Craig McMillan: Kane Williamson is the best No.3 in the world

Kane Williamson. Photo / Getty

New Zealand batting coach Craig McMillan backs captain Kane Williamson as the best No 3 batsman in world cricket.

McMillan was speaking after New Zealand's embarrassing three-day, eight-wicket loss to South Africa in the second test at the Basin Reserve, in which world No 2-ranked batsman Williamson had his worst return in a test with two completed innings.

Williamson made two and one in the match, facing just 16 balls.

He was beaten and lbw to a good delivery from seamer Kagiso Rabada on the testing first morning of the match, then caught behind off a superb Morne Morkel ball in the second.

That double came against a backdrop of Australian skipper Steve Smith, the one batsman in the game ranked ahead of Williamson, and who also bats No 3, having hit two centuries in the fractious current series against India, and has four hundreds in his last six tests.

The question arose today on the back of another failure for opener Tom Latham - 24 runs in three innings in the series, following a string of poor ODI returns - and the absence of regular No 4 Ross Taylor through a minor calf tear.

Would a drop down one place give Williamson a bit more breathing space? McMillan wouldn't hear of it.

''The reality is when you bat No 3 quite often you can be an opener," he said.

''The new ball bowlers are fresh, there's difficult conditions. Kane is mentally strong around that. It's a position he enjoys and I don't see any point tweaking that."

Both Taylor and swing bowler Trent Boult will join the New Zealand squad for the deciding third test in Hamilton on Tuesday. The test begins next Saturday.

McMillan was reluctant to give a specific indication on the likelihood of either player being ready for the third test.

Boult, who picked up an upper leg injury before the Basin test, had a short bowl yesterday and came through it well, he said.

On Taylor, McMillan said the first question was whether he would be fit enough for the test.

''You can't take players into a test against South Africa who aren't fully fit.

''I haven't spoken to him for a couple of days but I'm sure he is keen. He loves playing there and he's done well in recent times."

Don't expect any bolters coming into the squad when it's named tomorrow.

''We've got the best players in New Zealand in the squad," McMillan said. ''They certainly showed in Dunedin (in the drawn first test) that they are good enough to play well and compete.

''Yesterday they didn't stand up. Yesterday was a terrible day. To lose within three days is unacceptable and the group is hurting and disappointed."

Their failure to handle South Africa's spin bowling, in conditions where the ball wasn't turning much, was particularly galling.

It was a doubly bad day for coach Mike Hesson, who picked up a stomach virus and had to watch the carnage, all out 171 in their second innings, from his hotel room. He was still below par today.

The squad will reassemble in Hamilton on Wednesday.