Cricket: Guptill slips down order to make way for new cap

As the mind dwelt on the three newcomers brought into New Zealand's test squad yesterday, one development almost slipped by unnoticed.

Auckland batsman Martin Guptill will move down to No 5 in the order for next week's one-off test against Bangladesh in Hamilton, making way for new cap Peter Ingram to start his test career at No 3, behind incumbents Tim McIntosh and BJ Watling.

Seven of Guptill's eight tests have been as an opener. His most recent five-dayer, against Pakistan at Napier shortly before Christmas, produced a scratchy 13 off 47 balls at No 3. His test average is an ordinary 23.5, with one half century.

There is a line of thinking that the clean-striking Guptill, always regarded as a top-three batsman, can find his niche in the middle order.

He made the International Cricket Council's world ODI XI last year but tests bring different demands.

Moving him away from the new ball might enable him to prosper, said coach and selector Mark Greatbatch yesterday, adding the proviso that he needed to tighten his defensive technique, at which point "he'll become a very good player".

Bangladesh's new-ball attack, on the evidence so far, is more pop gun than cannon fire. However, Australia will fling some serious artillery the openers' way, so bedding a new top three in now, and Guptill at No 5, makes sense.

"He's pretty comfortable with it," Greatbatch said of Guptill's reaction to the move.

"We feel, and he feels, possibly his style of game might suit batting in the middle order."

McIntosh and Watling, who hit a breezy unbeaten 60 on debut against Pakistan, and Ingram give New Zealand three specialist openers at the top of the order.

The decision still to be made is the composition of New Zealand's bowling attack. They can either go in with four fast-medium bowlers - and New Zealand's hope is that the pitch will have bounce and nip in it - plus spinner Dan Vettori, who would bat at No 6 - or play six specialist batsmen, Vettori and three seamers.

That suggests Neil Broom's place in the final XI hinges on which way the selectors want to go.

Broom has been in strong form this season, leads the Plunket Shield aggregate (566 runs) and averages 94.33 with three centuries.

Ingram isn't far behind (530 runs at 75.71, including a match-winning 245 not out for Central Districts against Wellington) so the selectors can't be accused of not picking players when in good touch.

Left-armer Andy McKay's selection is based on the favourable impression he's made in his two ODI games. His first-class numbers, 69 wickets from 24 games at 32.57 each, are not especially eye-catching.

(And if you're looking for the innermost thoughts of Messrs Broom, Ingram or McKay at their elevation yesterday you won't find them here, courtesy of a rigid [and therefore daft] New Zealand management protocol that only the captain talks the day before a match - that is the final ODI today. The fact the match in question is five days away didn't count. However it's fair to assume they are chuffed, over the moon, can't wait, etc.)

How Ingram copes at test level with his distinctive style, which involves minimal foot movement, will be interesting. Bangladesh might not ask the hardest technical questions of him, and as Greatbatch put it, he deserves his opportunity.

"We've watched him closely and he's a good decision maker," Greatbatch said. "He's consistent, very hungry, has good composure and we feel he's earned the right."

NZ test squad
Dan Vettori (c), Tim McIntosh, BJ Watling, Peter Ingram, Ross Taylor, Martin Guptill, Neil Broom, Brendon McCullum, Daryl Tuffey, Tim Southee, Jeetan Patel, Brent Arnel, Chris Martin.