Cricket World Cup 2019: Former Blackcaps batsman Ken Rutherford wants Colin Munro to open in likely semi-final

Former Blackcaps opening batsman Ken Rutherford insists the national side should open the batting with Colin Munro in their likely semi-final match at the Cricket World Cup in England.

Munro was dropped six games into the tournament after averaging 25 runs an innings, including a golden duck.

He isn't the only problem the Kiwis have at the top of the order; Martin Guptill has been a shell of himself in the United Kingdom - averaging just under 24 in his eight innings, including two golden ducks.

Munro was replaced by Henry Nicholls at the top of the order but after only managing eight runs in his two outings - Rutherford told Magic Talk drive with Brendan Telfer he would go back to opening with Munro.

"I would be going completely Gung-ho," Rutherford said.

 "I'd be giving Munro another go and I'd be saying treat this as a T20 - go and try and play as aggressively as you can."

"Try and get us started with 50 or so off the first five overs, I'd be hoping Munro can play a one in eight innings which he seems capable of doing of blazing balls to the boundaries," Rutherford told Telfer.

The 53-year-old thinks the Blackcaps still have a chance to win the tournament - as we face the prospect of a likely semi-final against Australia.

"If we do put together a really good team effort in the semi-finals then we are a chance, and there's a certain irony with that given our recent performances," Rutherford told Magic Talk drive.

"We knew before the tournament that batting at the top of the order could've been a problem just through basic team selection - Munro being a makeshift opener and Latham a makeshift middle-order batsman.

"It's been an odd campaign really, we haven't put together a full-blown excellent team effort yet - we've relied on Kane Williamson with the willow and Trent Boult and Lockie Ferguson with the ball," Rutherford said.

Rutherford would also opt to bring back leg-spinner Ish Sodhi who has only bowled six overs all tournament.

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