Cricket: Test spots up for grabs

Reece Young. Photo / Getty Images

A short, sharp audition for a spot in next week's one-off test against Zimbabwe is on the cards for New Zealand's cricketers tonight.

The Black Caps meet Zimbabwe A in a two-day tour match in Bulawayo and the 14-man New Zealand test squad will be trimmed to 12 for the five-day match, which starts on Tuesday night.

Pace bowler Chris Martin, wicketkeeper Reece Young, batsman Dean Brownlie and spinners Jeetan Patel and Daniel Vettori have joined the Black Caps' ranks in place of Nathan McCullum, Luke Woodcock, Rob Nicol, James Franklin and Jacob Oram, who left after the limited overs component of the tour.

Seamer Kyle Mills has returned home with a groin injury and no replacement has been sought, which has opened up a pace bowling slot.

Youngster Doug Bracewell could be in line for a test debut after a couple of encouraging displays with the ball during the one-day matches and he offers solid batting in the lower order.

The new arrivals are all likely to play in the tour match, with only a couple of spots on the line for the test.

Depending on where Vettori bats will shape the make up of the team.

If the all-rounder bats at No 6, it would leave no place for BJ Watling or Brownlie, with the top five likely to be Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and Jesse Ryder.

Although if Vettori dropped to No 8 - stumper Young will be at No 7 - it would open up a spot for another batsman, either Watling or Brownlie, to join the mix.

Martin, who is poised on 199 test-match wickets, will play the tour match and the test, with Andy McKay likely to be his new-ball partner, although Graeme Aldridge could press his case for a spot against Zimbabwe A.

The pace bowling stocks are looking decidely thin with injuries to Tim Southee and Hamish Bennett.

Patel would need a special performance in the tour match to force his way in, with the diminutive Williamson offering capable spin bowling to assist Vettori in the test.

The pitch at the Bulawayo Athletic Club should offer plenty of run-scoring opportunities. The sides put on 657 runs at their recent one-day clash there.

Zimbabwe have announced a strong A side to face New Zealand. Seamer Mike Chinouya is the only player not to have represented the national side.

Chinouya has, however, been picked twice for Zimbabwe A and played in one of the four-day matches against the visiting New Zealand A side in October last year.

Tino Mawoyo will captain the Zimbabweans, and the match will allow several players likely to be included in the test side with a valuable warm-up.

It will also provide seamers Chinouya, Ed Rainsford, Njabulo Ncube and Shingirai Masakadza - who has not played for Zimbabwe since the World Cup in India - with a chance to push for selection.

The game begins at 9pm tonight.

Zimbabwe A squad: Tinotenda Mawoyo (Capt), Elton Chigumbura, Mike Chinouya, Hamilton Masakadza, Shingirai Masakadza, Natsai Mushangwe, Forster Mutizwa, Njabulo Ncube, Edward Rainsford, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Tatenda Taibu, Malcolm Waller