Cricket: Neil Broom makes a point

Neil Broom. Photo / Getty Images

Otago batsman Neil Broom has seized the initiative in the contest for the vacant No 6 spot in the New Zealand test middle order.

The position is a focal point for national coach John Wright ahead of the one-off test on the Zimbabwe tour in October. Wright has been with the team at the Emerging Players tournament in Queensland.

The successful candidate is likely to back up Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and Jesse Ryder in the order.

Broom produced a better than run-a-ball 197 in a tick over four hours in Brisbane against the Australian Institute of Sport XI last week.

He contributed 148 runs in boundaries and lost several balls in drains and bush, says New Zealand A coach Grant Bradburn. Importantly, Broom scored the runs in tricky circumstances during their first innings, coming in at 24 for two in the 12th over.

"First innings runs and second innings wickets are always that little bit more important," Bradburn says. "Neil set the tone, building the innings on a solid defence and butchering their attack towards the end."

Of the other contenders, BJ Watling, Daniel Flynn and Dean Brownlie failed in the first innings but produced 139, 38 and 41 respectively in the second. Watling pulled a hamstring and has since returned home.

Flynn and opener Brad Wilson also struggled with injury at the tournament where New Zealand A won a Twenty20 match against South Africa, lost to Australia and India and lost in a 50-over match with South Africa.

The other form tourist has been all-rounder Doug Bracewell. The 20-year-old missed a national contract but has grabbed opportunities.

Wright says Bracewell, Broom and Watling had produced good performances, but it was too early to single out individuals for Zimbabwe.

"The tour has been a worthwhile exercise. However, the expectation is our players will do well in the two three-day matches to come against South Africa and India. Some of these guys are going to be playing international cricket by year's end."

Bradburn was disappointed the match at Allan Border field was called off because of bad light. New Zealand needed 10 runs to win with three wickets and 12 overs to spare.