Cricket: Test failure may demote Twose

LONDON - Wellington's Roger Twose may stake a claim to bat at No 3 in the second cricket test against England at Lord's later this month.

The 31-year-old lefthander missed out in both innings in the first test and his days as an opening bat for New Zealand look limited.

He failed to score in either innings, falling to a catch in the slips to the third ball he faced in the first innings and being trapped leg before wicket to his first delivery in the second.

In the county game against Somerset, Twose made four and 26 as his World Cup run-scoring feast dried up.

Coach Steve Rixon said they would look at an option of batting Twose at three.

The decision centres on how he bats in the next two county games against Hampshire and Kent before the Lord's test, starting on July 22.

"We could look at Roger batting three. That's one option," Rixon said. "There are two county games before the second test and the players know they have to perform to get selected for Lord's."

Twenty-two-year-old Matthew Bell could join Matthew Horne to open the batting providing he shows some form. His only score on tour so far is 19 against British Universities at Oxford two weeks ago.

Bell must get runs against Hampshire or Kent to show he deserves the floor at Lord's.

If Bell comes into the line-up and Twose does enough to warrant a place at No 3, this would push Stephen Fleming down to four and put the test place of Nathan Astle or Craig McMillan under threat.

They batted freely in the games before the first test but were unable to bat for long periods at Edgbaston.

The tour selectors seem reluctant to bump Adam Parore up the order. Parore top scored with 73 off 140 balls in the first innings at Edgbaston.

It was not only his highest test score against England but it saved New Zealand from embarrassment on the first day.

The condition of the Edgbaston pitch was never offered as an excuse but it didn't help the New Zealand batsmen.

Former England fast bowler Fred Trueman called the Edgbaston track a lottery.

"The wicket for the first test was a total disgrace. No one could bat for any length of time and if the Kiwis had not bowled short in the England second innings they might have won by 100 runs," he said.

None of the New Zealand bowlers would be satisfied with their efforts at the weekend which will give left-armer Shayne O'Connor extra incentive when he gets his chance over the next fortnight.

New Zealand strangely has a one-day game against Sri Lanka A at Milton Keynes, north of London, on Wednesday before they begin their four-day match against Hampshire at Southampton on Friday. - NZPA