New Zealand Cricket Takes a Worried Tone Ahead of India Tour After Bangladesh Debacle

All's not well in the New Zealand camp and they really need to pull up their socks if they are to compete against India.

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It is not a comment made by concerned cricket fans but the New Zealand cricket board who has had to have an emergency meeting with the New Zealand captain, Daniel Vettori, and the New Zealand coach, Mark Greatbatch but restraint themselves from making drastic moves.

For the moment, the axe is not coming down. But the warning has. The New Zealand batsmen, in particular, have been given a warning to get their act together after the debacle that saw New Zealand lose to Bangladesh by a 4-0 margin in the five match ODI series.

For many, it has been arguably the lowest point in New Zealand cricket, but others are even more worried that India, on a high, will be a much tougher proposition for the shocked team and if the players do not get their mind around to the job, they will have to face further humiliation.

But that is not all New Zealand cricket is worried about. Instead there are long term ramifications as every team tries to get its perfect balance together for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, New Zealand are hoping this disastrous result is only a hiccup, the last that they will see before the World Cup.

Daniel Vettori is also under considerable pressure himself at the forefront of the India New Zealand tour because there are questions being asked if he is donning too many hats - of captain, selector, former interim coach ( when Andy Moles quit ), and mentor - to the detriment of the team.

In the preparation for the World Cup, the idea that the Indian team will be resting their key players before the forthcoming tour of South Africa can be a double edged sword in that New Zealand can hope for a win or two but that would provide a false sense of security.

New Zealand are still a world class act with their bowler in Shane Bond, Kyle Mills, Vettori himself as the spinner, and batsmen led by Ross Taylor and Jesse Ryder. But it is the lack of cohesive results that is causing a great deal of consternation, compounded by the recent result.