Greatbatch: there will be Black Caps changes

BY DUNCAN JOHNSTONE

Last updated 12:59 10/03/2010

TVNZ

The Black Caps will push their key men higher up the batting order as they look to keep the Chappell-Hadlee series alive against Australia at Eden Park.

STACEY SQUIRES/The Press

REPLACEMENT: Peter Ingram has emerged as the favourite to replace Jesse Ryder for next month's tri-series in Sri Lanka.

Audio: Greatbatch on Black Caps line-up

Black Caps v Australia - 3rd ODI

1 of 15

MARK TAYLOR/Waikato Times Zoom

Brad Haddin gets 100 runs.

Black Caps coach Mark Greatbatch

1 of 0

Zoom

Photos of new Black Caps cricket coach Mark Greatbatch.

Relevant offers

Cricket

England county cricketer jailed for match-fixing 'Shape up or ship out' the newest Wellington way Knights steady after first day against Stags Sri Lanka hammer Australia in shortened match First-day honours to Otago Virtual Eye not designed for decision referrals Black Caps to put Proteas in a spin England cruise to T20 victory over White Ferns Australian Symonds retires from pro cricket CD take late wicket as Plunket Shield resumes

Coach Mark Greatbatch says there will be changes to the Black Caps for tomorrow's do-or-die clash with Australia at Eden Park.

New Zealand headed to Auckland needing a win to keep the series alive after Australia's comprehensive win in Hamilton on Tuesday night that gave the tourists a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

Greatbatch reported pleasing progress on the injuries to Daryl Tuffey (calf) and James Franklin (hamstring).

They would be assessed after training on Wednesday and if fit they are likely to slot back into the team to bolster the bowling attack.

But Greatbatch hinted there would be changes to the batting department as well after the Black Caps failed to post a competitive target for the Aussies yesterday.

"I would say you are going to see some changes ... up the order," Greatbatch said.

"We are losing wickets early, we seem to have a reasonable run rate ... but you could see changes there."

It could be a change in personnel or it could be a change in the order with Greatbatch saying they needed to get their key batsmen in the right positions. He nominated skipper Dan Vettori among those batsmen.

"I think we might have missed a beat with Dan, he is a bit reluctant to go up. But we need to get our best players in certain areas of that order to create that momentum we are looking for.

"You have to give players opportunities ...that's what it is about. But you have to balance it with your best players."

Greatbatch didn't hide from the disappointing performance in Hamilton but believed New Zealand could bounce back.

"We got a bit of a lesson yesterday, probably for the first time in the series. We need to readjust and go back and look to counteract what they are putting in front of us.

"We did bits ... we went towards it but we didn't execute. We need to stay long in the game with Australia and if you don't you go backwards."

Ad Feedback

- © Fairfax NZ News