Cricket: Hunt on for pace spearhead

NZ fast bowler Chris Martin has taken just one wicket in the two-test series against Australia. Photo / Getty Images

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The search for a New Zealand cricket pace spearhead will continue over winter as they eye three subcontinent tours, with their most senior quick's international future under a cloud.

Chris Martin, for so long captain Daniel Vettori's go-to man with the new ball, wasn't required to bowl on day four of the second test as Australia's batsmen rattled up 511 for eight to set a target of 479.

New Zealand were teetering at 185 for five at stumps, with Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill still at the crease after speedster Mitchell Johnson (three for 39) ripped through the top-order.

Martin, 35, took one for 261 in the two-test series and despite some sharp spells, he struggled to maintain his pace and accuracy for long periods.

Selector/coach Mark Greatbatch admitted to concerns about Martin, who has bounced back in the past.

"He's had a tough couple of tests, his rhythm's not quite right but he's trying hard. He's an experienced player for New Zealand and taken 180 test wickets and you go through those tough periods," Greatbatch said.

There was a positive amid the pace bowling ranks, too, with Northern Districts seamer Brent Arnel, 31, continuing an impressive debut series with three for 77 off 26 overs in the second innings runfest.

He bowled at a reasonable clip and seamed the ball both ways as Australian centurymaker Simon Katich labelled him the toughest of the home bowlers.

"I've been really impressed by him, he's hit the deck hard," Greatbatch said.

"He's been in the wings a bit and been 12th man. He said when he got picked in the squad 12 months ago he wasn't quite physically strong enough, or mentally, but the year's gone by and he's come in and done really well."

New Zealand's next international assignments are the Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean then a one-day series in Sri Lanka, with the next test series not until the tour of Bangladesh in September or October, before a full tour of India late in the year.

Left-armer Andy McKay (foot stress fracture) is perhaps seen as a potential spearhead at 140km/h-plus, as few new quickies having emerged in domestic cricket this season.

"That's a development area and has been for 12 months. It doesn't happen overnight. There are guys coming through but I don't want to mention them, it's unfair on them. We've got some winter tours coming up for them," Greatbatch said.

Johnson showed the New Zealand pacemen how it was done, reaching 152km/h as he knocked over Tim McIntosh, BJ Watling and Ross Taylor to give him seven wickets for the test with a day to play.

Said Greatbatch: "You've still got to be positive and look to score when he bowls bad balls but in that spell he didn't bowl many bad balls.

"His plan was to get guys back, even on a slow deck he was banging the ball in and getting it up there with his angle."

- NZPA