Black Caps could be light on batting: Marsh

Australia allrounder Mitch Marsh believes the Black Caps could leave themselves vulnerable with the bat if they elect to play four quicks and off-spinner Mark Craig in the second Test in Perth.

The move would see Craig promoted to No.7 in the batting order with wicketkeeper-batsman BJ Watling pushed up to six, in place of injured allrounder Jimmy Neesham.

Craig is averaging 42.81 with the bat in his 11 Tests to date, but that figure slips to 27.75 in his 44-match first-class career.

And while Watling has played higher in the order and proven himself a competent Test batsman with five hundreds in 32 matches, Marsh says that selection could leave the tourists a little bit light on with batting.

"I guess it does if Mark Craig is going to bat at seven," he said after the Australians touched down in Perth ahead of Friday’s match at the WACA.

"But in saying that, he's averaging (over) 40 in Test cricket from however many Tests he’s played ... so he's still a valuable wicket for them.

"But if they do go that way then I'm sure we'll come up with plans."

New Zealand coach Mike Hesson indicated that the Kiwis could indeed go down the five specialist bowlers route, particularly with Tim Southee’s questionable fitness after suffering an irritated disc during the first Commonwealth Bank Test. 

WATCH: Southee injury leaves Black Caps a bowler short

That scenario would pave the way for speedster Matt Henry to join the fast-bowling contingent, and as well as providing back-up in case Southee’s back problem again flares up, it would also spread the bowling workload in temperatures that are expected to be in the high 30s across the opening three days of the match.

"(Five bowlers) would (be a risk) but it depends how you're going to win a Test match," Hesson said. "(You need) your top six to still score the majority of your runs.

"We've always relied on the fact we can eke out runs in the bottom half but you can't base your whole batting plan around that."

Marsh was impressive with the ball in Brisbane, particularly in the second innings when he took 2-25, bowling at good pace and extracting excellent bounce from the Gabba wicket.

The 24-year-old says his improvements have come as a combination of becoming accustomed to the rigours of Test cricket as well as bowling in more favourable conditions. 

"In my first few Tests I was finding my feet, (and) I played on some pretty flat wickets," he said.

"Then I played in England where the ball swings and (now) in Australian conditions where the ball generally bounces more than anywhere else in the world.

"With my height, hopefully I'll be able to contribute to the team in that sense and just keep improving. I'm loving bowling and batting at the moment." 

WATCH: Marsh snares two in two to be on a hat-trick

And despite strong contributions with the ball, the West Australian – who is set to play his first Test on his home ground in Perth – is still to establish himself as a Test standard No.6 batsman, according to recently-retired quick Ryan Harris.

"Should he be batting at number six? Right now, probably not," Harris said on SEN radio. "But I've seen him play plenty of times and he can be a No.6 batsman on previous form.

"He's just having a rough trot with the bat.

"I watched him train in the nets and it's not as if he's mistiming it. It's just a matter of getting the runs out in the middle now.

"(But as an allrounder) if you're not doing one thing (well) but you're doing the other thing well, you'll stay in the team.

"He's (performing) with the ball – I think he did a great job with the ball, and the two wickets that are probably going to suit him the best are the Gabba and the WACA.

"He gets a bit of surprising pace and a little bit of bounce. So if he's doing one thing and not the other it's not ideal, but he's in there as an allrounder and he'll have the opportunity to redeem himself."