Wellington, Feb. 27: Sixty-one from 47 balls against Australia and 56 not out from 49 balls against India on Wednesday night might sound reasonable, but Kiwi wicketkeeper batsman Brendon McCullum has been virtually anonymous at the crease, partly it has to be said due to a lack of strike.

New Zealand coach Andy Moles cannot predict how McCullum will bat tonight, but confirmed he was not under instructions to play second fiddle to anyone.

Wellington  - The New Zealand government would consider subsidizing a day off every two weeks for workers to try to save jobs as the international recession bites, Prime Minister John Key said Friday.

The idea of factory hands working only nine days every two weeks was debated by business leaders at a job summit organized by the centre-right government to consider ways to handle rising unemployment as critical export income falls.

Under the scheme, the government would pay for workers to undergo training or do community work on the 10th day.

Canterbury (New Zealand), Feb. 26 : Former New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond will not play this year's Champions League Twenty20 tournament.

Arguably the standout performer of Canterbury's march to the State Twenty20 final against Otago, Bond's contract with the Delhi Giants means he will not be permitted to play in the Champions event, should Canterbury win and then the winner of Sunday's match be invited.

Unlike Chris Harris, whose differing contract with the Hyderabad Heroes meant he was not eligible to play for Canterbury at all during the State Twenty20, Bond has been.

Wellington  - Air New Zealand announced Thursday a 79-per- cent slump in after-tax profits for the six months ending December 31, after what chairman John Palmer said was one of the toughest periods airlines had ever faced.

The airline, which is 76 per cent owned by the government, reported net profits of 24 million New Zealand dollars (12.24 million US dollars) for the half-year.

Palmer cited the unprecedented price of fuel, which rose 36 per cent on the same period in 2007, adding 211 million New Zealand dollars to costs of running the airline.

Christchurch (New Zealand), Feb. 25 : New Zealand beat India by seven wickets in the first of two Twenty20 matches at the AMI Stadium here on Wednesday.

Wicketkeeper batsman Brendon McCullum and opener Mark Guptill powered the Kiwis to 166 for 3 in reply to India’s 162 for eight.

McCullum scored 56 and Guptill 41. For India, middle-order bat Suresh Raina top scored with an unbeaten 61. Kiwi pacer Butler snared two wickets for 29 runs.

Wellington - Air New Zealand criticized Wednesday the handling of a preliminary report by French investigators into a crash of one of its Airbus planes in the Mediterranean that blamed crew error.

New Zealand investigators also said a low-altitude stall which happened before the A320 plane crashed into the sea off Perpignan in southern France could not happen under normal flying operations.

The two German pilots and five New Zealanders performing in-flight checks before returning the plane to Air New Zealand at the end of a lease agreement with XL Airways died instantly.