Cricket: Tough words from former batsman

JOHN MORRISON says the New Zealanders need a major change of attitude, not more resting time.

"Tired? They don't bat long enough to get tired."

That was the response from former international John Morrison to the news that the New Zealand cricketers had been given two days off to recharge their batteries after the seven-wicket loss to South Africa in the second test at Port Elizabeth.

Instead of being in the nets brushing up on batting technique, the New Zealanders were yesterday relaxing on a Port Elizabeth beach ahead of the third test starting tomorrow in Johannesburg.

Morrison said he was sick of hearing about tired sports teams made up of well-paid professionals.

"This tired rubbish has got out of hand. Do you and I go home every night complaining we are tired after being in an office for hours on end? Of course not," he said.

"Yet here are the cricketers playing in a nice environment, living in top hotels with balanced diets and no stresses about money, moaning about being exhausted.

"That is what grates on the average punter, most of whom would give their right arm to be in their position.

"The reason they have been soundly beaten by South Africa is not tiredness. The problem is they do not believe absolutely in themselves. They do not believe they are good enough to beat teams such as Australia and South Africa.

"[Captain] Stephen Fleming made a telling comment when he said of South Africa that 'they beat us mentally and physically.' What he meant was that they were too tough for us.

"We footed it with South Africa for 3 1/2 days then caved in psychologically. Our batsmen get themselves out mentally because the pressure is too much for them."

The New Zealanders have been plagued by injuries this year, but they received little sympathy from Morrison on that score.

"Sportspeople only started being ill when we gave them doctors. All the hangers-on would be out of business without illness and injury.

"When I was last coaching, a doctor who was really into cricket volunteered to help out. A few weeks later I was a little late for training and found six of the players queuing up to see the doc. That was the end of the doctor, and the players had no problems training."

Morrison said the New Zealanders were a product of their home environment.

For the past 10 to 15 years mediocrity had been promoted, he said. Clubs were not allowed to have A or B teams. They had to be Dolphins and Penguins so no one could identify which was the top side.

"It has all rubbed off on our top sportsmen. Deep down they do not believe they can beat the South Africans and Australians, whereas those countries believe it is their destiny to win."

- NZPA