McCullum Urges Kiwi Batsmen To Contribute
McCullum: "South Africa are a very good side, there's no shirking it, and we need to produce a more hardened performance."
©REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko (SOUTH AFRICA) Picture Supplied by Action Images
New Zealand were bowled out for 118 and 172 in what McCullum termed an 'embarrassing' display and have one Test with which to make amends, starting on Friday, November 16th, in Centurion Park.
"It all comes down to the batting, we didn't give the bowlers any rest after we were bowled out in 42 overs in the first innings," he said.
"The batsmen need to gel as a unit and give the bowlers enough rest because they've shown they are capable of knocking over the South Africans.
"We've had a couple of days to digest what was a very embarrassing loss for us. We need to get back up, work out what went wrong and rectify whatever obstacles there are," he said.
"South Africa are a very good side, there's no shirking it, and we need to produce a more hardened performance."
New Zealand, who called up Jamie How and Kyle Mills as cover for the injured Stephen Fleming and Jacob Oram, will make a decision on their fitness shortly before the second Test. Shane Bond returned home after the first Test.
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