Cricket: Attack must disown the one-ton zone

By RICHARD BOOCK

NAPIER - The joke currently doing the rounds in these parts goes something like this: What do you call a New Zealand cricketer with a hundred beside his name? Answer: a bowler.

Of all the problems facing New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming in today's fifth one-day international against Australia, the frequent disappearance of the ball while his side are fielding is causing the biggest headache.

Not only has his depleted attack struggled to take wickets against the tourists, it has also given up 901 runs off just 147.4 overs in the series so far (including the washout), leaving Fleming desperate to avoid a repeat at McLean Park today.

New Zealand's batsmen have fared much better despite producing only one individual century in the past 27 ODIs, but the way things have been going lately, the bowlers - who have come closer to three figures than most of the batsmen - seem more likely to bring up the next milestone.

The great disappointment is that, without Dion Nash, Geoff Allott and Gavin Larsen, New Zealand's remaining senior bowlers have been on a downward spiral precisely when they need to be firing.

Chris Cairns, perhaps because he is the only New Zealand bowler of genuine pace, seems to be striving for an extra yard against the Australians and as a result has strayed, while the attack has struggled to work as a combination - with only one maiden over (from Daniel Vettori in Auckland) delivered in the series so far.

Australia's bowlers have also been collared on a couple of occasions, but the difference is that they have been able to bowl their hosts out - in Auckland and Dunedin - and taken nine wickets in Christchurch.

In contrast, New Zealand have captured just 16 wickets in four matches (including one in the abandoned ODI at Wellington) as Australia reached totals of 119 for one (23 overs), 123 for five (24.4), 310 for four (50) and 349 for six (50).

The New Zealand selectors, who responded to the tourists' first 300-plus total by dropping a batsman, and the record 349 by axing the wicket-keeper, have recalled two of the bowlers they discarded after the second ODI - Paul Wiseman and Simon Doull - and Fleming says the added variation is critical.

"We've got different personnel now which may be the only change, but we might try something different as well.

"We're only 50 overs away from beating Australia because we've been okay batting-wise. We just need to cough up something extra in the field and with the ball. So far we've put no pressure on the opposition, but the aim is obviously to keep them to about 250, which is a more realistic chase."

The pitch at McLean Park is expected to be better than the surface prepared for the one-dayer against the West Indies in January, and Fleming is expected to bat first if he wins his fifth consecutive toss - particularly given the manner in which the Australians RSVP'd his last invitation.

Doull and Wiseman seem likely to play, possibly at the expense of Robert Kennedy and Scott Styris, but New Zealand have not always been logical during this series and nothing would surprise.

Meanwhile, the Australians may recall Glenn McGrath and Matthew Hayden, with Brett Lee and Andrew Symonds taking a spell, although Steve Waugh said yesterday he might play all three quick bowlers.

New Zealand (from): Stephen Fleming (capt), Nathan Astle, Mathew Sinclair, Roger Twose, Chris Cairns, Craig McMillan, Chris Harris, Chris Nevin, Daniel Vettori, Simon Doull, Paul Wiseman, Scott Styris, Robert Kennedy.

Australia (from): Steve Waugh (capt), Adam Gilchrist, Mark Waugh, Matthew Hayden, Michael Bevan, Damien Martyn, Andrew Symonds, Shane Lee, Ian Harvey, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Damien Fleming, Glenn McGrath.