Kane’s decision bizarre, submissive — McCullum

Former Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum has chastised the tactics used by his successor Kane Williamson as Australia bullied the Black Caps bowlers for a second consecutive day in the must-win test at the MCG in Melbourne.

The 38-year-old McCullum, who played the last of his 101 tests in 2016, described Williamson’s decision to introduce back-up wicketkeeper Tom Blundell into the Kiwis’ bowling attack immediately after lunch as “bizarre” and “staggering”.

Blundell has bowled only nine first-class overs but was entrusted with the ball over senior Black Caps bowlers, including struggling spinner Mitchell Santner, with the home side at 336-5. The Aussies were eventually dismissed for 467, with Blundell conceding 13 runs in three wicketless overs.

According to McCullum, the tactic eased the pressure on Australian batsmen Travis Head and Tim Paine.

“I think it’s been a pretty poor session. I don’t understand some of the tactics, to be honest,” McCullum told SEN Radio.

“It’s just staggering. By all means, have a blast, but the game was still in the balance.

“To me, it was a submissive move. I just don’t understand it. They just rolled over.”

McCullum’s is the latest voice in a chorus of criticism of the Black Caps and Santner, who has not taken a wicket in 61 overs Down Under.

Yesterday former Australian batting star Mark Waugh said Santner was the biggest reason the Black Caps wouldn’t win the second test to square the series at 1-1.

“He’s a one-day bowler, not a test match bowler. If you’re an orthodox bowler, the one thing you’ve got to have is accuracy, yet he doesn’t have that,” Waugh said on-air.

“He doesn’t spin the ball a lot, so you’ve got to have accuracy, and he doesn’t have that.

“He bowls short balls, too many easy scoring balls.

“I think it’s a real big issue and the reason why they can’t win this test.”

Earlier, respected Australian broadcaster Gerard Whateley labelled Santner the “weak link” of the side.

“He was such an obvious weak link that took the pressure off whenever he came into the attack that Williamson limited him in the number of overs and then [the third test in] Sydney, which at the moment looks like it’s going to be a spinning deck, Australia have added an extra spinner. It’s a big deficiency to have.”