Cricket: Selectors face tough choices for next tests

Ross Taylor. Photo / Getty Images

Among the thoughts to exercise the national selectors' minds after they've tucked into the turkey next week, two stand out.

The second test assignment on this three-leg summer is Bangladesh in early February.

The harsh glare has been on New Zealand's erratic batting in the test series against Pakistan - and it's not a new problem either - but there also a bowling issue for the panel to ponder.

First the easy one. The departure of Iain O'Brien on the next stage of his life after the drawn third test in Napier this week opens a gap.

The first choice alongside Chris Martin and Daryl Tuffey is Tim Southee. All three had their moments, but also their flat periods in a four-pronged, fast-medium attack in Napier.

To be fair, if you carried out a survey of New Zealand's first-class bowlers it's a safe bet none will nominate McLean Park as their favourite piece of turf in the country.

And whenever four similarly-styled bowlers are vying for opportunities, and preferred ends to bowl from, often one ends up missing out.

Southee did get through 48 overs in the test, taking three for 146. He has a bright future, and is younger than the other incumbents.

But when the team is named for the sole test against Bangladesh in Hamilton early in February, another name to replace the retired O'Brien will be required, at least as part of a 12- or 13-man squad.

The leading candidate appears to be Northern Districts' in-form Brent Arnel. He is 30 but if applying the principle of picking players at the top of their game then Arnel should be given his chance.

The selectors, Mark Greatbatch, Glenn Turner and captain Dan Vettori, might have a smoking seamer up their sleeve - although how much they will learn from the diet of 50 and 20-over games from now until the Bangladesh test is a moot point - but the lightweight Bangladeshis provide a good reason to take a look at another alternative.

Then there's the batting.

Ross Taylor and Vettori were New Zealand's most successful by a mile against Pakistan.

Openers Tim McIntosh and BJ Watling each had one solid return in Napier, but 88 runs from five innings was a poor haul for Martin Guptill, while Daniel Flynn's 62, also in five innings, allied to a technical flaw with his head position, means it's time for a break from the test team.

"We look back on the first innings at Wellington [bowled out for 99] as probably the part of the test series that let us down," Vettori said.

There were a couple of other hairy batting displays too, to reinforce the point that New Zealand have some hard work, and hard thinking, ahead to sort it out.

Jesse Ryder is expected back from injury for the Bangladesh tour which takes care of one middle order position.

As was amply demonstrated in Napier, Vettori can fill No 6, even if it's not his first choice role.

No first-class cricket before Bangladesh arrive, with firstly four one-day rounds, before the Twenty20 HRV Cup takes over throughout January, is a problem.

And where does that leave the likes of big-scoring Peter Ingram, who is shouting through the keyhole of the selection door, and middle order player Neil Broom, who has hit three first-class hundreds for Otago this summer?

Might the selectors, for example, fancy giving 31-year-old Ingram his chance and slipping the adaptable Watling into No 6?

It is unlikely after an encouraging debut by Watling as an opener, but the selectors need to get to grips with the batting conundrum before Australia arrive for two tests in March.

Their attack, even if not among the finest in that country's history, will be the most challenging of the summer. Strong minds and decisive action are needed.