Cricket: McCullum moving down order - report

Is Brendon McCullum facing a drop down the Black Caps' batting order? Photo / Duncan Brown

While not totally adverse to the idea, Black Caps captain Daniel Vettori is reluctant to endorse a move back down the order for Brendon McCullum.

As the debris of the tour to Bangladesh is picked over, Vettori says every element will be scrutinised.

It's being reported McCullum will move from his preferred spot at the top of the order back down to seven.

But Vettori says that's not accurate.

He says if McCullum is to move it will be in the aid of winning the match and in a positive situation, rather than so he can save games.

Vettori has also indicated he'd consider relinquishing the Black Caps' captaincy.

It comes ahead of a board meeting on Friday in which Vettori, coach Mark Greatbatch and high performance director Roger Mortimer will attempt to explain the disastrous tour of Bangladesh.

The management structure has come under heavy criticism, with some former players and coaches believing Vettori does too much.

Vettori's told Radiosport that he can understand the arguments for him to go.

He said he'd hate to leave the team in its darkest hour but if people above him think it's right to step down then he can see where they're coming from.

Vettori is due to hand over the captaincy to Ross Taylor after the World Cup next year.

The Black Caps' skipper has also called on his players to accept personal responsibility for the series 4-0 loss to Bangladesh.

New Zealand entered the series having lost to Bangladesh just once in 17 one-dayers but were outplayed by the hosts as the tourists' batsmen repeatedly struggled to combat Bangladesh's spin bowlers.

Vettori today described the performances and results as indefensible, saying "everyone in the team knows how poor the results were and hopefully they're committed to trying to turn it around".

Vettori identified batting as his team's achilles heel in Bangladesh, as they failed to get on top of a battery of left-arm spinners well versed in their home conditions.

Only Kane Williamson emerged with any credit among the batsmen after a maiden one-day century for his country in the fourth match, but the likes of Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder and BJ Watling all regularly under-performed.

"We didn't learn from our mistakes and we didn't adapt to the conditions," Vettori told Radio Sport.

"Particularly our play of left-arm spin bowling left a lot to be desired and that's why were consistently in a hole of 60 for five in most games."

Questions have been asked about the individuals, structures and systems around the team, but Vettori considered that to be an irrelevance.

"Whatever system is put in place is irrelevant because it is up to the players to step up and make sure they're part of a winning team. That is my responsibility as captain, it ends with me as captain, I have to be in charge of a team which is winning games.

"We have had other systems in place, we tried other things when John Bracewell was the head coach and people revolted against that. Now people are starting to question my role as well.

"But if we get caught up in the systems we will go nowhere. It is up to the players to step up and do their jobs and it's up to me as captain to lead them in that manner."

Vettori, who has led the team since 2007, still plans to relinquish the captaincy after the World Cup starting in February in Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh, presumably to his deputy Taylor.

As the team's most experienced and leading player, his leadership role seems secure but Vettori acknowledged others might feel differently.

"I can see both sides of the argument. I would hate to leave the team in its darkest hour. I'd love the chance to lead this side out of it and hopefully be part of the solution.

"But if people above me think it's the right thing to do then I can see where they're coming from as well."

The 15-strong squad for the three-test leg of their Indian tour next month is due to be named on Sunday. The ODI squad for the five games to follow there is likely to be announced close to November 19, when the second round of Plunket Shield games ends. The first ODI is on November 28.

NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan will not be at the board meeting as he is taking a few days off recovering after a tumble while out cycling.

- Newstalk ZB/NZPA