Rutherford wants more aggressive West Indies in the middle overs

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (CMC):

FOLLOWING THEIR seven-run defeat to New Zealand in the opening One-Day International on Saturday, West Indies middle-order batsman Sherfane Rutherford has called for the team’s batsmen to be more proactive in the middle phase of the game.

The West Indies did well to restrict New Zealand to 269 for seven in their 50 overs, but struggled to score runs in the opening and middle stages of the match; and despite a late flurry by the lower order, ended on 262 for six.

Speaking at a post-match press conference, Rutherford said the Windies needed to rotate the strike and pick up singles more efficiently.

“I think, moving forward, it’s important for us to rotate the strike. We know that New Zealand is going to keep bowling the ball into the wicket. So I think, as a team, we need to find a way of getting off strike and once we can do that, I think we’re going to be in a winning position.

“Our plan is for us to set it up for the back end, but I think sometimes we miscalculate by leaving too much for the back end,” Rutherford admitted.

“I think, for us, it’s more important in the middle phase, from overs 11 to 40, if we can get more singles and even try to get more boundaries in-between; it would definitely help us in the back end.”

Despite the loss, Rutherford, who top-scored with 55 off 61 balls for the Windies, welcomed a return to form.

He came into the series averaging just 15 runs in his last six ODIs. He also struggled in the preceding T20I series in Bangladesh and New Zealand, scoring a meagre two runs in four innings, inclusive of three ducks.

However, Rutherford said he always believed he would break out of his slump.

“It was definitely tough. As a player, when you’re not performing it can be hard, because your mind can be all over. But it got to a point where, for me, I realised that when things are not going your way, you can use it in two ways; either use it as motivation or you let it break you. And for me it was my biggest motivation.

“Even the days when I don’t feel like doing it, I still turn up to the trainings, still turn up to the nets, still in the gym, and I think being that consistent in my preparation and just having that faith…once you believe, you can achieve anything,” Rutherford said.