KEY POINTS:
New Zealand's selectors have played a few shots this season, but expect a return to a straight bat approach when they name their first test squad tomorrow to play England next week.
Traditionally, selection panels have taken their punts on overseas trips where new faces get the chance
to find their feet.
That's likely to continue when they choose the party to tour England in April, especially if they need an extra couple of players to help out early in covering for the three Indian Premier League test-eligible players, captain Daniel Vettori, vice captain Brendon McCullum and allrounder Jacob Oram.
But at home, against England, no.
The domestic schedule also mitigates against it.
The selectors cannot be happy with the form of Peter Fulton and Mathew Sinclair, both of whom struggled against England for the Invitation XI at Dunedin on Tuesday.
But the last first-class cricket played by non-internationals was on December 13 when the fourth round of the State Championship concluded. Since then, it's been a non-stop diet of short games, either the shield competition or Twenty20.
The eye-catching performances in that round are interesting to reflect on.
Matthew Bell hit 265 for Wellington, which helped secure his test recall against Bangladesh, which in turn led to his century in the first test at Dunedin.
Fulton hit 126 for Canterbury against Otago, which must seem a distant memory given the trough he's stepped into from the beginning of the Bangladesh tests.
The other two notable efforts came from rising young allrounder Tim Southee, with six for 68 for Northern Districts against Auckland, and Central Districts' batsman Greg Hay, with 164 against Wellington. Those two names will be high on the selectors' list when they come to settling on the party to England.
But for now, with nothing for the contenders to show from the last couple of months, selectors will stick with those they know, at least for the Hamilton test starting on Wednesday.
So Fulton and Sinclair are likely to remain, with Jamie How to move up to open with Bell.
The only other issue is whether Iain O'Brien holds onto the third seamer's spot. He did well against Bangladesh in the second test at Wellington, doing the donkey work into the wind and getting fair reward.
He was flogged in his ODI debut against England at Napier on a belter of a pitch but nipping out England captain Michael Vaughan and experienced Andrew Strauss in the early minutes of the Invitation XI game in Dunedin yesterday and four for 34 as England tumbled to 131 all out won't have hurt his argument.
The only realistic option is Mark Gillespie, just feeling his way back from injury.
He is quicker than O'Brien, and swings the ball although he can be expensive. He took three for 62 in 14 overs yesterday.
Offspinner Jeetan Patel might be included in an enlarged squad if the selectors suspect the Seddon Park pitch might turn.
New Zealand play two spinners in a home test less often than snow turns up on Christmas Day. The last occasion was March 2005, when Vettori and Paul Wiseman teamed up against Australia at Eden Park.
So the tried and, hmmm, trusted get their chance. But for some the clock will be ticking.
* ON THE FIELD
Possible New Zealand XIII: Daniel Vettori (c), Matthew Bell, Jamie How, Peter Fulton, Stephen Fleming, Mathew Sinclair, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Iain O'Brien, Mark Gillespie, Chris Martin, Jeetan Patel.
