Mount Maunganui, Dec 18 (digihunt)
Devon Conway shared New Zealand’s clear plan after opting to bat first in the third Test against the West Indies, stating that the team aimed to “bat big, bat well, and give our bowlers an opportunity to bowl in the fourth innings.”
After winning the toss, New Zealand chose to bat first, a decision they had not made in a home Test since 2011. By the end of Day 1, the hosts were in a commanding position at 334 for 1, with Tom Latham dismissed late in the day for 137 and Conway unbeaten on 178. The opening partnership proved New Zealand’s bold choice to bat first on a green top, as they combined for a formidable 323-run opening stand.
Reflecting on the decision to bat first, Conway mentioned that it was a collective choice made after finalising the playing XI. He said, “Once we made the decision that we were going to go with Jazzy (Ajaz Patel), we decided that we were collectively going to have a bat first. Mentally, I really knew that we were going to bat. It was a guaranteed bat day because I had a feeling that they would have seen a green wicket, and with the make-up of their bowling attack, they probably wanted to bowl first.”
However, the early stages were not easy. West Indies effectively exploited the conditions, and Conway admitted he struggled to find his rhythm. “In the first 15-20 overs, they seemed to be bowling in really good areas and moving the ball quite a lot. I was constantly fighting myself throughout that first hour. Funny enough, I spoke to Tom Latham at lunch, and I said I almost felt like I forgot how to bat after that first hour… Just everything felt really awkward. The trigger, it’s just part of the game, batting… That happens every now and then, but I just try to remind myself just to get through that,” he noted.
As the day progressed, batting conditions improved significantly. The ball softened, the pitch quickened, and Conway alongside Latham began to dominate. Conway hit 25 fours in an innings characterised by patience and controlled aggression. “I think it was a combination of two things. The ball got a little bit softer, a little bit older, and the wicket actually sped up a little bit. It offered up some good scoring opportunities for myself and Tom,” he explained.
Staying positive was crucial to capitalising on scoring opportunities. “One of my things is to play with freedom, play with a positive mindset, keep looking to score. I just try to remind myself to do that, particularly after lunch. If they miss, I want to capitalise and put them under pressure,” he added.
This innings comes at a pivotal moment for Conway, who has faced challenges in maintaining consistency recently, with two-thirds of his previous 39 Test innings ending before 30 runs. Still, he downplayed any personal pressure. “I just try and remind myself to just keep doing that – don’t worry about the runs. Just keep focusing on doing a job for the team and doing a role. I’m pretty happy that it turned over for me today, but I’ve just got to keep focusing on being present and just, as I say, doing a role for the team,” he said.
Conway also acknowledged the challenges of opening the batting, particularly in New Zealand conditions. “It is a very underappreciated job around the world, not just here. Yeah, it has been a tough ride. Quite often, you rock up day one of a Test match, and you see it’s pretty green,” he remarked.
He praised his opening partner, stating, “Already mentally you think, well, it’s going to do bits here on this pitch. I think a lot of credit needs to go to a guy like Tom Latham, who’s played 90-odd Tests, and he’s done so well. I think he’s scored his 15th Test century, and a lot of those centuries have been here in New Zealand.”
Discipline, Conway emphasised, is essential. “I think you’ve just got to try and remind yourself to get yourself into a good position and look to score because there is probably a ball with your name on it here in New Zealand. You’ve just got to be disciplined.”
Conway’s top Test score remains the double century he achieved on his debut at Lord’s. He will resume on Day 2, just 22 runs short of that milestone, but he stressed that personal records aren’t his focus. “I think if you look too far ahead, particularly when you’re batting, you can get yourself in trouble,” he observed. “I think it’s very important for us as a batting group to keep putting (West Indies bowlers) under pressure. Bat for a long period of time because that wicket is going to get flatter, and it will give our spinners an opportunity to do a role later in the Test.”
For now, his focus is simple: “I just want to go out there, stay in the process ball by ball, and just keep doing my thing – building a partnership with others at the other end.”
–digihunt
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