24 Nov 2010

Batsmen to blame as Blackcaps crumble in third test

11:36 am on 24 November 2010

The New Zealand cricket captain Daniel Vettori has laid the blame for the humiliating loss in the third and deciding test against India firmly on the backs of the Blackcaps batsmen.

After making just 193 runs in their first innings the Blackcaps folded in Nagpur for 175 with their second go with the bat, losing the test by an innings and 198 runs and the series one-nil.

The series loss, although unsurprising, is still a massive disappointment for the Blackcaps after playing so well to draw the first two tests and Vettori says the batsmen undid all their good work in Nagpur.

Meanwhile the leading Black Caps batsmen in the test series, Jesse Ryder, is returning home for treatment on a calf injury and will miss the five-match one day series against India starting on Sunday.

Ryder will be replaced by Wellington's James Franklin.