch,” he remarked.
Seifert, a formidable T20I player with 2,408 runs in 95 matches at an average of 30.87 and a strike rate of 146.73, has faced challenges in ODIs. In his seven matches, he has scored only 97 runs at an average of 19.40, with a top score of 38. His performances in this series, where he has opened for the first time, include scores of 38 and 0.
Discussing the playing conditions at Mount Maunganui, Seifert emphasized the importance of running between the wickets during the middle overs. “In the middle overs, running hard is crucial. You see how well Virat and the Indian players run between the wickets, and that’s something we pride ourselves on too,” he stated.
“While the powerplay overs might not be significantly affected, having four or five fielders out means that hard running is essential. You can't just stand there and expect to hit sixes, especially with the strong winds and the open ground here. These are the little challenges we face,” he concluded.