Cricket: Lack-of-form Guptill needs time at the crease

A lot has been said and written about the lack of form of opener Martin Guptill. Photo / Getty Images

Host fans want to see a bullish Brendon McCullum every game because he's captain but it may be a good chance for Tom Latham to make an appearance.

"What better opportunity than to play on a McLean Park wicket because we know it'll be an absolute belter," Mathew Sinclair said yesterday before Sunday's game against Afghanistan.

"But, then again, you're playing in one of the best wickets in New Zealand so everyone wants to see our batsmen get more form behind them."

A lot has been said and written about the lack of form of opener Martin Guptill but Sinclair said he was a foil for fellow opener McCullum when facing the new balls, so it was essential he got crease time to "put his plan into action".

He said the middle-order collapse against Australia hinged around nervousness, a rollercoaster emotion that fans rode with the batsmen.

"It was very good bowling from Mitchell Starc but it was the whole euphoria around us and the packed park that probably gave the batsmen those nerves."

What pleased Sinclair was Kane Williamson and Corey Anderson stepping up, although the latter struggled earlier on.

Despite the skin-of-the-teeth scenario, he felt it was a timely yardstick to measure the players' character and resolve.

New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and India will be the last four when the dust settles.

"Gauging between India and Sri Lanka at the moment it'll be great if we can face Sri Lanka because we've had it over them."

While India have a batting line up that is among the elite Sinclair feels Kiwi batsmen also can give the defending champions' bowlers some decent stick.

However, he hastened to add even England could force their way into the semifinals "and that's going to be a disastrous result".