Cricket: Spin twins would defy history at the Basin

Daniel Vettori and Jeetan Patel. Photos / Getty Images

New Zealand will think long and hard about playing two spinners in the deciding third test against India in Wellington this week.

Then, if they peruse their history books - or these days google "Basin Reserve tests" - they will reject the idea.

Both left-arm spinner and captain Dan Vettori and offspinner Jeetan Patel played in the drawn second test in Napier, and there is a good case for retaining Patel on his home ground at the Basin Reserve.

He was tidy and kept the batsmen thinking in Napier in conditions where the bowlers' sanity was tested over the final two days, during which New Zealand took just three wickets on a featherbed strip.

However, the last time New Zealand used two spinners at the Basin was against Zimbawe in December 2000, when Paul Wiseman and Brooke Walker toiled 93 overs for a combined haul of one for 244.

In the 10 tests in Wellington since, Vettori has been the only non-medium or fast-medium bowler required in the course of four wins, four losses and two draws.

The 13 named yesterday comprises 10 of the 11 from Napier, plus fast-medium pair Kyle Mills and Tim Southee, and No 3 batsman Daniel Flynn. If Flynn is over a heavily bruised hand which ruled him out of the Napier test, he'll be in; Jamie How, who took his spot, is on standby.

If Patel is discounted, that leaves three fast-medium spaces to be filled from Chris Martin, Iain O'Brien, Mills and Southee. Allrounder James Franklin's left arm bowling has been ordinary and he's failed to take a wicket in 59 overs.

Martin will be in, so too O'Brien, for the into-the-wind slog without which a Basin Reserve test is not complete.

Mills looked jaded in the first test at Hamilton and has taken a pounding from the Indians on this trip. Southee went for 105 in 10 overs in the ODI at Christchurch on March 8.

However, he bounced back with five wickets in an innings against Canterbury and another five in the win over Wellington yesterday. And he does swing the ball.

The test must be won for the series to be saved, and that means getting 20 Indian wickets. If the selectors are really bold, they'll play five frontline bowlers, including both Patel and Southee, and leave out Franklin, bat Brendon McCullum at No 6 and go for broke. Don't bet on it, though.

Jesse Ryder has jumped to No 30 on the International Cricket Council player rankings, the highest New Zealander. Ross Taylor is No 32, Vettori No 33 and McCullum No 34. West Indian Shivnarine Chanderpaul tops the list.

* Third test

NZ v India, Basin Reserve, starting Friday

New Zealand squad: Dan Vettori (c), Martin Guptill, Tim McIntosh, Daniel Flynn, Ross Taylor, Jesse Ryder, James Franklin, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Tim Southee, Jeetan Patel, Iain O'Brien, Chris Martin.