Milne easily now NZ’s best short-version fast bowler

London - In terms of the best New Zealand short-version fast bowler, who is rated #1 by the some of the best cricket commentators?

Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Tim Southee or Adam Milne?

Cricketing greats Nasser Hussain, Kevin Petersen, Shane Warne, Rob Keys and Andrew Flintoff unanimously agree, their absolute favourite by a country mile is Milne, who cannot make it into the World T20 squad. He is just a backup in case any quick bowler gets injured.

Milne, the Birmingham Phoenix’s key weapon, was the standout fast bowler in the inaugural Hundred (balls per innings) short version competition, just finished. The Southern Brave beat the Phoenix in the final, despite Milne’s herculean efforts.

Milne has played just two T20 games for the Blacks Caps in the last four years, mostly due to injuries. He soon flies to the UAE to rejoin the Mumbai Indians, along with assistant coach Shane Bond.

In the final of the Hundred at Lord’s yesterday, Milne bowled 14 dot balls in his four five-ball overs, taking two wickets for just eight runs. He was the leading wicket-taker and the bowler of the tournament,  with a crucial economy rate of 5.73.

New Zealand’s other Hundred star was Glenn Phillips, rated was one of the world’s most dominant short-form batsmen after signing off his England stint with a match-winning knock in Cardiff.

He farewelled The Hundred competition with a dazzling 80 off 35 balls, including seven sixes, for Welsh Fire to help snatch a three-wicket win over the Eoin Morgan-captained London Spirit.