Kiwis hoping to inflict misery on England

SYDNEY – New Zealand are hoping to inflict more misery on England’s cricketers when the teams meet in the third tri-series one-day international at Hobart on Tuesday.

The Kiwis have taken note of England’s demoralised state after losing the Ashes 5-0 before being thumped by Australia in a Twenty/20 international then the first one-dayer. New Zealand were also hammered in their first match against Australia but believe the English are more vulnerable because of their long sequence of defeats and the loss of injured batsman Kevin Pietersen.”That’s definitely something we’re aware of,” New Zealand batsman Peter Fulton told reporters on Monday.”They’ve had such a tough time of it over here and if we can get on top of the them and win tomorrow then that’s going to increase the pressure on them.”They’re going to be pretty determined to get out there and get stuck into us…in some ways it may be a relief for them not to be playing Australia.”New Zealand will be at full strength for the match after in-form batsman Ross Taylor was cleared to play.The 22-year-old scored an impressive 84 against the Australians on Sunday but was ordered to undergo blood tests after complaining of cramps.Doctors still have no idea what is causing the problem but have cleared Taylor to play while they await the results of the tests.”They thought that (diabetes) could be an option but it’s unlikely.It’s just probably a combination of…dehydration and nerves,” Taylor told reporters on Monday.* Meanwhile, not satisfied with humiliating England 5-0, Australian cricket authorities are now proposing that the next Ashes series they host are played over six tests.Australia wants to add an extra test to the 2010-11 series after this season’s five tests were all sold out.The additional match would be played in Hobart, along with the traditional venues of Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide.”Cricket Australia is keen in principal to have six test matches the next time we have an Ashes series in four years,” Cricket Australia spokesman Peter Young told reporters on Monday.”The ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) are aware of our ambition, but discussions are a long way off being finalised.”England coach Duncan Fletcher, who oversaw England’s first 5-0 series loss in 86 years, said he was opposed to the idea because of the risks of player burnout.Nampa-ReutersNew Zealand were also hammered in their first match against Australia but believe the English are more vulnerable because of their long sequence of defeats and the loss of injured batsman Kevin Pietersen.”That’s definitely something we’re aware of,” New Zealand batsman Peter Fulton told reporters on Monday.”They’ve had such a tough time of it over here and if we can get on top of the them and win tomorrow then that’s going to increase the pressure on them.”They’re going to be pretty determined to get out there and get stuck into us…in some ways it may be a relief for them not to be playing Australia.”New Zealand will be at full strength for the match after in-form batsman Ross Taylor was cleared to play.The 22-year-old scored an impressive 84 against the Australians on Sunday but was ordered to undergo blood tests after complaining of cramps.Doctors still have no idea what is causing the problem but have cleared Taylor to play while they await the results of the tests.”They thought that (diabetes) could be an option but it’s unlikely.It’s just probably a combination of…dehydration and nerves,” Taylor told reporters on Monday.* Meanwhile, not satisfied with humiliating England 5-0, Australian cricket authorities are now proposing that the next Ashes series they host are played over six tests.Australia wants to add an extra test to the 2010-11 series after this season’s five tests were all sold out.The additional match would be played in Hobart, along with the traditional venues of Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide.”Cricket Australia is keen in principal to have six test matches the next time we have an Ashes series in four years,” Cricket Australia spokesman Peter Young told reporters on Monday.”The ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) are aware of our ambition, but discussions are a long way off being finalised.”England coach Duncan Fletcher, who oversaw England’s first 5-0 series loss in 86 years, said he was opposed to the idea because of the risks of player burnout.Nampa-Reuters