Martin Guptill of New Zealand is congratulated as he leaves the pitch after the Semi-Final match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between India and New Zealand. Photo / Getty Images.
Martin Guptill of New Zealand is congratulated as he leaves the pitch after the Semi-Final match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between India and New Zealand. Photo / Getty Images.
Martin Guptill says it has been impossible to ignore the criticism of his batting, but remains confident he can step up when it matters most for the Black Caps.
The out-of-form opener has been having a tough time in the UK, averaging a paltry 11.75 in his last eight innings.
The murmurings of discontent have grown with each failure and the 32-year-old did not try and hide the fact it had taken a toll.
"It's bloody tough," Guptill told 1 News. "You try not to read what people are writing and hear what people are saying but it's hard to tear away from it all.
"In this tournament it's all-encompassing. It is hard and the hard work probably goes unseen."
"The last couple of nets I've probably felt the best I have since I've been here. I've put a lot of time in and for it not to be working out in the middle it's frustrating. People can say they're frustrated with me but no one is more frustrated than what I am.
"I'm just trying to carry on with what I've been doing, work hard in the nets and hopefully in the next game it all comes together."
New Zealand's Martin Guptill during the nets session at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester. Photo / Getty Images.
Black Caps coach Gary Stead said he remained confident in Guptill and his big-match experience.
"Martin played beautifully in the nets today, and we're just trying to get that freedom into him and playing that way," said Stead. "Who knows, there's no promises in cricket, you could change the order and the guy coming in could go and get a first-baller as well – that's just the way the game works.
"I'm still confident, Martin has a lot of big-match experience under his belt, he's scored a lot of 100s and very big 100s for New Zealand and he's done it in England in the past as well. So hopefully he can show what's on offer on Sunday."
Black Caps batting coach Craig McMillan said Guptill was in great spirits after playing a pivotal role with his brilliant run-out MS Dhoni all-but sending the Kiwis into the final.
MS Dhoni, of India, is run out by Martin Guptill, of New Zealand, during resumption of the semifinal match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between India and New Zealand. Photo / Getty Images
"It was great to see a smile on the face. We haven't seen a lot of that in recent times, and I think that will actually flow into his batting as well."
Ross Taylor said the opportunity is still there for Guptill to make the most important impact on the tournament, in the final.
"You've got to feel for anyone in that situation, he's not batting as well as he'd like and he's low on confidence and you've got to pump his tires up as much as possible," said Taylor. "We talked about it before the game, and said 'Hey – even if you don't score any runs, there's still an opportunity in the final if we win the game'."
