'Kiwis in search of right combination'

Cairns, who was in Bangalore to launch the Chris Cairns Foundation on Sunday, said the Kiwis were still in search of the right combination in terms of bowling and batting and added that the issue had gone on to affect their recent performances.

“They still have not got the batting and bowling combination and when you are searching for that, the results may not be favourable.

“I don’t think there is a technical issue with the players, it is more of a mental thing. I mean, if you keep losing, then a certain fear seeps in. The players just have to back themselves, play aggressively and back their instincts,” Cairns said. New Zealand have lost the first three one-day internationals in the current series against India, having lost the Test series to the same opposition earlier.

Cairns stressed that star batsman Ross Taylor needs to be consistent if New Zealand are to pose a threat in the World Cup to be held in the sub-continent from February 19 to April 2.  
“If you look at the New Zealand teams of the past, there was always this reliance on one key batsman.

“For instance, in my time we had Nathan Astle. Now Taylor is the key batsman for New Zealand and he has to be consistent. If the team is do well in the World Cup here next year, Taylor has to be the Player of the Tournament,” said the 40-year-old.

The Cairns Foundation will work with Cochlear to help children who are in need of cochlear
implants.