Greg Chappell offers to assist New Zealand

Greg Chappell has offered to give free advice to New Zealand's batsmen, a suggestion that has caused a flutter of interest within the team management. He said that the players had a negative mindset, and the resultant effect showed in their batting.

"If John Bracewell asked me for input or New Zealand Cricket asked me I'd be more than happy to help," Chappell told the Sydney Morning Herald. "I'm not looking for a paid job. I'd just be more than happy to sit down and have a chat to the batsmen."

He added that the team had to plan a new strategy to take on Australia. "The art of batting is like walking a tightrope and New Zealand are not walking it very well at the moment. They have to rethink their strategy. If they are not good enough they are not good enough, but you have to give yourself a chance by playing your natural game."

Chappell has supported a more natural approach to play, rather than an overly technical one that preached mechanical repetition. "My approach to batting was always about putting pressure back on the bowler. First you soak up the pressure, then you make him feel it and make him change his line and length. Next thing the opposition is forced to change their field and all of a sudden you're on top.

"They are trying to occupy the crease, but the problem with that is you lose the reason to bat. The reason you bat is to score runs, and what I detected with some guys, and Craig McMillan is probably the best example, is that he is not playing his natural game. When you go out to survive you get into a defensive mentality, and against the likes of [Glenn] McGrath, [Jason] Gillespie and [Shane] Warne, you just become sitting ducks."

When John Bracewell was told of the offer, he displayed muted excitement. "That's brilliant to hear, but I haven't been approached so I can't really comment."