Cricket: All fired up to produce missing Marshall arts

Say what you like about Hamish Marshall, but you cannot accuse him of inertia.

The most under-fire of the New Zealand batsmen, Marshall heads into the first Chappell-Hadlee one-dayer on Saturday with countless hours of problem-solving behind him, including frequent sessions with coaches John Bracewell and Bob Carter, and team psychologist Gilbert Enoka.

The extra work was made necessary after Marshall initially failed dismally on the winter tour of Zimbabwe, and then fared no better in the one-day series in South Africa, averaging just 8.66.

It was an intensely frustrating time for the 26-year-old, particularly after he was named Batsman of the Year last season following outstanding home and away form against Australia.

Marshall scored 59 not out and 50 in the inaugural Chappell-Hadlee series last November, and showed it was no fluke a couple of months later when Australia toured New Zealand, averaging 39.60 from five innings.

The New Zealand players assembled in Auckland last night to prepare for Saturday's series opener at Eden Park, and Marshall said he was taking heart from the amount of work he'd put in behind the scenes.

"It hasn't been working out for me lately and that inevitably has an effect on your confidence - I don't care who you are," he said yesterday.

"But I've been working hard with Braces, Bob and Gilbert.

"I need to have faith in that, as well as my previous record against Australia."

Marshall said the worst aspect of his lean trot was that he was feeling reasonably good throughout, and that he was experiencing few problems when practising in the nets, or working with his team-mates.

"I haven't been getting runs but I haven't felt out of touch at all," he said.

"It's pretty strange, really.

"I felt full of runs throughout the tour of South Africa but I just kept on getting out.

"So I don't feel as bad as my recent scores have suggested. I'm happy to be selected and to be getting another chance, and that's how I'll approach it, as another exciting challenge."

As for the Australians - who arrive in Auckland today - Marshall warned that the absence of Glenn McGrath would probably make little difference to their overall strength, and that New Zealand would have to be in top form to win.

"They still manage to find guys who slot into the international scene with the minimum of fuss and bother, and I'm sure they'll be just as strong this time - even without a guy like McGrath."

Meanwhile, New Zealand's bowling reserves received another setback yesterday with news that fast-bowler Ian Butler was still struggling with a bulging disc in his back, and had been scratched for the season.

Northern Districts coach Bruce Blair told NZPA the paceman was unlikely to play this season after failing to recover from the back problem that troubled him for the past year.