Cricket: Too good to keep playing

Never Mind rotation, John Bracewell is now threatening to rest key players if New Zealand wrap up the one-day series against the West Indies tomorrow.

Having already watched his team forge to a 2-0 lead with a continually changing batting order, the New Zealand coach has signalled his intention to send some players on gym-leave if they win tomorrow's third ODI at Jade Stadium.

New Zealand, who haven't played a test since last winter, will play six in quick succession over the next couple of months, and Bracewell believes certain players could do with time off.

That could mean short breaks for fast-bowler Shane Bond, spinner Daniel Vettori, wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum and all-rounder Scott Styris - all of whom are certainties for the upcoming test series.

It could also mean something of a limp end to the one-day series at Napier and Auckland, where supporters will be expected to pay to watch a contest between one of the worst teams in the world and a New Zealand development XI.

Bracewell said his team were approaching a period in which they'd need to demonstrate a dramatic change in mentality, as the format changed between the 50-over shootout and the five-day test of endurance.

"Some of the guys playing in the one-dayers may need a game or two off to rest and to build their strength," said Bracewell. I'll discuss it with the selectors over the next few days and hopefully they'll have some thoughts and ideas about who those players should be. But first things first: We need to win tomorrow."

New Zealand play three tests against the West Indies, at Auckland, Wellington and Napier, before heading almost immediately to South Africa, where they play three more tests at Centurion, Cape Town and Johannesburg.

The issue of the test combination has still to be properly debated in public, but the main points of interest will surround the opening batting combination and the balance of the bowling attack, particularly if all-rounder Jacob Oram remains unavailable.

Bracewell agreed that the resting of players was a cautious move but made no apologies for treading lightly with his charges after watching one bowler after another lost to anything from a bruised heel to broken fingers.

"It's been a long time since our last match, so we have to change our mentality from the white to the red ball game," he said.

"I think we show some bowling potential with the return of Shane Bond to a competitive-looking test side, something we haven't been for the past couple of years."

As for the ODI series against the West Indies, Bracewell said he was delighted with the late rally from his middle and lower order at Queenstown but was still waiting for a complete performance from his batting line-up.

The New Zealand top-order was in top form during the opening match at the Cake Tin but fell away alarmingly at Queenstown, collapsing to 13 for four before a rescue mission was launched by Peter Fulton, Brendon McCullum and Daniel Vettori.

"I think we're still struggling to get a real sense of consistency about our batting, day-in, day-out," he said. "We haven't put together a 100 per cent effort yet.

"But I think we've got to understand that over the past 17 years the New Zealand side has been based around the strength of our all-rounders and fielders.

"We no longer have quality options like Chris Cairns available, and because of that we have to rethink the way we play our one-day cricket; particularly with the ongoing concern over Oram."

But Bracewell ruled out the idea of promoting McCullum further up the order, despite his game-changing contribution with the bat at Queenstown, where he collared the West Indian attack during the final Powerplay, while scoring 45 off 44 balls.

"I thought Brendon reinforced that psychology of anti-fear batting, the sort of thing our side needs," he said. "We used to get it from Jacob [Oram] and Chris [Cairns], but now it's Brendon's turn to take on that mantle. He can change the rhythm of games. The best teams in the world at the moment are those who have really good players at No 7.

"They're fearless, they're very proactive in the way they play and we're very lucky to have someone like Brendon, who also has that skill."

Bracewell said New Zealand were also steaming towards one of their most important years in the one-day game, including three major tournaments: the Champions Trophy, the VB Series, and the World Cup.

"We'd like to win them all, but it's critical that we're very competitive in at least two of them," he said. "The Champions Trophy is a bit hit-and-miss in terms of its format, but the VB Series is a vital tournament for us. To play England and Australia before the World Cup is a big thing, and we know it's important that we perform."