Cricket: Patience the word over shonky batting

Chris Martin. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand's penetrative though undermined bowlers have given their shonky batsmen the benefit of some extreme doubt by toeing the same diplomatic line issued by the selection panel.

An over-worked pace trio of Chris Martin, Daryl Tuffey and Iain O'Brien could be forgiven for giving New Zealand's top and middle order - minus Ross Taylor - a verbal bouncer or at least a withering glare after twice limiting Pakistan to what should have been sub-par totals at the Basin Reserve.

But the satisfaction in confining Pakistan to 264 in the opening innings of the second test was replaced by despair 36.5 overs later when Martin had to mark out his run-up well ahead of expectations.

New Zealand's 99 provided the platform for Pakistan's series-levelling win - and a potential clean-out by selectors of an under-performing top order.

Ultimately only Peter Fulton paid the price for New Zealand's lack of runs since a deceptive 429 first up in Dunedin, where three of the top six produced only 16 runs before a 164-run stand between Daniel Vettori and Brendon McCullum saved the day.

The panel of Vettori, Glenn Turner and Mark Greatbatch preached patience as Tim McIntosh, Daniel Flynn, Martin Guptill and Grant Elliott were retained for Friday's third and final test at Napier's McLean Park.

Martin, New Zealand's senior pace bowler, agreed, as the team left Wellington yesterday, though he could not deny the batsmen's failures were irritating for a bowling unit that continues to trouble the tourists despite Shane Bond's absence.

"It's difficult at times, but the team we've got at the moment, we all can look at each other in the eye pretty genuinely," the 34-year-old said.

"We all know we're giving 100 per cent. As difficult as it is to lose, we're sticking together."

While more personnel changes than Fulton's axing for new opener BJ Watling were expected, Martin said it would be unrealistic to cull all the strugglers.

"It's a tough call to pull your basic core of batters out of the side when you're three-quarters of the way through a series.

"These guys were under pressure coming into the series; they're still under pressure. They just need to get some runs. Most of the guys know this is a challenging moment in the series and their careers."

Since New Zealand opened the series at University Oval with a 400-plus innings that contained four half-centuries, the runs have dried up, except from Taylor.

He added 59 before he was needlessly run out in the second innings at Dunedin and also made 97 during the failed run chase in Wellington - Flynn's 20 was the next highest score before New Zealand fell 141 short.

Mohammad Asif has preyed on the specialist batsmen's indecisiveness, and Taylor is the only absentee from his list of 17 victims.

Martin expressed admiration for Asif and his exposing of New Zealand weaknesses.

"He exposing us because we're getting caught on the crease and not getting forward. We've got four days to work that out and turn up with a fresh and keener state of mind to attack him a little bit differently."

At least New Zealand's malfunctioning strokemakers might take solace from the decider playing out on what is traditionally the surest batting surface in the country.

Against India last summer New Zealand set up a potential win by amassing 619 - albeit after being in trouble at 23 for three. India was forced to follow on before holding out for a draw.

The previous Napier test against the West Indies should also hold fond memories for McIntosh, who made his only test hundred, while Flynn had a nuggety double of 57 and 33.

"There's always plenty of runs [in Napier]. There's plenty of toil for the bowlers," Martin said.

"There's a few individuals who will want hundreds, that's what we've been missing in this series so far. Napier is the perfect opportunity for that to come true."

- NZPA