Cricket: Chance to experiment goes begging

New Zealand might have been better off experimenting after all.

The side who face Australia in a No 1 v No 2 clash next month made a mockery of all predictions regarding the World XI series, and might now be wondering whether they should have tried more.

Hailed as an opportunity to collect vital information before the Australians arrived, the week-long series possibly threw up more questions than it solved, and especially after back injuries sidelined Daniel Vettori and Jacob Oram.

Both key players in their own right, the pair will miss the series against Australia if scans indicate stress-fracture injuries, leaving gaping holes in the test and ODI sides.

And with New Zealand seamer Daryl Tuffey also lacking rhythm in the third match, the need to know as much as possible about fringe contenders and replacements has seldom been as acute.

The most successful one-day team in the world over the past year, New Zealand won the first and third matches of the World series without breaking into a sweat.

Their second-game blemish was due largely to a fine all-round effort from Andy Bichel.

Stephen Fleming made it clear in Wellington that his side would prefer to be stretched and beaten by the World team rather than winning at a canter, but his supplications were not answered by the globetrotters, and especially not at Westpac Park.

On a Hamilton pitch that again offered far too much assistance for the seamers, Chris Cairns ran amok and snared six wickets, and the irrepressible Jeff Wilson enhanced his reputation with three, including wickets off consecutive balls.

It's true that coach John Bracewell might have stuck out his neck when picking Wilson in the squad, but given the lack of steel in the invitation team, he must now be wishing he'd experimented more widely.

Rather than having just the one wildcard, there has been whispered suggestions that he should have introduced two or three others each game, in order to reap the maximum benefit against a makeshift side.

The laboratory testing might have included another look at Andre Adams, Tama Canning, and possibly Jamie How, the young, in-form Central Districts batsman who has proved particularly impressive in four-day cricket.

Adams seemed worth a look, if only to see whether he had overcome his tendency for waywardness with the ball and to assess if he was ready to play against Australia.

His allrounder team-mate Canning has been on the cusp of making his one-day international debut twice before, but has yet to be tried at the top level.

The absence of the injured Chris Harris makes the need to bring more players up to speed an even bigger issue.

The Australians will play their tour-opening Twenty20 match at Eden Park on February 17, after which they will begin their five-match ODI series, and the three tests in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland.

Although Adams and Canning must be at short odds to replace Vettori and Oram in the ODI side, there is also a chance that Paul Wiseman could be included to provide a slow-bowling option.

With that in mind, it might have been better had Bracewell given them a run against the World XI, rather than placing his only bet with Wilson.

It's true that he found out something. But did he find out enough?

MATCH DATES

* February 19, Wellington (d/n)

* February 22, Christchurch (d/n)

* February 26, Auckland (d/n)

* March 2, venue TBC (d/n)

* March 5, Napier