New Zealand coach Mike Hesson say's he won't put pressure on any of his players to make up their minds about their playing futures in the wake of the team's disappointing World Cup final loss to Australia.
Dan Vettori took three wickets against Scotland. Photo: Photosport
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum and spinner Daniel Vettori may be set to announce their retirements from one-day cricket to allow the team to rebuild for the 2019 tournament in England.
At 36, pace bowler Kyle Mills may also be set to hang up his boots, but the 36 year old Grant Elliott says he hopes to keep playing.
"I'd love to play for this team as long as I possibly can.
"We have a great bunch of guys, a great environment...it spurs you on to play as much as you possibly can for your country," said Elliott.
Hesson says he "won't be twisting anyone's arm" to keep playing
"I think it's important to have people who really want to play. I have no doubt we'll find out in the next wee while who those (players) are."
McCullum was bowled for a duck in the first over of New Zealand's seven-wicket loss at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday, but otherwise led his side with aplomb into a first World Cup final.
Inspiring with his swashbuckling batting and aggressive field-setting, McCullum turned New Zealand from strugglers into one-day heavyweights in two years and will be hard to replace.
The former wicketkeeper has long complained of back problems and said throughout the New Zealand summer that he was treating every game as his last.
Batsman Kane Williamson is being groomed to take the reins but Hesson said he hoped McCullum would stick around.
"He's huge for us, he sets the tone, the guys love to play for him, so I certainly hope he's around.
"Let's cross that bridge when we come to it. I'm not even contemplating it, to be fair.
"Now is the time just to reflect on the World Cup and in due course we'll look at the future."
