CHENNAI: At first glance, versatile New Zealand batter Daryl Mitchell’s ODI statistics make for great reading – 1,162 runs in 28 innings at an average of 50.52 and a strike-rate of 94.85. What makes the staggering numbers look even more impressive is the fact that the 32-year-old has played in every position from No. 3 to 7.
Put simply, Mitchell is New Zealand’s man with the blade for all occasions. The right-hander has owned the No. 4 spot in the Black Caps lineup in recent months and has been performing his duties to perfection in the ongoing World Cup.
With regular skipper Kane Williamson expected to be out for the remainder of the league phase due to a thumb fracture, Mitchell will have a bigger role to play in the middle-order.
Talking about his adaptability, Mitchell, on the sidelines of the ICCUNICEF ‘Cricket 4 Good’ clinic here on Sunday, said: “Look, for me, I just love playing for my country. No matter where I am batting, I just love putting the silver fern on and getting stuck in for New Zealand. Whatever job is asked of me, I do it with a smile
on my face.”
After not getting to bat in the tournament opener against England in Ahmedabad, Mitchell struck a 47-ball 48 against the Netherlands in Hyderabad as he carried the momentum that was generated by Will Young and Rachin Ravindra.
In the next game against Bangladesh, he lived dangerously in the early stages of his stay but was unstoppable once he got into the groove. Finishing with a match-influencing unbeaten 89 off just 67 deliveries, Mitchell was one of the only two batters on the day to strike at more than 100 on a challenging Chepauk surface.
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“We have got roles within the team. They are defined by how we want to play our cricket as Black Caps. It is about adapting to different situations and conditions as quickly as we can. We just make sure we communicate with each other. We just need to get stuck in at special moments and get the little things right,” Mitchell added.
