Hesson backs Kiwi batsmen despite flop show in England

New Zealand coach Mike Hesson has backed his Test batsmen, despite their disappointing performances in the whitewashed Test series against England, which the tourists lost 2-0.

With the focus on their team mercifully shifting to their best current format, one-day internationals, for a three-match series against England starting at Lord's on Friday, Hesson, has however, supported Peter Fulton, Dean Brownlie, Martin Guptill and Hamish Rutherford, despite their poor averages, Stuff.co.nz reports.

Only one of those four, Guptill, remains with the ODI side whilst Rutherford is off to Essex to hone his craft for two-and-a-half-months which should be invaluable for the talented left-hander, the report further said.

Stating that a largely unchanged team would play the two-match series in Bangladesh in October despite their batting woes in England, Hesson defended the batsmen, saying that four of their top seven have played less than 15 tests, adding that it is necessary to give time for these batsmen to grow into their full potential as many of them are still young.

According to Hesson, they have identified some good players for the team, adding that although they can start again with a completely new squad, they will again have to go through the same process.

Stating that the break would be good for Fulton, Brownlie and the others, Hesson said that the time away after a grueling nine months of non-stop cricket will give the team opportunities to spend some time working on their individual games away from the playing environment because at the moment a lot of players are learning on the job.

Meanwhile, Hesson said that plans were in place to send the batsmen to the Indian subcontinent for a pre-tour camp before a probable tour to India in September.

Captain Brendon McCullum raised concern about his team's mental state when he said the Lord's collapse 'ripped our hearts out and started to create some self-doubt', the report added.