Spin initiative part of a longer-term plan for New Zealand

New Zealand Cricket's decision to send young spin bowlers Bruce Martin and Jeetan Patel to Sri Lanka with the New Zealand side is part of an on-going initiative to boost the performance and stocks of spin bowlers in the country.

The situation has become desperate. Not only for selection in international sides, but in also giving New Zealand batsmen exposure to spin in domestic cricket so they are better equipped as batsmen having been required to play it.

With left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori the only top-flight spinner in the country, there has been concern for many years about developing the tier beneath international class to provide greater depth of resources.

TelstraClear Black Caps coach Denis Aberhart said the situation was not one of crisis but this decision to take the younger bowlers was one of several things that will be considered in a look at the situation.

"At the moment we are looking at what other options we have. These two will go to Sri Lanka, but that is only part of a full programme they will be doing," he said.

They would not be the only players targeted in the scheme.

"It is all in the melting pot at the moment but we are not making the progress we would like in developing our spinners," he said.

Specialist spin bowling clinics have been involved in the past with Australian spin coaches Terry Jenner, Ashley Mallett and Peter Philpott.

"We need to increase the spinners' understanding of the game," he said.

There were several options under consideration. More A tours was one but that was dependent on finances being available.

There was also the possibility of using former players in New Zealand who had the knowledge to assist the players but that was a case of them having the time, or the inclination, to be involved.

The other consideration was having spinners get more time bowling in matches in New Zealand. But that involved having wickets which allowed that and he highlighted the problem with captains choosing to bowl spinners.

"Brooke Walker [leg-spinner] is captain of Auckland but he doesn't bowl himself," Aberhart said.