Time to play three spinners in New Zealand side: McMillan

Wellington, Feb 18 : Former batsman Craig McMillan has urged the New Zealand team to play three spinners to increase their chances of victory in their World Cup opener on Sunday.

New Zealand face Kenya in Chennai, the first of six group matches in which they need to be in the top-four to make the quarterfinals.

On a turning Chennai pitch, India’s four spinners took seven wickets between them against New Zealand and bowled them for 243, chasing a daunting total of 361 to win.

McMillan feels that focus should be more on slower bowlers, Stuff.co.nz reports.

“I’d be tempted now to play three spinners, throw Luke Woodcock in the mix. It’s obvious spin is going to play even more of a role than everyone thought, especially if you’re bowling second. I’d play two seamers and go in with a three-spin option,” McMillan said.

New Zealand’s pacers suffered in the slog overs, with Oram conceding 40 off two overs as Dhoni went berserk. India’s batsmen plundered 193 runs off the final 16 overs.

McMillan said his low expectations for the team had dropped further after heavy defeat at the hands of India.

The batsmen struggled against spin after McCullum and Martin Guptill plundered 94 off 15 overs against the pacers.