Cricket: Bracewell's big dilemma

Coach John Bracewell appears to be faced with a classic three-into-two dilemma as he ponders the New Zealand squad for the upcoming one-day series against Australia.

Does he include both Jeff Wilson and Andre Adams in the 12-strong squad to be named next week, or does he leave one out to allow room for a fully fledged recall for enfant terrible Craig McMillan?

The quandary is the only genuine area of concern for the Black Caps coach, who needs to quickly decide whether he wants to carry an extra bowling or batting option to cover for the absence of injured all-rounder Jacob Oram.

Assuming the good news about spinner Daniel Vettori continues over the weekend, Bracewell seems unlikely to make any further changes for the five-match series, and particularly given the strength of the opposition.

But his one area of contention is expected to become a hot topic of conversation over the next couple of days as supporters debate the merits of a fairytale return for Wilson, and the prospect of ODI recalls for Adams and McMillan.

The biggest talking point of that discussion is that Wilson - whose recall was written off by some as a publicity stunt - is probably the most likely of the three to receive the nod when the selectors meet this weekend.

Why? Because as a bowling all-rounder, Wilson shades Adams for reliability with the ball, while offering similar capabilities in the field and as a hard-hitting lower-order batsman.

Adams has more ODI experience, but Wilson demanded the selectors' attention last month with his efforts against the World XI, surprising many batsmen with his brisk pace, and looking at ease in the international environment.

Not least, his reputation for making successful decisions in the heat of the moment is unlikely to be lost on Bracewell, a coach who has already demonstrated an ability to look beyond basic statistics.

For all that, Adams' extra yard of pace and his mercurial striking power with the bat means he remains an attractive proposition for the selectors, and will not be far from their thoughts as they weigh their options over the next few days.

Sidelined with a virus for the past week, a fit and available Adams possibly offers the New Zealand team a more proactive factor than Wilson, in that whenever he plays something dramatic is usually on the cards.

Outside the bowling all-rounders, the only genuine option to either Wilson or Adams is the experienced McMillan, a front-line batsman who could lend his hand at the bowling crease for four of five overs.

However, the sticking point with McMillan is that his inclusion would mean that either he or team-mate Chris Cairns would be batting at No 7, and would be in danger of being under-utilised as a result.

Another complication would be the vulnerability of New Zealand's bowling attack, given that Scott Styris would have to be considered a front-line bowler, and that the only other options would be Nathan Astle and McMillan.

Conventional wisdom suggests that when Bracewell gets down to the fine print, he will want his bowling options more fully covered, to the extent that he will opt to have Styris employed as a part-timer rather than a front-liner.

This will be bad news for McMillan, the most likely of the three to miss the cut, if only to allow Bracewell enough room to ensure his bowling options will stand scrutiny against the best team in the world. On the other hand, it should mean good news for Wilson and Adams.

Possible Squad

Stephen Fleming (c)
Nathan Astle
Mathew Sinclair
Scott Styris
Hamish Marshall
Chris Cairns
Brendon McCullum
Daniel Vettori
Kyle Mills
Jeff Wilson
Andre Adams
Daryl Tuffey

The Options

Andre Adams

Has a reputation for making things happen. The only problem is that no one seems to know what will happen, when it will happen, or whether it will mean joy or despair for his team. To be fair, though, his reliability has improved over the past year, he bowls a "heavy" ball, and can tear an attack apart with his lower-order batting. Adams has already taken a five-wicket bag against India and a man-of-the-match four-wicket bag against the West Indies, and would not be overawed by the strength of the opposition.

Verdict: His CV fits the job description and he should be picked, fitness permitting.

Craig McMillan

For someone who's played 157 ODIs, McMillan has seldom lived up to his billing with either bat or ball, and is unlikely to offer anything much different against Australia (against who he averages 20.76 with the bat). Viewed by some as a viable bowling option, his overall statistics tell a different story - unless you consider a total of 37 wickets at 34.00, and at an economy rate of 5.34, useful.

Verdict: His bowling leaks like a rusty colander. Should only be considered as front-line batting option.

Jeff Wilson

Demonstrated his readiness for the next step up with an improving performance throughout the World XI series, during which time he regularly bowled in the 135 km/h range. One of the few New Zealand pacemen to be free of injury, Wilson appeals not only for his all-round abilities, but also for his uncanny habit of making the right decision at the right time. An aggressive and flexible fieldsman, he would also bolster the New Zealand side's late-order batting.

Verdict: It's almost inevitable he should be included in the squad and played at the first opportunity.