WE'RE NOT RUNNING SCARED

McCullum tips battered batters to star in Ashes

- BY DAVID CHARLESWORTH

BRENDON MCCULLUM insisted England's misfiring batters have not been scarred for the Ashes after a 3-0 one-day international series whitewash defeat by New Zealand.

England’s top three of Jamie Smith, Ben Duckett and Joe Root made a combined 58 runs in the series and the trio were dismissed for single figures in a two-wicket defeat in the Wellington dead rubber.

Unless injury strikes, they will be in England's team for the first Test against Australia on November 21 in Perth and they have just one warm-up - a three-day affair against England Lions - to find form.