Cricket: McCullum shaping up as the Berra of good news

If the bosses at New Zealand Cricket (NZC) hired Yogi Berra rather than Gilbert Enoka as their resident swami, he'd advise coach John Bracewell that he'd "reached a fork in the road and now was the time to take it".

The 80-year-old former Yankees catcher had a gift for phrases rivalled only by Mrs Malaprop herself, but Bracewell's selection policy has been depicted as following a similar path of twisted logic. The squad he names, probably on Wednesday, to fight for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy might mark a watershed in his tenure.

The suspicion is Bracewell, Sir Richard Hadlee, Dion Nash and Glenn Turner will play it fairly safe against Australia. Taking on the No 1 one-day side in the world is hardly a time for radical experimentation. But some players, particularly in the top order, will be put on notice - the leash has been shortened considerably, as Chris Cairns can testify.

Another series of massive underachievement like the one witnessed in South Africa and Bracewell will be forced to abandon caution and develop some new talent with 2007 in mind.

Ideally he would like a top order that reads: Stephen Fleming, Nathan Astle, Lou Vincent, Scott Styris, Hamish Marshall and probably Craig McMillan. Problem being, the aggregates for the last 10 innings of most of his key picks are disappointing.

Only Vincent, buoyed by 172 against Zimbabwe, with 435 runs is in good nick. Fleming (365), Astle (307), Styris (322) and McMillan (319) are all below par.

Marshall's 159 stands out like a train wreck.

It is a top order that seems to be crying out for an injection of something - fresh blood, creatine, adrenaline, anything? But there is no assembly line. Instead, the answer might be within.

Brendon McCullum was like a startled rabbit when introduced to the one-day squad as an opener during the world series in Australia in 2002.

He is a vastly improved player now.

Bracewell seems reluctant to use him as anything other than someone who can extract maximum value from the last five overs or so, but surely it is time to use him higher up the order.

Bracewell has a set balance he wants to take through to 2007.

He told the Herald on Sunday that the team that wins the power plays will win most matches.

"That's going to be especially true in the West Indies with the small grounds and pitches that tend to die as the day goes on."

For that reason alone he is committed to playing two hitters in the top three.

Astle should be one of them. Vincent is the other.

On his day he can destroy an attack, although he must not push his 'Viv Richards complex' too far.

Berra had some sage advice for the No 3 as well - "if you can't imitate him, don't copy him."

McCullum would give the selectors the best of both worlds as he hits and pushes.

Batting aside, and the minor hiccup for Shane Bond in South Africa, and the fielding in two of the matches, everything looks just fine.

Kyle Mills has emerged as an unlikely linchpin of the bowling unit (though he'd be advised to leave the sledging to Glenn McGrath).

Cairns is fit and firing again and his re-selection seems a racing certainty.

Australia whitewashed the Black Caps in New Zealand less than a year ago.

Their personnel has since undergone a none-too-subtle makeover. New Zealand's hasn't. Another whitewash and more of Berra's words will haunt: "It's like deja vu all over again."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY