Cricket: Batsmen face axe after Pakistan level series

NZ captain and selector Dan Vettori has hinted at changes after today's test defeat in Wellington. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand's inadequate batting unit should pay a high price for a continuing sequence of low scores in the aftermath of Pakistan's emphatic victory in the second cricket test at the Basin Reserve today.

The ease of Pakistan's 141-run win with more than a day to spare will likely have severe repercussion for some of the six specialist batsmen, with captain and selector Daniel Vettori forecasting changes ahead of Friday's third and final test at Napier's McLean Park.

New Zealand essentially lost any hope of wrapping up the series when being bowled out for 99 in 36.5 overs on Friday. An unlikely fourth innings pursuit of 405 petered out on 263 with a mammoth 148.9 overs still available.

Only Ross Taylor is immune from criticism, his 280 runs at 70 the solitary beacon of hope.

Opener Tim McIntosh shapes as a likely casualty, the left hander appearing ponderous against the left arm pace of Mohammad Aamer and new ball sidekick Mohammad Asif.

He has managed 37 runs in four innings at 9.25, 31 of his 37 runs coming in the second innings in Dunedin.

Daniel Flynn, the current No 3, has 57 at 14.25 while Peter Fulton's stand-in role for the injured Jesse Ryder had yielded just 42 at 10.5.

Asked if the under-performers deserved one last opportunity Vettori said: "I think a couple of guys are going to come under severe scrutiny.

"That's only right. That's the nature of test cricket, you get some chances but not many."

Vettori and fellow selectors Glenn Turner and Mark Greatbatch mulled over their options tonight -- the squad should be released tomorrow ahead of the team's relocation to Napier on Tuesday.

Northern Districts opener BJ Watling, former test opener Craig Cumming and limited overs specialist Neil Broom might come into contention on the strength of their run production in the Plunket Shield though in Vettori's words "everyone scoring runs will get a mention".

Delighted with his bowler's effort in dismissing Pakistan for 264 and 239, New Zealand's failure to reach three figures in their first innings took them out of the reckoning.

"It's pretty simple, it smacks us straight in the face," he said.

"It was devastating for our bowlers to do so well and then only bat for 36 overs.

"To bowl a team out for roughly 250 in both innings is a fantastic effort but we just couldn't back it up with the bat. That's been our problem for a long time.

"We're searching for ways to address it but we're not getting it right."

Pakistan, meanwhile have their own batting issues - and the catching woes continue - not that either weakness took the gloss off a first test win since South Africa were beaten at Port Elizabeth in January 2007.

"The team is very happy. We fought hard, especially the bowlers," said captain Mohammad Yousuf, who never doubted the side could bounce back from the 32-run loss in Dunedin.

"I believe in my team because everyone wants to win and we have the bowling to get 20 wickets."

Mohammad Asif, the destroyer-in-chief with nine wickets in this match and 17 for the series, said the key was to simply bowl in the right areas after he, coach Intikhab Alam and bowling mentor Aaqib Javed studied video of the New Zealand batsmen and jotted down deficiencies.

"I'm enjoying it here. My rhythm is coming and hopefully I can do well in the next game."

- NZPA