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'Stumps in play': Lennox reveals tweak behind five-wicket haul
Sport Nation • July 14th, 2026 4:34 pm
Jayden Lennox | Photo: Photosport
Jayden Lennox says the Blackcaps knew they had been “strung along” in the opening ODI, making their response in Guyana all the more satisfying.
New Zealand levelled the five-match series at 1-1 after Lennox took 5 for 19 from eight overs, helping bowl the West Indies out for 138 before the Blackcaps chased the target down losing just five wickets. It was New Zealand’s 400th ODI win.
“It was nice to get one on the ledger,” Lennox told Sport Nation’s Millsy & Guy.
“It probably looked like it was a close game in game one, but to be honest, they had it pretty much under control from about the 30-over mark. We were just kind of strung along a little bit, so to get one back on them was nice.”
After returning 1 for 55 in the first ODI, Lennox said the review was simple: adjust the length, take bounce out of the equation, and make the West Indies batters play straighter.
“The main reflection was the lengths that we just have to keep nailing,” he said.
“Here, you don’t really have bounce as your friend, so it was kind of just adjusting a touch.”
That meant going slightly fuller after conceding shots off the back foot in game one.
“I kind of pride myself on length control,” Lennox said.
“Just trying to be a touch fuller and ask them to hit down the ground first, rather than looking square, was the difference.”
The plan also centred on keeping the stumps involved on a Providence surface offering variable bounce.
“Stumps in play was certainly the key today,” he said.
Jayden Lennox | Photo: Kerry Marshall/Photosport
The 31-year-old now has 14 wickets from seven ODIs, but he laughed off any suggestion he has found the international step easier than domestic cricket.
“I certainly wouldn’t say that,” Lennox said.
“The joy of being a left-arm orthodox spinner coming from New Zealand is that you kind of only get picked to go places that, in theory, will have some pretty spin-conducive conditions.”
What the step up has taught him is that good balls still count, even against world-class players.
“Your best ball is still respected,” he said.
“If you know your plan and can do that consistently, you can have some good days, but you certainly get found out if you miss by even a small margin.”
Lennox has also been able to learn up close from Mitchell Santner, a bowler he admits he has studied closely.
“I’d be lying if I said I haven’t watched a hell of a lot of Mitch bowling,” he said.
“Playing with him and watching the craft while being in the game has been very, very impressive.”
With the third ODI also at Providence, Lennox hinted conditions could again favour the spinners.
“There’s a high chance that we’ll be on a wicket that’s already been used,” he said.
Listen to the full interview below:
