Guptill agrees with Hadlee's call for Tests

New Zealand

New Zealand batsman Martin Guptill agrees with Sir Richard Hadlee's comments about the side's lack of Test cricket, saying the Black Caps can only improve if they are given more chances to play the longest format.

New Zealand batsman Martin Guptill agrees with Sir Richard Hadlee's comments about the side's lack of Test cricket, saying the Black Caps can only improve if they are given more chances to play the longest format.

While the Kiwis have a respected limited-overs set-up, their Test side is in eighth place on the ICC rankings. Former Black Cap Hadlee was critical of India's attempts to reduce their tour fixtures from three Tests to two.

Hadlee said: "It appears our value to other countries is not significant enough to keep us long enough in their country to make decent money. I think there should be some commitment to honour future tour programmes."

India are due to go to New Zealand in February next year, and Guptill, who has been playing in the Caribbean Premier League, hopes the Test side will soon be recognised as a valuable opponent, and sides will want to play against them more often.

Guptill, who has been ruled out for a while with a broken hand, responded to the Kiwi legend's comments, saying: "It puts us out there and hopefully people will take notice.

"From what I read, Sir Richard's comments were more to do with Test cricket than anything else and we are struggling a little in the Test game at the moment.

"The only way we can get better is by playing more Tests and if that can come in the next few years and we can keep developing as a team then who knows where we can go from there."

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