Cricket: Broom, Flynn eye test spot

Neil Broom. Photo / Richard Robinson

Neil Broom and Daniel Flynn look set to challenge for the vacant test batting spot after the release of the 20-strong New Zealand Cricket contracts list on Friday.

Both have been reinstated after strong seasons at Plunket Shield level. Flynn batted predominantly at No3 for Northern Districts, making 614 runs at an average of 55.81 from 13 innings.

He made two centuries and two half-centuries including a top score of 241. Broom was No4 for Otago, scoring 645 runs at 49.61 from 17 innings. He also had two tons and two 50s with a best of 203 not out.

Presuming Kane Williamson moves to No3, as he did in New Zealand's last test against Pakistan in January following Tim McIntosh's axing, Broom or Flynn will slot in at six.

James Franklin is the incumbent six but is out of favour with the selection panel and missed a contract.

Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill are likely to continue opening when New Zealand play their next test in Zimbabwe in October unless BJ Watling can make a strong case on the emerging players tour to Australia later this month.

New captain Ross Taylor will be at four with Jesse Ryder five, injury permitting.

For 27-year-old Broom, it is a considerable turnaround from what was a fading international career. He had a decent spell in New Zealand limited overs teams in 2009 and 2010 - playing 22 ODIs and nine T20s.

His fielding was strong but his ability to finish innings further down the order was patchy. He was sent back to the domestic game all last season, not even appearing in the 30-man wider World Cup squad.

Broom's future was not helped by the revelation he and team-mate Aaron Redmond had been questioned at a Chennai police station after a drunken but good-natured piece of revelry on an A tour to India in 2009.

The pair made an effort to relieve the burden of poverty in the city in breach of team curfewby handing out rupees to passers-by. A riot ensued when a keen crowd became unruly.

"I'm not particularly proud of it," Broom said. "But it's probably one to tell the grandchildren - in fact, it's quite a good one to tell already. I just remember getting biffed into this jeep and dumped in the cells for a couple of hours."

For 26-year-old Flynn, it is a chance to build on a 16-test, 16-ODI, four-T20 career which began in 2008. After being dropped in 2009, he has been trying to get rid of bad habits.

"My backlift wasn't going straight back and my weight distribution was poor, meaning I'd often lean too far across to the offside, over-balance and be a candidate for lbw if the ball got through. Martin Crowe is among a few coaches who have helped me - but in the end you're your own best coach."

Both players will look to push for that final middle order spot during the upcoming emerging players tournament in Brisbane. It features a round of three-day matches against the Australian Institute of Sport and development teams from South Africa and India.

Interim national selection manager Mark Greatbatch says the pair can cement a test spot after fine domestic form: "I know it's 'only' domestic cricket, but Broom's been consistent in the longer version with plenty of centuries [four] across all formats. Flynn looks like getting back to where he was when he was playing for New Zealand.

"He's older and wiser and is a good learner and listener."

Of the other contracted players, Greatbatch says Northern Districts' Trent Boult won a tight battle against Central Districts pace bowling candidates Ben Wheeler, Adam Milne and Doug Bracewell. Canterbury leg-spinner Todd Astle with 37 Plunket Shield wickets at 29.08 also came close to a deal as they look for a test spin option to eventually replace Daniel Vettori.

Greatbatch says Kyle Mills and Jacob Oram's integral role in New Zealand teams over recent seasons counted in their favour, despite a likely slip down the list.

Chris Martin is still considered a crucial component of the test side at 36, especially with 10 tests expected on the itinerary between now and next May.