KEY POINTS:
BIRMINGHAM - Allrounder Grant Elliott could be pressed straight into action for New Zealand in Wednesday's second one-day cricket international against England here after the tourists' struggles without Jacob Oram.
Elliott was summoned to Birmingham from London today as cover for the injured Oram in the wake of
New Zealand's 114-run defeat in the series opener at Chester-le-Street.
The South African-born allrounder, 29, was playing for Guildford in the Surrey championship but yesterday's events moved coach John Bracewell to call for reinforcements.
Without Oram, who is hoped to return from a hamstring strain for Saturday's third match in Bristol, New Zealand's dearth of allrounders was shown up as England plundered 307 for five then rolled the tourists for 193.
With Scott Styris, usually accustomed to sharing the fifth bowler's role, under huge pressure from centurymaker Kevin Pietersen, captain Daniel Vettori had nowhere to turn. Picking an extra bowler would have left New Zealand too light in the batting.
In recent seasons the allrounder stocks was New Zealand's strength, with the likes of Craig McMillan, Nathan Astle and Chris Harris.
Manager Lindsay Crocker said Elliott wasn't called in lightly.
"That's the dilemma when you have no Jacob, and at the same time we don't have someone like James Franklin or Jesse Ryder (both recovering from injury)," Crocker said.
"It's just a balance question really. He's added to the side to give us that option of someone who can bat six or seven and bowl 5-10 overs.
"He's had a lot of cricket, I think he's just come off five days in a row, and he'd be a serious contender (to play) I would have thought."
The Wellington allrounder arrived in England with the tour squad in April as cover for the Indian Premier League (IPL) absentees, before joining Guildford.
Another Oram injury handed Elliott his test debut against England in Napier in March, although it was an inauspicious one as he scored 10 runs and took a solitary wicket from 24 overs.
He was left off New Zealand Cricket's list of 20 centrally contracted players but was given a winter contract, along with six other fringe internationals.
In 58 domestic one-day matches, Elliott averages 33.51 with the bat and 30.84 with the ball at an economy rate of 5.12.
New Zealand's performance yesterday against a confident England side demanded a selection rethink for Edgbaston.
If Elliott is chosen for his ODI debut, he could replace either James Marshall or Gareth Hopkins, with the former most in danger.
Marshall's form hasn't been the same since his excellent 128 against Essex six weeks ago, and he scored four off 25 balls yesterday.
Rookie Daniel Flynn is the leading candidate to push up to three, temporarily at least, despite Bracewell's wish he cements a spot at six.
Flynn, who scored a run-a-ball 34 in a losing cause before receiving an awful caught behind decision from English umpire Nigel Llong, said he was relaxed about his spot in the order.
"I'm happy to bat anywhere, I'm not too fazed. I feel I can adapt to the situation," Flynn said.
His elevation would also give New Zealand the variation of a left-hander in the top-order.
The other option is to push Ross Taylor and Styris up a place to three and four respectively.
New Zealand had plenty of time to digest their heavy defeat today, with several delays ensuring a five-hour bus trip from Durham to Birmingham.
- NZPA
