KEY POINTS:
There's been plenty of talk following the ICC Champions Trophy that Brendon McCullum could be the answer to our top-order woes, but if he is to be moved to the top of the one-day batting order, do it now or leave it till after the World Cup.
There
is no doubt in my mind McCullum has the ability to do an adequate job at the top and, with his obvious talent, an outstanding job in time. But right now where he bats he is at the heart of New Zealand's strategic advantage.
The one area the Black Caps could say they are strong, and arguably the best in the world, would be their lower middle order. Jacob Oram, McCullum and Daniel Vettori backed up by a tail that reads James Franklin and Kyle Mills provides more than batting depth - it provides explosive batting depth. It is because of this depth the Black Caps rate themselves as a very good chasing side and it should be because of this depth that the top order has the confidence to play freely.
If McCullum is taken out of the lower middle, he will leave a gap. He is the best we have at hitting the older ball to and over the fence and the most savage punisher of a ball that is not "block-hole" at the death overs. Of course, if he is successful at the top then there could be a positive trade-off but that would change the nature of the current side. Right now the New Zealand team strength lies in its deep batting order, tidy opening bowlers and a world-class spin bowler. In the build-up to the World Cup, time should be spent consolidating this strength and minimising weaknesses. But, in minimising a weakness, it should not be at the expense of a strength.
While it would be nice to think we could regularly win matches with our top order (and, after all, they say the top five carry the major burden of the responsibility of run scoring) I feel we should be more aiming not to lose matches at the top so our middle and lower middle order can win them. That is playing to our strengths.
On the flip side, you can argue that if McCullum can provide dynamic starts to our batting innings - and I believe he could actually provide more than just starts - then even without him in the late innings order, Oram, Vettori and Mills should have enough fire power lower down.
If successful, this approach would allow for Jeetan Patel's spin to be added to the mix, a positive in the Caribbean.
It's a 50-50 call for John Bracewell and co but it's a call that must be made now and given time to bed down. McCullum would need time to acquire the skills of an opening batsman and, more importantly, the mentality of a consistent one.