By RICHARD BOOCK
Opening batting combinations are taxing the minds of the New Zealand and Australian cricket teams as they prepare for the second test in Wellington.
Neither set of openers has any recent form behind them after failing in the first test at Auckland, although Australia's situation is eased considerably by the presence of back-up batsman Matthew Hayden.
His form this summer, after a six-year layoff, virtually forced the selectors' hand.
Hayden, vying with incumbent Greg Blewett for a test berth when Australia begin their three-day tour match against Central Districts in Napier today, has been in storming form for Queensland. He looked in rare touch during the recent one-day series, not to mention the four-day match against Northern Districts.
However, he faces a tough task to break into the test line-up and will probably succeed only if he makes a big score at McLean Park, and Blewett - considered more vulnerable than Michael Slater - fails to impress.
Slater's test berth was almost guaranteed yesterday when he was omitted - along with Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne - from the side to play Central, in a move Australia believe will allow him to better prepare for the test starting on Friday.
Before the Eden Park match, Slater and Blewett had averaged 54.5 in 18 tests, including three century and three half-century partnerships.
But lately they have lost form, with their past eight partnerships realising first-wicket totals of 0 (Perth), 8 and 1 (Adelaide), 4 and 5 (Melbourne), 9 (Sydney) and 10 and 7 in Auckland.
Slater, who followed up scores of 0 and 9 against Northern Districts with 17 and 8 in the test, is thought to be more secure because of his test record (4437 runs at 41.93).
Blewett made 34 and an unbeaten 83 against Northern but failed in the test (5 and 6), and possibly does not boast a good enough test record (2527 at 31.61) to receive many long-term favours from the selectors.
New Zealand's Craig Spearman and Mathew Sinclair have also been struggling for form.
But in the Central Districts clash with Australia they will be able to concentrate on reviving their fortunes without the threat of any selectorial action hanging over their heads.
Spearman, who missed out twice at Eden Park, desperately needs to get among the runs again, while Sinclair will be anxious to prove he is more than a one-innings wonder, following his double century against the West Indies on debut.
Australia: Steve Waugh (capt), Greg Blewett, Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Mark Waugh, Damien Martyn, Adam Gilchrist, Brett Lee, Mike Kasprowicz, Colin Miller, Damien Fleming.
Central Districts: Craig Spearman (capt), David Kelly, Mathew Sinclair, Glen Sulzburger, Mark Douglas, Jacob Oram, Martyn Sigley, Campbell Furlong, Tim Anderson, Lance Hamilton, Michael Mason, Andrew Penn.
Cricket: Hayden on verge of test call-up
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