Flynn issues rallying call

Daniel Flynn's tenacity has been one of the brighter points of New Zealand's tour

Daniel Flynn has called on New Zealand’s batsmen to start finally living up to their potential in today's second NatWest Series clash with England at Edgbaston.

The Kiwis have seldom shone with the bat during their two-month tour in which they were beaten 2-0 in the npower Tests, lost the NatWest Twenty20 International and the opening game of the current one-day series.

They failed on three occasions to reach 250 in the Test matches, were restricted to 123 for nine in the Twenty20 contest and were bowled out for 193 in the first one-day international at the Riverside.

Flynn is aware coach John Bracewell’s side need an all-round improvement in that department if they are to achieve any tangible reward before they head home.

He said: “We’re frustrated we haven’t got a big score yet. We know skill-wise we’re more than capable of it.

“We proved that in New Zealand during the winter and, if you look at the players we’ve got, I think we’re just as skilful as the England batsmen.

“But it’s just a case of producing the runs and putting them on the board.”

Flynn believes New Zealand should take confidence from the way they recovered against England in the winter from losing the two Twenty20 games to take the ODI series 3-1.

He said: “Back in New Zealand, we lost the two Twenty20 matches and then came back and played really well in the one-day series. We know we’re capable of it. It’s just a case of putting a performance together on the park.

“Someone has to stand up and lead the way. As a collective unit, we’ve all underperformed. Individual performances will help that but everyone needs to raise the bar and start performing.”

All-rounder Scott Styris, who had been on the receiving end of two ‘switch-hit’ sixes from Kevin Pietersen at Durham, echoed Flynn’s sentiments.

He said: “There needs to be a lot of improvement in the overall team performance. We got comprehensively outplayed.

“We went for 50 more runs than we should have, which means you’ve got to take more risks as a batting unit as well.

“We just need to get better in all facets, it’s as simple as that. There is no magic formula. It is doing the basics a little bit better than what we have been.”

Flynn has put behind him the horrifying blow in the mouth from James Anderson during the second Test at Old Trafford, which left him needing two dental operations.

He said: “At the time, it was unfortunate but I’ve just tried to put it to the back of my mind and just get on with it and I’m pretty happy with the way I’ve come back from it.

“I tried to get back into batting as soon as possible, get over it quickly rather than let it linger and think about it too much.”

New Zealand all-rounder Grant Elliott, called into the squad as cover for hamstring injury victim Jacob Oram, will make his ODI debut today.