KEY POINTS:
As New Zealand's selectors sift their options for the tour to England, they have half a problem.
The bowling provokes few concerns. There is one spot open for a fast-medium bowler, and the likelihood is either Michael Mason, Mark Gillespie or Iain O'Brien will get that job.
Chris
Martin, Kyle Mills and Tim Southee pick themselves; Jacob Oram, assuming he is fit, is a key figure with the ball; and captain Daniel Vettori and offspinner Jeetan Patel will go.
So that's taken care of, which just leaves the batting. Half a problem? More a giant-sized headache.
It is cricket's age-old dilemma. You need 20 wickets to win a test, but if the bowlers don't have the runs to work with, their hands are tied.
A squad of, probably, 15 will be named late next week after the final round of domestic games. A handful of players will be used for the first two games, while the IPL quintet are otherwise occupied, then discarded.
(Question: what if one of those brought in on a temporary basis plays out of their skin. Do the selectors have room to move, retain them and dispense with someone else? And should they?)
One pressing matter is the need to find five batsmen - with Oram, Brendon McCullum and Vettori arguably world cricket's best Nos 6-7-8 - up to the job in conditions which will help the fast-medium bowlers.
With Stephen Fleming's departure, and Scott Styris withdrawing from tests, the batting line-up looks as watertight as a colander. Only Jamie How and Ross Taylor of the top five against England are tour certainties.
The first-class averages for this season are interesting, but not the be- all and end-all, otherwise why have selectors?
They will need to ally batsmen's form to gut instinct. Have they seen a couple of batsmen who they believe are worth a punt; someone who they believe can step up?
If you ignore players who are unavailable, have played only a couple of games (therefore have had their figures inflated by a not out or two) and the injured, here are the top seven: Matthew Bell (Wellington), Greg Hay (Central Districts), Daniel Flynn (Northern Districts), Peter Fulton (Canterbury), Neal Parlane (Wellington), James Marshall (ND), Michael Papps (Canterbury).
Of them, forget Parlane and Papps. Parlane is a provincial journeyman having a strong campaign, averaging 53.27 for Wellington. Papps has been tried twice at test level and failed both times. An average of 16.4 from eight tests is no recommendation.
Technically Mathew Sinclair tops the averages, his one game for CD including 243 in round one against Otago back in early November. But he has cooked his chances after producing 147 runs in eight test innings. Since the third and last of his big centuries, against Pakistan in March 2001, Sinclair has averaged 20 in 31 innings.
As for the rest ...
* Bell is the incumbent test opener. He might have saved himself with a gritty 69 in the second innings at Napier. Averages 103.14 in domestic cricket this season. Scored 245 in eight test innings this season at 31.
* Hay averages 63.55 from six games for CD. Overall, 14 first-class games have produced 52.95 with three centuries, six 50s. He is rated a compact, tidy batsman, and a big chance to tour.
* Lefthander Flynn got a sniff during the Twenty20 series against England. The selectors clearly have the former under-19 national captain in mind. The numbers this season? 554 runs in seven games for ND at 55.4.
* Fulton is there or thereabouts, having played seven tests and 43 ODIs. Is going at 54.87 for Canterbury this season. Likely to make the tour, and will double as back-up opener.
* Marshall is 29, and has had five tests and eight ODIs. Having a good season, with 581 runs at 52.81, but his international numbers are average.
Others whose averages are lower but will get a mention include young Aucklander Martin Guptill, who had a strong one-day season and, despite only averaging 21.58, is well regarded; opener Craig Cumming, who was ordinary against Bangladesh, but has fans for his resolute attitude; young ND opener BJ Watling, another to catch important eyes, but averaging just 28 this season.
Did experienced lefthanded opener Tim McIntosh's 268 for Auckland against Canterbury this week push him into the running?
And don't forget wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins, who should be required for at least the first two matches when McCullum is in India. He averages 44.12 for Auckland. Food for thought.
