Writings on wall for Kiwi batsmen
February 27th, 2008, 3:19 am Hobbies News
New Zealand cricket followers may well be in for a long, tough test series %26mdash; or it could be better described as a short and easy test series for the English if yesterday is a good gauge.
It seems harsh but the writing does appear to be on the wall.
Despite New Zealand winning the one-day series against England with relative ease, New Zealands lack of ability to bat long periods is likley to play havoc during the next month in the test match form of the game with that fault being highlighted yesterday morning at the University Oval in Dunedin during an invitational 11s game against England.
Four of New Zealands likely top five batsmen in the test series got their chance to take on England in what was an ideal chance to shine, but all four failed in less than promising fashion during the invitational teams first innings.
In reply to Englands 369 for nine on day one of the two-day match the invitational 11, made up of fringe Otago players and Black Cap test prospects, didnt do too much to wow the small crowd with the composite team all out for just 146 before it was made to follow on.
Test opener Matthew Bell nicked one behind off the bowling of Matthew Hoggard, departing for a duck, before Peter Fulton and Stephen Fleming both fell victim to soft dismissals.
Fleming chipped a ball from a leg stump line straight to square-leg from the bowling of Steve Harmison, while Fulton spooned a cut shot straight to point when he was yet to get off the mark.
Fulton also went from the bowling of Harmison, who wasnt excactly dangerous with the ball during his opening spell.
Harmison bowled two sides of the wicket and lacked control during his opening spell but he still did enough to knock the top off the invitational 11, with the four test prospects managing just seven runs between them in the first innings.
New Zealand is likely to go into the series against England with a top order well out of form barring possibly Jamie How, who is likely to open the batting in front of Otago captain Craig Cumming who partnered Matthew Bell during the Bangladesh series.
Fulton did look much more comfortable during his second turn at bat yesterday during his knock of 33 but earlier in the day he was out of sorts during a 16-ball duck and his test spot looks to be hanging in the balance.
Ross Taylor is another option for a test call-up but his record in the longer form of the game is patchy.
Taylor and How will play in an invitational team for a three-day game against England starting in Dunedin tomorrow, while Fulton and Sinclair will also get one last chance to prove their worth in the game.
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