Cricket: Vincent primed for test squad

Lou Vincent can afford to make bold predictions about his test cricket prospects.

Fresh from hitting his second one-day century as New Zealand buried West Indies by 91 runs here yesterday to lead the series 4-0, Vincent virtually included himself in the test team to be named on Sunday for the first of three matches starting next Thursday.

West Indies look set to endure another loss with the final one-day encounter in Auckland on Saturday, while Black Caps coach John Bracewell and his fellow selectors will reveal their test squad with much speculation swirling over the batting line-up.

Vincent's 102, which formed the back-bone of New Zealand's 324 for six at McLean Park, was a timely knock with Vincent, an incumbent test opener, likely to jostle with Central Districts' skipper Jamie How and former test opener Michael Papps for one of two spots.

Yesterday Vincent appeared to have already inked his name into the team list when asked where he would like to bat if selected for the opening five-day game at Eden Park.

"I haven't thought about it too much," he said.

"I've been concentrating on the one-dayers. Let's get to Auckland, knock that (fifth game) on it's head and then start to settle on the test. I'll spend a couple of days in the nets getting used to test match mode and we'll take it from there."

His confidence was warranted given his solid contribution from 117 balls with 10 fours and a six.

Opening with captain Stephen Fleming, Vincent applied a handbrake to his innings when he's more accustomed to planting a concrete boot to the accelerator as Fleming tore into Ian Bradshaw and Deighton Butler in the 11th and 12th overs.

Fleming carved 35 from eight deliveries, while Vincent provided an anchor, rotating the strike while patiently picking off runs.

When his captain departed after a handsome 67, Vincent kicked in with Nathan Astle setting an all-time New Zealand record partnership of 156 for the second wicket which swamped, besides a great none for 23 from Fidel Edwards, a lacklustre West Indies bowling attack.

Astle continued his batting crusade with 81 leaving him averaging 84.5 from his last five innings.

In reply, besides Runako Morton's gutsy maiden century, the visitors alarmingly displayed a lack of fight as they meekly batted the match out ending 233 for eight.

Morton admitted afterwards they decided to flag the run chase with 10 overs remaining.

For Vincent there would be few doubts about his will to chase, or set targets, and that was evident yesterday.

Although it's been a long time between drinks since his last test, he boasts scores of 92 and 224 from his last three test innings and yesterday's 100 should keep the incumbent in his place.

Morton admitted they needed a quick reversal in form, otherwise they could battle to go the distant in the tests, even with the arrival of mega-super star and batting maestro Brian Lara.

His personal milestone, coming in his 11th match was also bittersweet.

"It feels good, but it would have been even better if we reached 325."

New Zealand felt that comfortable at the halfway point of the match to allow Fleming to hand over the reins to deputy Daniel Vettori who ran proceedings in the field while Fleming was replaced by super-sub Jeetan Patel.

"I was conscious to get Dan in the groove of captaincy. He's going to be a very fine captain and part of the leadership plan, and certainly the plan of working with Dan, is to keep him in the job and I thought today was a great opportunity for him to do those 50 overs and just stay in the groove.

"If you get to tournament mode and lose your captain or a senior player who's a decision maker then if Dan's got more games under his belt, it's got to be a good thing for us. He's a good captain and stays ahead of the opposition."

- NZPA