Cricket: First drop horrors for Kane

The Black Caps have risked shattering Kane Williamson's confidence by batting him at three in the disastrous limited overs series against India.

The 20-year-old has now played nine 50-over one-day internationals and has lost every one except his debut, when New Zealand thrashed India by 200 runs in Dambulla on August 10.

Williamson was left out of the starting line-up on Tuesday but before that had been expected to fill the key position of first drop.

However, he has been required at the crease before the end of the seventh over on each occasion - and by the fourth ball in the third match when Brendon McCullum was dismissed for a first ball duck.

His has been a stern baptism in the international one-day ranks, given his first five innings before this series elicited three ducks, a 13 and a century.

It raises the question whether Ross Taylor - a man also struggling for form - needs to take responsibility as the senior batsman and vice-captain by moving up a spot.

Williamson is unlikely to stay at first drop during the World Cup. A fit Jesse Ryder will join Brendon McCullum to open and Martin Guptill has probably done enough to cement the No 3 spot, leaving Williamson to come in at six after Taylor and Scott Styris.

Williamson has received exposure and experience in the No 3 role, albeit at the expense of the team. He has compiled 75 runs - including three decent starts - at a strike rate of just 51, which has left New Zealand with limited momentum.

Williamson is a No 3 for the future but needs time to adjust to his place in the team first. He proved his future potential for No 3 spot by batting there in nine of Northern Districts' 11 matches on their way to the domestic one-day championship last season.

His batting was sublime, if not a fraction slow with a strike rate of 82. But that is quibbling, given his ability as an anchor.

Williamson averaged 85.71 from first drop and, in his last eight innings, scored two unbeaten centuries, with just one score less than 69.