nzherald.co.nz has live scoring of the fourth ODI from 2pm today.
A mountain of words have been flying about how New Zealand can get themselves back into the ODI series against India.
The main thrust revolves around their bowling. It has been more poodle than German Shepherd against India's power-packed batting lineup, which has propelled them to a 2-0 lead in the five-game series.
Bowlers have been unable to find, and stick, to the right areas under the Indian batting siege. The results have been gruesome.
At the heart of the issue ahead of the fourth match at Seddon Park today is this: how should New Zealand go about rectifying what has been a strength and on the evidence of the last week is a significant liability?
Or, as vice-captain Brendon McCullum put it yesterday: "Is it a skill issue in terms of not being able to implement those plans or is it a mental issue of being apprehensive and almost trying too hard not to get hurt?"
The suspicion is the second. Having good length deliveries dispatched to, or over, the fence has produced body language of the Stan Laurel head-scratching variety. Self belief has to be strong today or they haven't a prayer.
Senior fast-medium bowler Kyle Mills, off his game since returning from an Achilles strain picked up in Australia last month, is someone captain Dan Vettori - who returns today after the birth of his first child on Sunday - would usually bank on.
"I've probably let the side down in the last couple of games," Mills said yesterday.
"I do feel they're targeting me a little bit so I have been trying to stay a step ahead."
Mills, who played his 100th ODI in Christchurch, believes one positive is that the bowlers know where they're going wrong.
"It's not as if we're going to be searching for anything. We have been successful against the best in the world. These are things we can fix."
Some good news, for the New Zealand bowlers if not the crowd today: Sachin Tendulkar is unlikely to play after damaging a stomach muscle during his 163 in Christchurch on Sunday.
New Zealand will consider batting first for a change if they win the toss today, as much to do something different as that it necessarily gives them a stronger chance of victory.
But Christchurch showed putting up big scores isn't the issue right now. McCullum predicted plenty of runs today.
Coach Andy Moles said this week India are "wonderful cricketers, but they're not supermen". He's right.
New Zealand have to step up today. They must win, and again at Eden Park on Saturday, to square the series and protect a proud home record. The game is a 10,500 sellout.
Pakistan's embattled but optimistic cricket chairman Ijaz Butt said yesterday he was confident of his country again hosting international cricket "within six to nine months".
He also believes Pakistan will take its place as co-host of the 2011 World Cup, despite the Lahore terror attack last week.
Indian Premier League bosses have refused to allow the world players' body Fica to be involved in planning security for next month's Twenty20 tournament.
Fica chief executive Tim May said his organisation would be "unable to
provide any comfort regarding security measures ... it will certainly
make it more difficult for us to provide a positive report for the players".
