Cricket: Vettori keeps faith in batting disorder

COLOMBO - Daniel Vettori has advocated the retention of New Zealand's under-performing batsmen even though their collective failure undermined any hope of test cricket success against Sri Lanka.

Vettori preached perseverance after ending the two-test series as New Zealand's most prolific batsman by a considerable margin.

The captain led by example, his aggregate for the series of 272 runs - including their only century and one of the five half-centuries - outscoring the next best, Ross Taylor, by 113.

Vettori would have preferred a member of his top or middle order to have topped the averages, but as a remodelled squad refocus on the limited overs component of the tour he went into bat for a test top order lacking the temperament to match their talent.
Tim McIntosh and Daniel Flynn were among the test specialists leaving the squad for home last night though they should be back on international duty in mid-November when Pakistan arrive for three tests.

Vettori would be reluctant to see wholesale changes made for that series and as he officially becomes a selector tomorrow his views carry extra weight.

"The big thing for me is consistency because we don't have people breaking down the door trying to make the team," he said.

"I back these guys and think they can turn around some performances.

"They've definitely got the talent to succeed at this level, they just have to apply themselves."

Maintaining the status quo appears inevitable given the lack of opportunities for any alternatives to impress before the Pakistanis arrive.

Opener McIntosh started the series with a gritty 69 but struggled thereafter, scoring 12 in his next three innings.

He could point to three debatable umpiring decisions but shouldering arms and losing off stump was hardly the ideal sign off.

Flynn closed his campaign with a fourth test fifty, the only highlight of a difficult tour as the first drop.

Martin Guptill's career as a test opener has also continued indifferently. The free-flowing scorer's weakness for the pull shot twice led to his downfall.

Guptill cruised into double figures every time but his highest score was 35, his longest innings 60 deliveries.

Jesse Ryder was more patient but, like Guptill, he could not convert four promising starts to at least a fifty.

Vettori said McIntosh, Flynn and Guptill deserved some leeway given they were making their first test tour of the subcontinent while Ryder only had two tests in Bangladesh under his belt.

"It was their first trip to the subcontinent .... and the first time they've experienced unorthodox bowlers like (Ajantha) Mendis and (Muttiah) Muralitharan."

However, Vettori added it was crucial they learned from the experience.

"At times we were guilty of being a bit aggressive and trying to take the game to the bowlers. When you have bowlers the class of Muralitharan you've just got to be patient and that's what the Sri Lankans did in this series.

"Once they got through the first 20-30 balls the intensity of their game never lifted, they just kept batting and batting.

"The tempo of their innings was magnificent and that's something we've struggled with."

Vettori hoped the benefits of the 0-2 series loss would be apparent against a Pakistani side armed with their own slow-bowling threat in Danish Kaneria and Saeed Ajmal.

"For our guys to face the sort of bowling they have and be successful at times is something they can take in to the next test matches," he said.

Meanwhile, Vettori also shouldered the bulk of the bowling workload, delivering 121.1 overs including 28 maidens while taking 10 wickets at 32.50.

Unfortunately runs flowed relatively freely from the other end.

The pitches were never going to suit seamers Chris Martin and Iain O'Brien; offspinner Jeetan Patel also struggled with his economy rate while taking seven for 389 at 55.57.

"Jeets had some tough days but I think he bowled to a high standard," Vettori said.

"Both of us understand it's hard for us to rip through a team."

- NZPA