New Zealand are exploring the option of breaking up their bash brothers at the top in ODI cricket and instead having Finn Allen slot into the middle order during the upcoming ODI series at home against India.
Allen hasn't played as a non-opener in List A cricket since 2020 and hasn't played an ODI since September 2023. However, he does have some experience of batting in the middle order, including for New Zealand A in January 2020, when he hit 87 off 65 balls from No. 4 against India A in a tour game in Lincoln.
"It's unlikely that they [Allen and Seifert] will open together," New Zealand head coach Rob Walter said after they announced their ODI squad for the five-match series. "We've got sort of a different role in mind for Finn in the middle order. So we want to explore that as an option, obviously, given his capability to sort of influence the game.
"In 50-over cricket, there's a space in the middle of the game to take on the spinners or the fifth or sixth bowler. So, yeah, we'll explore that with Finn. Obviously, we know he's destructive and it is a little bit different in 50-over cricket. He's not foreign to 50-over cricket. He's certainly played enough of it, but it is a slightly new role for him. So, yeah, looking forward to see how that goes."
If Allen bats in the middle order, Devon Conway will open with Seifert for the first three ODIs before Conway leaves the ODI side to prepare for the Test series that will follow the white-ball leg of the tour. Rachin Ravindra, who is working his way back from a freak injury, is also in the top-order mix. Newly contracted Black Cap Nick Kelly will be among the opening options for the final two ODIs.
After playing T20 cricket around the world, Allen has improved his hitting against spin, especially off the back foot. Walter agreed that Allen may have to "maybe slightly" adjust his mindset for a potential new role in the middle.
"We actually want to see what it looks like to have someone in the middle order just taking on the game," Walter said. "So, that's obviously not being reckless because if it was that easy, everyone would do it. But, there's a sort of a shift in 50-over cricket, especially if the surfaces are good, where overs 25-40 become pretty important whilst there's an extra fielder in the ring.
"So, we want him to express himself. But there obviously has to be a slight shift in it. And it is very different to when there's only two [fielders] out in the powerplay of a T20 game. But that said, he also has batted into the latter parts of a T20 game where there's five fielders out. So, hopefully, to find sort of the happy medium in between can provide a nice competitive advantage."
Walter revealed that he and Allen had previously discussed a middle-order role during the T20 World Cup earlier this year. Allen has also had conversations with Auckland Aces coach Rob Nicol about harnessing his power for the middle order.
"I mean, this is a conversation that happened in the T20 World Cup already," Walter said. "And I can't remember if he came to me or if I went to him, but we were sort of probably both thinking about a similar thing. I know Rob Nicol at the Aces had discussed it with him as well.
"So, I think there were a few people thinking the same thing at the same time. So, he's obviously available to try anything and he's always up for a challenge. So, yeah, it was not a difficult conversation by any stretch, and it's something that I know he's looking forward to."
Allen had given up a New Zealand central contract but is in contention for the 2027 ODI World Cup along with Seifert. New Zealand's selection manager Gavin Larsen had said before the West Indies ODI series in July that their casually contracted players had expressed their interest in featuring in the ODI World Cup next year.
"Look, Finn is exceptionally talented," Larsen had said. "He's one of the best ball-strikers in the world. One of the questions will be role definition: is it at the top of the order or will he be suited to a finishing role, etc? The same could be said for Tim Seifert.
"The other thing to balance out is that we've got a very successful ODI team and you take Kane [Williamson] out and you could argue or debate that there are gaps that are opening. But we've also had a very strong batting line-up in the 50-over format. There's also other emerging players around the country as well who will be given opportunities to stake their claim as well."