Absence of Munro big blow

The Black Caps won’t have their best Twenty20 batsman on hand for tomorrow’s series decider against Pakistan.

Colin Munro has been ruled out with a mild hamstring strain and will be replaced in the squad by Ross Taylor while Glenn Phillips has been released back to Auckland and replaced by Tom Blundell.

The big-hitting opener has scored 41 per cent of the Black Caps’ T20 runs this summer, even after only making one in Thursday night’s loss at Eden Park.

His innings have played a big part in all four of the team’s wins in the game’s shortest format, and he will be sorely missed as they seek to claim the series.

Four batsmen have made a single score of 30 or more this season – Martin Guptill, Phillips, Mitchell Santner and Ben Wheeler – while Munro has four on his own.

That is partially a product of the format – the Black Caps’ middle order have often come in with a platform set, and a licence to go for broke – but it does mean a new source of runs will have to be found if they are to win the series.

Wheeler made 30 off 20 balls on Thursday, coming in when the Black Caps were reduced to 64-6 early in their innings.

He has batting ability that none of the Black Caps’ other fit seamers have, and it could be a feather in his cap, with the squad for next Saturday’s tri-series opener against Australia in Sydney to be named on Monday.

The Black Caps selectors are optimistic Munro will be able to make that trip.

Wheeler will hope to get another run tomorrow in Mount Maunganui to press his case, and to shake the unwanted tag of being the only Black Cap not involved in a win so far this summer – Thursday’s match was his first, and the team’s first loss.

He was pleased with his individual effort – he also took two for 36 from four overs with the ball – but said it would have been more satisfying if it had led to a win.

‘‘It’d be better if you’re contributing when you’re winning.

‘‘It was nice to have good hit out, but the win as a team is the most important thing.’’

Wheeler has been in and out of action with injury since making his Black Caps debut in June 2015, but has been a regular for Central Districts since returning from a hamstring injury at the end of November.

He said it was great to be back with the national team, having last played in a T20 loss to South Africa last February.

‘‘It’s always nice to get back in the squad and just be around the team and coaches and all that. You can get a little bit lost in the domestic scene at times.

‘‘It’s coming out of the hand alright, the body’s in a good place at the moment, and I’ve got a bit of rhythm, which is nice.’’

Wheeler’s batting was one of the few bright spots in the Black Caps’ losing effort on Thursday, and included a sweetly-hit six straight down the ground.

‘‘It’s something I’ve always sort of wanted to have, and it’s been there but it hasn’t quite sort of clicked at times,’’ he said.

‘‘The more time you spend playing and the more chances you get batting, it’s going to improve, and it seems to be going alright at the moment.’’