The Black Caps must exorcise their ill-discipline against spin bowling if they are to bounce back in the third cricket Test against South Africa, says wicketkeeper BJ Watling.
New Zealand cricketer BJ Watling. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
With Hamilton's Seddon Park among the most spin-friendly tracks in New Zealand, both teams are likely to boost their tweaker stocks for the final Test starting on Saturday.
Left-armer Mitchell Santner is set to join offspinner Jeetan Patel in the Black Caps armoury while the tourists have flown in offspinner Dane Piedt, who looks set to link with second Test destroyer Keshav Maharaj.
Watling is annoyed Maharaj was able to take 6-40 in New Zealand's second innings at the Basin Reserve as the hosts capitulated for 171 in an eight-wicket loss.
"He was disciplined in his areas but that wicket wasn't spinner-friendly," Watling said.
"We were probably not as disciplined as we'd like to be and there are definitely improvements we need to make.
"We've played a lot of spin and we've got some very good players of spin in this team. For me, it's just about making better decisions."
Keshav Maharaj celebrates his six wicket haul. Photo: Photosport
Watling rejected a theory the Black Caps were rattled in Wellington by twin batting failures from captain Kane Williamson, who scored a total of three runs.
With Ross Taylor absent through injury, Williamson is a key wicket for the Proteas.
Watling says the hosts have to prove they don't rely on one player.
"Kane's going to have poor Tests, everyone's going to have poor Tests. That's cricket.
"We have to be better as a unit, build partnerships and take them really deep. We saw that in Dunedin and it put them under pressure."
Watling was typically defiant in Wellington, facing more than 300 balls in accumulating scores of 34 and 29.
The former opening batsman says it is unlikely he will be promoted any higher than seven in the order because of the demands involved with wicketkeeping.
"Batting at seven, you get a little mental break before you get back out in the middle.
"But it's whatever balance the team needs and we'll figure that out over the next few days."
-AAP
