PAKISTAN TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND, 2016

Martin Guptill's Test spot comes under the scanner

by Cricbuzz Staff • Published on

Martin Guptill - Sweating bullets © Cricbuzz

It's been a tough few months for Martin Guptill, the New Zealand opening batsman.

With at best lukewarm numbers in Tests, Guptill's spot in the team would always come under scrutiny, but the position has exacerbated following his horror Test series in India recently.

Guptill came away from the three-Test series with just one fifty to his name, falling time and again to India's well-thought-out plans against him. His susceptibility against the incoming delivery was underlined and when he did manage to defy those plans, he, like most other teammates, was found wanting against spin.

The series of failings puts the spotlight firmly on the right-hander as New Zealand look to pick the right side for their two-Test series against a dangerous Pakistan side at home.

Guptill's numbers in Test cricket make for an intriguing read. His averages against Bangladesh, West Indies and Zimbabwe are 245, 69.25 and 49.66 respectively. However, against the more accomplished teams, he has been found wanting, and quite tellingly.

Apart from the aforementioned teams, Guptill averages over 30 only against Sri Lanka. Against Australia and South Africa the average drops to the teens. Against Pakistan, his average is a hardly soothing 27.88 in five Tests.

Moreover, after his first year in Tests (2009, when he aggregated 329 in eight Tests), 2016 has been Guptill's worst in his career. He has played nine Tests and managed only 393 runs at 24.56.

However, the one thing that goes in his favour is his returns at home. In 19 Tests, he averages 36.38. Only two of these Tests have come against low-ranked opposition. And his form in Plunkett Shield is also going to be a deciding factor.

New Zealand coach and selector Mike Hesson admitted that Guptill's position is one that the team of selectors will be discussing.

"It's important to note; the conditions we're likely to face will be closer to South Africa than India. [Guptill] is a position that Gavin Larsen and I are going to have to discuss. These upcoming games are important, there's no denying that," Hesson said.

According to stuff.co.nz, other players vying for Guptill's position in the Test line-up include Jeet Raval, Hamish Rutherford, Henry Nicholls and Will Young.

"When the side goes well you have to make a lot less harder decisions. When you do struggle decisions need to be made at times," Hesson said. "It's very early and we're not going to be making decisions on one or two innings. There will be three [Plunket Shield] rounds and potentially a New Zealand A game as well. We want as many people putting their hands up as possible."

The series against Pakistan offers New Zealand a chance to soothe what's been a bad year in Tests. They have played nine Tests, and have only managed to win two (both against Zimbabwe) and draw one (against South Africa).

"It's a very important series for us. In our own conditions, up until the tests against Australia (early 2016) we've had an exceptional record at home in recent years," Hesson said. "Pakistan will come over and it doesn't get much tougher than that. We are in conditions that we're certainly more familiar with, that's for sure."

© Cricbuzz

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