Selectors back Rutherford for second Test
New Zealand seem certain to persevere with under-pressure opening batsman Hamish Rutherford for the second Test against Sri Lanka, which starts on 3 January in Wellington.
Rutherford made scores of 18 and 10 in his two knocks at the crease, as the Black Caps comprehensively beat the tourists by eight wickets inside four days, to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
There were suggestions that the left-handed batsman might be dropped in favour of Dean Brownlie, but the national selectors dropped Browlie from the squad for the second Test for fit-again all-rounder Corey Anderson, leaving them with only two specialist opening batsman in the squad.
Captain Brendon McCulllum feels Ruthereford looked in good touch in the match, and wants to give the batsman the freedom to express himself at the crease without feeling under pressure for his place in the side.
McCullum said: "We don't want to put external pressure on those guys because, ultimately, he still has to feel like he can play with that freedom too.
"There's always going to be guys that aren't quite getting the performances that they, and also the team, want. And Hamish knows he needs runs at some point.
"[But] I thought he looked organised in this match. I think he's made some changes over the winter and I'm sure over time the runs will come."
Latest
-
NewsZak Crawley vows England will be more proactive in battle against India’s spin
Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel have run riot in helpful conditions.
-
NewsDale Steyn heaps praise on Pakistan trio, prefers PSL over IPL
Record South African fast bowler Dale Steyn is full of praise for Pakistan players Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Babar Azam.
-
NewsChris Gayle sets sights on third T20 World Cup title
West Indies veteran Chris Gayle has set his sights on winning a third T20 World Cup when he makes his return to international cricket.
-
NewsCricket in line to receive significant chunk of £300m sports recovery package
The England and Wales Cricket Board welcomed the support, describing it as “a lifeline for parts of the game”.
-
NewsMarcus Trescothick relishing return to ‘special environment’ with England
Trescothick is England’s new batting coach.
-
NewsJack Leach feels here to stay after establishing himself as top England spinner
Leach made his debut almost three years ago in New Zealand but had made only 10 appearances before the turn of the year.
-
NewsKevin O’Brien says century against England helped Ireland ‘reach for the stars’
O’Brien hit a 50-ball 113 as Ireland chased down a target of 328 in the 2011 World Cup.
-
NewsIan Harvey is Gloucestershire interim coach after Richard Dawson joins England
Dawson has accepted the position of ECB elite pathway coach
-
NewsMarcus Trescothick, Jon Lewis and Jeetan Patel join England’s coaching staff
Trescothick has left his assistant’s role at Somerset.
-
NewsBen Foakes focuses on squaring the series with England
The tourists are 2-1 down going into the final Test against India.