Cricket 'We played like dicks' says Greatbatch

Black Caps' coach Mark Greatbatch. Photo / Getty Images

Black Caps' coach Mark Greatbatch has been blunt about the side's recent series loss to Bangladesh saying they 'played like dicks'.

Greatbatch, who has been under fire along with captain Daniel Vettori since returning from Bangladesh, told LiveSPORT this morning that the Black Caps 4-0 series loss was upsetting and that some players weren't good enough to play international cricket.

"When you play badly like that you've got to front up. It's very devastating. We played like dicks really and I suppose there's one positive thing, we've got a chance next week to actually put it right," he said.

When asked about the failings of the side's top order batsmen, Greatbatch was once again direct in his response.

"I think some aren't good enough. I think some think they are better than they are and the third one I think is the mind. We've got to get our mind right and sometimes that requires patience, sometimes it requires being aggressive. What it requires is actually sorting out the cricket smarts and weighing up the situation that you're playing in and we've got some work to do in all those areas."

Greatbatch denied that the big money earned in the Indian Premier League was changing players' priorities and affecting their focus on playing for their country.

"I do feel these guys want to play for their country. Just from my eight months experience being with them. They're training hard but at the end of the day it's just inexcusable to lose 4-0 to Bangladesh. We've really got to talk a hard look at ourselves.

"We had a nine hour meeting the other day looking at what we've done and what we haven't done and you can talk about structures for as long as you like but the reality is it's about the bat and ball, watching it, making good decisions and getting the hell stuck into the opposition. And we just haven't done that consistently."

Greatbatch also commented on Brendon McCullum's pending move up the order for that will see the 52-test veteran bat in the top three.

The Black Caps' coach said the move wasn't ideal but could help an area in the game where the team has struggled of late.

"We've had trouble in the top three. You look around with what we've got and with all due respect we not dealing with Pontings and Husseys or Smiths and Kallis's. We are dealing with some good players who we are trying to get better to become very good."

"I think maybe there is an opportunity for him (McCullum) to turn a new leaf with test cricket with batting and not keeping. He wants the challenge. Maybe we look at it and say 'Maybe it's not the ideal place to bat but you want it, you go and do it and you do it better than what we've had before'."

The Black Caps head to India on Saturday for three test matches and five one dayers.

India are currently ranked the top test nation in the world, having just beaten Australia in a two match series. The side have an impressive record at home losing just once in their last 14 tests.

Due to that home record Greatbatch told LiveSPORT he would be happy with two draws from the three test series.

- Herald online