Cricket: Taylor's plan to halt ODI slide

With every loss, the need for New Zealand to arrest their ODI slump grows.

The situation makes grim reading: New Zealand have come second in their last seven completed games. Their last win was in early August.

The next opportunity to record a 'W' in India comes tonight at Jaipur, one of the more popular tourist destinations with its stunning pink-walled buildings.

It is New Zealand's first visit to Jaipur in 55 years of touring the country. Forget the cameras, though.

Things are getting serious, with a World Cup fast approaching, players looking to nail down selection, and form needing to be found sharpish.

"Like T20, one-day cricket is all about momentum," senior batsman Ross Taylor said yesterday.

That can cut two ways and right now New Zealand have it all heading downhill.

They lost the opening ODI by 40 runs in Guwahati, minus their two best players, captain Dan Vettori and wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum, recovering from strained backs.

They cannot return soon enough.

However, there is another casualty in the squad, with new ball veteran Daryl Tuffey out of the tour. He strained a bicep during Sunday's loss and follows Jesse Ryder on an early flight out of India.

Tuffey will not be replaced at this stage, with Tim Southee or James Franklin set to take his place tonight.

New Zealand want to give players a chance to push their World Cup claims, but beating India must be the priority.

"There's a balance," said coach Mark Greatbatch. "We want both really, but we will try to put out our best side wherever possible.

"There may be one or two spots going where we really want to look at players in a certain position. But we definitely want to be competitive and try to win games. That's a big part of preparation for next year."

India rested several of their finest for the ODI series, but New Zealand should have seen Virat Kohli coming.

The 22-year-old, who led India to the under-19 World Cup title two years ago, is highly regarded in a land not short of gifted batsmen. He hit a run-a-ball century in Guwahati, his fourth in 36 ODIs and is averaging a juicy 46.55.

Kohli was one of four victims for left-armer Andy McKay, although four for 62 was a rather pricey return from 10 overs.

Still, McKay is in there to get wickets and as a captain you cannot always have everything you want.

His first two overs cost 17 and his last went for 15. But he had his moments in between.

Although the batting did not do the job in Guwahati, McKay also fingered some of New Zealand's bowling as part of the problem.

"We probably didn't have the aggression and intent in our first 25 overs that we showed in the second," the 30-year-old qualified physiotherapist said yesterday.

McKay knows he's not been picked as a line and length stock option. He's now got 16 wickets in his 10 ODIs at a useful 21.75 apiece. Swing and beating the bat are his objectives.

New Zealand need to change gears, and the sooner the better.

"The main thing is to know your role, know your own game and trust it. Basically, just back yourself," McKay said.

Early evening dew is evidently a factor in Jaipur at this time of year. This is the first of three day-nighters in the series, and an important decision awaits the successful captain at the toss.

Of 17 ODIs at Jaipur, the successful coin tosser has fielded 10 times and won. India have won six tosses there, fielded five times and won the lot. There's a message somewhere in there.

ONE-DAY INTERNATIONAL SQUADS

NEW ZEALAND

Dan Vettori (c), Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill, Jamie How, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Grant Elliott, Kane Williamson, James Franklin, Gareth Hopkins, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Daryl Tuffey, Tim Southee, Andy McKay.

INDIA

Gautam Gambhir (c), Murali Vijay, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Saurabh Tiwary, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravi Ashwin, Ashish Nehra, Vinay Kumar, Munaf Patel, Praveen Kumar, Sreesanth, Yusuf Pathan, Ravindra Jadeja.

SECOND ODI AT JAIPUR

*Starting 9.45 tonight