Cricket: Hesson won't pressure McCullum to continue

Black Caps coach Mike Hesson talks to media in Melbourne this morning. Photo / Brett Phibbs

With increasing speculation over the ODI future of New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum, coach Mike Hesson said today he won't be putting extra pressure on the captain to stay on.

McCullum was dismissed in the first over of yesterday's World Cup final against Australia and if it was to be his last 50-over international it was a grim way to end his time.

"I won't be twisting anyone's arm," Hesson said today.

"I think it's important to have people who really want to play. I have no doubt we'll find out in the next wee while who those (players) are."

However there's no mistaking McCullum's importance to New Zealand's development as an ODI side to match the best.

"Brendon's been huge for us over the last period of time, not just the last six weeks.

"He sets the tone and the guys love to play for him."

Hesson laid off the controversy over the verbal sendoffs given to three New Zealand players, Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill and Dan Vettori. Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin was prominent in the chat.

''Different teams play the game different ways," he said.

''We are pretty proud of the way we go about things. We like to play hard, and other teams do it slightly differently, but that's the nature of the game.

''Australia were too good for us yesterday."

Haddin has today claimed New Zealand players deserved a spray because he had received plenty at Eden Park, when New Zealand won a pool A cliffhanger by one wicket on February 28.

Elliott, whose 83 was by a distance New Zealand's finest individual performance in a disappointing final, took a light hearted view of the issue.

''There were 93,000 people out there and I'm sure a lot of things were said around the stadium.

''You don't hear much of it and what happens on the field stays on the field. It was just friendly banter out there."

He did admit it was ''good to hear how well the Aussies rated me as a player".

He also pointed out in the ''heat of the contest" everyone wants to win.

''I enjoyed it. It was great fun, I really did enjoy it."

Hesson acknowledged the force of Australia's bowling attack in assessing the final. New Zealand, having won the toss, were 39 for three and with backs to the wall.

''They were just relentless. I don't think it was necessarily pace. I think the fact is they are damn skillful to go with it.

''In the first 15 overs, the way they attacked the top three, they got the better of us, and that's why it was so good the way Grant and Ross (Taylor) counter-punched.

''They came back at us again (at the start of the power play when New Zealand lost two wickets in the first three balls) and we weren't able to cope with that extra wave."

Hesson wouldn't nominate a personal highlight out of the cup campaign.

''There's been a few. Every game we've played, someone has stood up and played a huge part and often someone different. I can't think of one individual, but Tim (Southee), Guppy (Martin Guptill), Kane (Williamson), Grant (Elliott) to name a few."

However Hesson said ''you don't make a World Cup final if you're relying on one or two people.

''It showed from No 1 to 11 we've got matchwinners and I think you need that."

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