McCullum: Our batting was pretty amateurish

New Zealand's Brendon McCullum reacts after being bowled by England's Mark Wood during the International Twenty20 cricket match between England and New Zealand. Photo / AP.

When coach Mike Hesson says New Zealand's Twenty20 loss today "was a very poor finish", expect the side's approach to undergo the cricketing equivalent of laparoscopic surgery ahead of next year's World T20 in India.

The 56-run defeat to England might be a one-off - the effect of having some tired tourists who have batted, bowled and fielded for the best part of nine months - but the loss of five wickets for four runs in 1.5 overs to end their chase for 192 was nothing short of a capitulation.

The middle order were chief culprits in the wider demise. Colin Munro had a second ball hoick across the line on one, Luke Ronchi attempted a fourth ball ramp on five, Tim Southee had a laissez-faire slap to mid-off first ball and Nathan McCullum paddled to a waiting fielder on three off nine. All were awkward shots which let down New Zealand's cause. Kane Williamson marched on playing conventional strokes until he was run out for 57 off 37.

There must be concerns the team, despite the top seven's consistency in all formats across the last 19 months, is too reliant on Williamson and Ross Taylor to deliver a platform which guarantees victories.

Details and personnel will likely be assessed as a result with a limited overs tour to Zimbabwe and South Africa set for August, and the latest batch of annual contracts out next week.

"To get to a position of 104 required off 12 overs with eight wickets in hand we were going along quite nicely," Hesson said. "[Afterwards] some amateur shots would be the nicest way to put it. England adapted well with the ball and we weren't able to front up.

"England also put us under pressure all series with the bat. At no stage did they regroup and take stock to create a partnership. They kept coming hard. At times that played into our hands but, on many occasions it didn't, and they got away on us."

Captain Brendon McCullum, who made 35 off 15, concurred.

"Some of our batting was pretty amateurish. We got ourselves in a good position and should have chased down the total. Our application when we needed it wasn't quite right."

Hesson believed the overall tour, which resulted in a tied test series 1-1, a ODI defeat 3-2 and T20 loss, earned a pass mark.

"It's difficult when you finish with such a poor last hour, It leaves a sour taste but there were good things on tour. We had new players which we wanted to introduce. We found out about some players leading into the next phase of short form cricket."

Hesson singled out Mitchell Santner as one. The 23-year-old was the best of the New Zealand bowlers today with two for 28 from his allotment, which included opening from the Pavilion end. He also impressed throughout the ODI series. Dropping a skyer off Jonny Bairstow in the deciding ODI was his only obvious glitch.

"Mitch came on tour as a batting all-rounder. I don't think we saw quite enough of him, but he's got a lot to offer. The more [international] cricket we get into him the better, especially with the bat. With the ball he showed excellent changes of pace, he's developing the undercutter and is going to be a good prospect."

He reserved his highest praise for Williamson when asked who he thought was the best player out of the New Zealand No.3 and Englishman Joe Root, who won man-of-the-match with 68 off 46.

"They play high percentage shots and score at a strike rate better than a run a ball. They score off both feet and play spin and pace well. There are probably 10 exciting years ahead for both to evolve. I'd hate to pick one, but I'm pretty happy to have Kane."

England captain Eoin Morgan was ecstatic with how the series evolved.

"This is a fantastic way to finish a great month of cricket. When you're trying to implement change within a group it's important to have successes along the way.

"We've done it the way we said we would. I want these guys to play with as much freedom as possible. Every game has epitomised what I want the team to be about."
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