The fine art of change-ups in a World Cup built for runs

"I bowled two knuckle balls today. Didn't you see that?" Lockie Ferguson asked after New Zealand's opening match in Chennai. "One was a yorker," he added.

Along with his express pace, Ferguson showcased his full arsenal on Sunday—cutters, back-of-the-hand slower balls, and knuckle balls—controlling the middle and death overs on a surface offering little respite for bowlers.

It was a much-needed day for New Zealand's bowlers, a chance to flex their skills after being battered by India in recent weeks. Against Afghanistan, it was New Zealand's pacers, not the anticipated spin threat, who dictated the game, exploiting the pitch's pace and bounce.

Control began in the powerplay, with Matt Henry and Jacob Duffy bowling over 60% of their deliveries short of a length. The openers struggled to accelerate, managing only 15 runs in the first three overs. Just as they threatened to break free, New Zealand struck twice, including a well-disguised slower ball from Ferguson at 120 km/h.

These variations are crucial in a World Cup where high scores are expected. Every disguised delivery and dot ball holds immense value. Ferguson is still refining when to deploy his skills.

"In India, it's hard to know what a par score is. The wickets keep getting better," Ferguson said. "Variations are non-negotiable. Every international bowler has them. For me, the back-of-the-hand works well; for Henry and Duffy, off-cutters are effective. You need to change the ball in the air or off the surface here. We work hard on it."

"Picking the right time to use them is a challenge. With my pace, it's important to keep bowling quick so the change-ups are a surprise. I'm still learning when to use them."

Despite only 13 balls separating the teams, the gap in execution was clear. Afghanistan posted 182/6 on a good surface, a competitive total, especially after reducing New Zealand to 14/2. But New Zealand's counter-attack, led by Tim Seifert and Glenn Phillips, shifted momentum in under eight overs.

The difference lay in how the pacers used the conditions—leveraging pace and bounce, and employing change-ups to counter the flat pitch.

"We didn't land the ball in the right area consistently, and that gave them runs in the middle overs," Rashid Khan admitted after Afghanistan's loss. "If we bowled at the stumps on a good length, it was hard to score. We didn't mix it up enough."

Afghanistan's hope for a greater spin role backfired, with Rashid himself taken apart by Phillips early. A rare full toss eventually dismissed Phillips, sparing Rashid further punishment.

Different venues may offer varied lessons, but Rashid emphasized the need to avoid being 44/2 in the powerplay, especially when spin—their strength—can't be exploited.

New Zealand will hope their pacers continue to make game-changing impacts before the expected run-fests unfold.