Cricket: Struggling batsmen get time to improve

New Zealand will persevere with their underperforming batsmen in the hope they will implement the lessons from their disappointing cricket tour of Sri Lanka.

New Zealand beat Sri Lanka in their two Twenty20 matches but none of the recognised batsmen scored a century during the 2-0 test series defeat, or in the Tri-Series one-day internationals.

The heavy defeats by Sri Lanka and India in the Tri-Series saw New Zealand slide from fourth to a provisional seventh on the International Cricket Council (ICC) ODI rankings.

New Zealand now head for South Africa to prepare for the Champions Trophy from September 22 to October 5.

Asked if he felt the young brigade had advanced their cricketing education on this tour, Vettori didn't mince words.

"If you take it from the point of view of performances we'd have to say we haven't learned anything," Vettori said.

"[But] I'm sure if you spoke to the guys individually they're starting to understand their games a bit more."

New Zealand were always expected to struggle in the test series against Sri Lanka but Vettori would have expected a remodelled limited overs squad to be more competitive.

Beating the World Twenty20 runners-up twice in their own backyard was intended to be a stepping stone for the Tri-Series and then the Champions Trophy in Johannesburg and Centurion.

Instead, an ineffectual batting order consistently undermined Vettori's sterling service and the bowling of a resurrected Shane Bond.

Against India in their must-win ODI on Saturday, New Zealand were able to muster only 155 - a target India's strokemakers ticked off with ease.

Vettori identified batting as the major deficiency when reflecting on a tour that designated him as the sole centurion.

His career-best 140 during the second test defeat looms large among a collection of inadequate batting cards.

Vettori, who will help select the ODI team to play Pakistan next month, said after the test defeats that faith had to be shown in the likes of Tim McIntosh and Daniel Flynn.

He applied the same rationale after the two ODI matches where Grant Elliott's 41 against Sri Lanka was the highest individual score.

Jesse Ryder, Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor and Martin Guptill contributed only 55 between them from eight innings.

Still, the quartet are all safe. Guptill would be the only player at risk but he will be given an extended run in the hope he has absorbed some tough lessons.

"I still see this group as a very talented group and one that can be a successful batting unit for New Zealand for a long time," Vettori said.

The team arrive in South Africa tomorrow, and play practice matches against the Eastern Cape Warriors and India before their first group B match against South Africa on September 24.

They then face Sri Lanka at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on the 27th before playing England.

- NZPA