Scott Styris expects scores of as little as 120 to be competitive during the World Twenty20 games in Guyana. New Zealand begin the tournament against Sri Lanka on Friday and the teams in groups B and D face a tough time if Styris' predictions are accurate.
New Zealand won the practice game on Wednesday by seven runs after West Indies lost 9 for 31 to be all out for 117 at the Providence Stadium. "You're never out of the game," Styris said. "Scores of 120 and 130 are not so bad over here at the moment."
Only five of the 21 batsmen used in the match reached double figures and Styris said the slow pitches were like nothing he had encountered on previous visits to the Caribbean. "It's requiring a change of game plan, trying to figure out the best way to bat on it," he said.
"They are very tired wickets, it's almost like they have been used a lot. Batting isn't easy, once you get in it's easier, but getting yourself in is the hard part."
Ross Taylor also expects life to be hard at the beginning of an innings and has targeted the slow bowlers as the danger men. "Spin is going to play a big part so it's about adapting your game to facing spin," Taylor said. "The quick bowlers are probably going to bowl a lot of slower balls as well."
One thing that pleases Styris is that the surface suits his slow mediums and he could be a huge threat in the opening stages. He picked up 4 for 18 in four overs against West Indies to start the collapse.
"It isn't easy to bat on and the wickets do suit my style of bowling," he said. "It was very pleasing with the way the ball went and it would be nice to contribute with the bat as well."