Cricket: Pacemen in the gun as Fleming bemoans lost opportunity

1.00pm - By MARK GEENTY

LEEDS - New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming felt let down by his pace spearheads Daryl Tuffey and Chris Martin as changes appear certain for the third cricket test with the series already gone.

England cruised to their fifth win from their last six tests yesterday, while New Zealand slumped to a third straight defeat when the hosts clinched the series by nine wickets, just an hour and 20 minutes into the final day of the second test.

Some hefty hitting from Jacob Oram helped New Zealand stagger to 161 in their second innings but it only meant a target of 45 for England which they achieved in eight overs.

Fleming, having 10 weeks ago presided over one of New Zealand's finest test wins against South Africa in Auckland, was a wounded captain and in no doubt where the problem lay.

Delighted with scoring a better than par 409 after being sent in to bat, New Zealand's bowlers conceded 526 at just under four an over as Tuffey and Martin took just three wickets between them.

"The penetration we had with the ball was pretty nil, on a wicket that offered a lot throughout," said Fleming who admitted he was stumped as to why Tuffey and Martin were down on pace from their impressive home summers.

"I haven't come up with anything. There were probably more helpful conditions here as well.

"Technically it's a question for John (Bracewell, New Zealand coach), but it is disappointing that we haven't had the returns we'd hoped for.

"We had reason to hope for after their performances in New Zealand, it hasn't been the case and it's proved very costly."

Tuffey has struggled for rhythm all tour after his layoff with a knee injury and could face the axe, Martin had some sharp moments but couldn't always control the Duke ball, while Cairns doesn't have his old spark and struggles in the third seamer's role.

Left-armer James Franklin, who joined the side from nearby Blackburn for the departing Shane Bond, has a good chance of playing his third test for some much-needed variation while Oram is likely to return to the bowling crease.

"We're going to have to look at what we want to do with the test match. Obviously win it, but maybe get some young players in there who will taste the experience of an England test," Fleming said.

"At the moment we're below par, and have been beaten soundly twice.

"I'm lying if I say we're not demoralised because we've just lost a series."

New Zealand limped away from Headingley physically and mentally battered as they contemplated a series they were confident of winning.

A tribute to the retiring Cairns is now their motivation for the Trent Bridge test starting on Thursday.

Opener Michael Papps just managed to squeeze a glove over his swollen and broken left little finger to bravely bat at No 9, but faced just three deliveries.

He will likely make way for Craig McMillan who has a similar injury but was batting in the nets soon afterwards.

The biggest cloud is over spinner Daniel Vettori who was off his crutches today but still walking gingerly on the left hamstring he tore in the field yesterday.

It would take a miraculous recovery for him to play, meaning New Zealand will go in without a spinner as there isn't enough time for Bruce Martin or Paul Wiseman to arrive.

From 102 for five overnight, Oram cracked 36 not out off 31 balls including two huge sixes off Matthew Hoggard, but the other big hopes Scott Styris and Cairns offered just 29 between them and Vettori wasn't fit to bat.

England speedster Stephen Harmison, one of the form bowlers in world cricket, took three for 57 to take seven for the match and 15 scalps from two tests in the series.

- NZPA