Cricket: Asking the same old questions

Dan Vettori leaves the field yesterday knowing there is a lot of work to do. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand's batsmen face a couple of days of serious soul-searching - and in one or two cases hearing some bad news - ahead of the decisive third test against Pakistan starting in Napier on Friday.

Right now New Zealand are operating as two distinct halves, and their bowlers are being badly let down.

All the problems lie at the batsmen's feet after Pakistan romped to a 141-run win at the Basin Reserve in less than four days to square the series.

Starting the day at 70 for three requiring 405 for an improbable win (it would have set a record in terms of a fourth-innings chase) New Zealand were dismissed for 263 with Ross Taylor the only batsman not putting himself under the harsh glare of selectorial scrutiny last night.

What made the loss more depressing was that Pakistan dropped six catches in the New Zealand second innings, none of them difficult. Imagine the carnage if they had been held.

New Zealand have taken a significant tumble from the high of the first test win at Dunedin.

The national side have had worse defeats than this, but there was a dispiriting inevitability about this loss, with batsmen ill-equipped technically against high-class, persistent seam bowling.

It's safe to assume, having lasted a total of 119.4 overs in the test, they surely weren't done in by over-confidence.

"Guys have fought their way back into the team with first-class performances so they should be in a good space about their form," captain Dan Vettori said last night.

"And other guys have got test-match performances under their belt. If we could pinpoint [where it's going wrong] then it would make a huge difference."

He made it clear changes are likely for Napier and the selectors have a few candidates to choose from.

"There's going to be a couple of guys come under severe scrutiny and that's only right," he said. "You get some chances, but not too many.

"The first innings performance [all out for 99] is something that can't be explained. You can't apologise for it. It was devastating for our bowlers to do so well and then only bat for 36 overs."

He pointed out the Basin Reserve pitch was a good one for batting - and gave good bowling a reward, for that matter - and the case for giving one more chance on the anticipated batting freeway at McLean Park didn't carry much weight.

Yesterday began badly, with Peter Fulton and Grant Elliott - two in the firing line - gone in the first hour, Elliott attempting a lap shot to fine leg and making a complete hash of it, being bowled round his legs.

Taylor decided on the bold approach and played an entertaining innings. He larruped five sixes but at 97 was well caught low at first slip, to his horror. That gave him nineties in consecutive tests.

While Brendon McCullum and Vettori were together hope still flickered.

But McCullum departed in the over after lunch and that was that, apart from a breezy, career-high 31 by Iain O'Brien in his final test on his home ground.

Mohammad Asif was outstanding in leading the Pakistan attack. His five for 67 gives him 17 wickets in the two tests at a rousing 15.17 apiece.

He bowled a metronomic line around off stump and whenever the ball beat the bat he was a big chance to get an lbw verdict.

"I'm enjoying it here," Asif said, to no great surprise.

"My rhythm is coming and hopefully I can do well in the next game."

He had useful lieutenants and Pakistan's decision to introduce legspinner Danish Kaneria for offspinner Saeed Ajmal proved a smart move, Kaneria nabbing six for 80 off 37 overs.