KEY POINTS:
It may be six months since New Zealand last played a test but one thing hasn't changed - the desperate search for a competent pair of opening batsmen.
Undoubtedly the test team's biggest headache, the deficiency at the top of the order was graphically illustrated during this year's tour of South Africa, when all four opening batsmen failed miserably.
The issue is certain to come up for discussion again this week, as coach John Bracewell ponders his squad for the first test against Sri Lanka at Christchurch, starting on December 7.
Late last season, Hamish Marshall and Peter Fulton opened at Centurion, Fulton and Michael Papps took over at Newlands, and Papps and Jamie How received the nod for the final test at the Wanderers.
None proved successful, a weakness that exposed the New Zealand middle-order to the South African new-ball attack and led directly to some of the most dramatic collapses in recent memory.
New Zealand were 28 for six in the second innings of the first test, and lost their first three wickets without scoring off the bat in the second innings at the Wanderers, where South Africa wrapped up a 2-0 series win.
The highest score posted by any of the quartet was Fulton's 36, and the best start was a 50-partnership achieved on a Newlands pitch that, although assisting the spinners, was a virtual shirtfront.
Fulton returned with a series average of 16.25; Marshall with 15.50, Papps 14.25, and How 2.00.
Bracewell said that he either had to pull a rabbit from the hat in terms of the next series or persevere with the incumbents in the name of development, his favoured option.
That could mean, uncomfortably for Black Caps fans, the prospect of the usual suspects lining up against Chaminda Vaas and Lasith Malinga when the first ball of the home test season is delivered next month.
Papps, possibly the most injury-prone batsman on the circuit, is in doubt again after breaking a finger, leaving Bracewell the task of sorting out the most likely of the remaining three candidates. Of those, Marshall has been in terrible one-day form, and How and Fulton have yet to cement their places after their introduction to international cricket last summer.
It could be that Bracewell is concerned enough to look outside his contracted players list, in which case the in-form Craig Cumming or James Marshall could again be considered.
Whatever happens there, the other questions surrounding the batting are largely minor, given the many options that Bracewell has for his middle-order and the quality of the contenders.
Even if Scott Styris is ruled out with his back complaint, the New Zealand selection chief could still call up Lou Vincent or Mathew Sinclair, and also has the option of using either Hamish Marshall or Fulton.
The bowling permutations are relatively straight-forward; the biggest issue surrounds the status of fast-bowler Shane Bond and whether he should be risked in tests.
Bracewell may decide to employ him as soon as he's fit - or he could opt to leave him out of the longer format, to have him at his best for the VB Series, the Chappell-Hadlee series, and then the World Cup.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka have recalled Chamara Silva and Akalanka Ganegama for the tour of New Zealand but will initially be without established batsman Marvan Attapatu, who has confined himself to ODI duties.
Silva is a middle-order batsman and leg-spinner who played the last of his 10 one-day internationals against India at Bristol in 2002. Ganegama is a 25-year-old seam bowler.
Sri Lanka
Tests: Mahela Jayawardene (c), Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Tillekaratne Dilshan, Chamara Kapugedera, Chamara Silva, Prasanna Jayawardene, Farveez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Akalanka Ganegama, Muttiah Muralitharan.
ODIs: Mahela Jayawardene (c), Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Marvan Atapattu, Tillekaratne Dilshan, Chamara Kapugedera, Chamara Silva, Farveez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Malinga Bandara, Ruchira Perera. Sri Lanka in New Zealand Nov 30-Dec 3: v Otago, DunedinDec 28: 1st ODI, Napier
Dec 7-11: 1st test, ChristchurchDec 31: 2nd ODI, Queenstown
Dec 15-19: 2nd test, WellingtonJan 2: 3rd ODI, Christchurch
Dec 22: 1st Twenty20, WellingtonJan 6: 4th ODI, Auckland
Dec 26: 2nd Twenty20, NapierJan 9: 5th ODI, Hamilton.
