What’s wrong with the Black Caps

Mark Geenty’s diagnosis (Mar 20) of the poor performance by NZ’s Black Caps in the last test failed to take into account two factors. One is the credibility of batting coach Craig McMillan. Poor performances in other sports quickly – perhaps sometimes hastily – target coaches but it seems not so in cricket.

McMillan was not a technically correct player but more a bludgeoner. His appointment was a surprise. When NZ batsman sweep from outside off-stump, they lack guidance.

The second factor is erratic selections. Take meddling with spinners. Suddenly 36-year-old Jeetan Patel, in the twilight of his career and with a test average of 48 runs a wicket and more a slow bowler than spinner, is number one.

Patel is defensive in style. Santner and particularly leg-spinner Sodhi, are attacking, positive bowlers. Santner and Sodhi have every right to be bemused and annoyed. Tony Orman Marlborough

Tests require different skills

Give South Africa credit. They outplayed the Black Caps. Hopefully NZ will play better with Taylor and Boult back from injury.

One of the major problems with our test cricketers is they also play the 20/20 game, where a batsman is expected to blast every ball to the boundary. Like rugby’s sevens, it is a different game. Few sevens players play test rugby and the same should be true for the shortened version of cricket. Twenty-20 affects player concentration when trying to bat for long periods of time.

Test cricket is real cricket, 20/20 is rubbish. Russell Wards Kaiapoi