Cricket: Selections based on doubtful form

Mark Gillespie and Hamish Marshall could be forgiven for having contrasting emotions as they approach next month's Champions Trophy tournament in India.

Gillespie, Wellington's highest wicket-taker in last season's one-day competition, will presumably be turning cartwheels at the thought of an international debut, particularly given the so-far modest credentials supporting his call-up.

Marshall, on the other hand, is likely to be approaching the task with a sense of grim determination, knowing another failure on the road could leave him vulnerable and exposed at the worst possible time.

The pair loom as the main talking points of the 14-man New Zealand squad named yesterday by coach John Bracewell, who appeared to justify the selection of both players on the grounds of their first-class, rather than one-day, form.

Wellington paceman Gillespie, though performing impressively in the four-day championship, was the one-day competition's eighth-highest wicket-taker and languished well down the averages after taking 12 wickets at 28.16.

He also seems to have been singled out as a potential death bowler.

"Mark Gillespie was the domestic season's outstanding pace bowler and performed well during the Top End Series [in Australia]," Bracewell said.

"He thoroughly deserves his place in the squad and his skills as a specialist death bowler will extend our depth in this area.

"Hamish Marshall has performed extremely well in his county season for Gloucestershire having scored five first-class centuries and we look forward to seeing this return to form continue."

The concern over Marshall revolves chiefly around his touring record, although his one-day form last season was diabolical in general.

The only reason his poor overseas record has not received more attention is that it's propped up by a deceptively impressive return on the 2003 visit to Pakistan, when he made low-pressure runs during a chain of lost causes.

His retention and the decision to carry the injured Scott Styris meant there was no room in the squad for emerging dynamo Ross Taylor, a call Bracewell might find increasingly difficult to sustain if Marshall's touring form doesn't soon improve.


New Zealand

Stephen Fleming (c), Nathan Astle, Shane Bond, James Franklin, Peter Fulton, Mark Gillespie, Brendon McCullum, Hamish Marshall, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Scott Styris, Daniel Vettori, Lou Vincent.