Cricket: Speedster Arnel in on merit

Brent Arnel

Surprise first-test selection Brent Arnel is no knee-jerk reaction to New Zealand's repeated floggings at the hands of India's high-octane batting during the ODI series.

The 30-year-old from Te Awamutu was yesterday named in a squad of 13 to prepare for the first test, starting in Hamilton next Wednesday.

But selection panel manager Glenn Turner insisted Arnel, whose 23 first-class games have produced 72 wickets at 26.88, was chosen on form.

"We've been looking at him for quite a while," Turner said last night.

"It's had nothing to do with what's happened in the last few one-dayers.

"He's been knocking on the door for the last 12 months and the fact is he's played the last couple of games against England Lions and shown out. He's been the best of them.

"So it's a bit more evidence for us. What else that's been going on has no bearing."

Although not strictly relevant, his one-day State Shield form, 17 wickets at 20.76 - bettered only by Otago's Ian Butler among those eligible for national selection - didn't hurt and if he gets a start it will be on the pitch the fast bowler knows better than any other in the country.

Offspinner Jeetan Patel is in the 13 and if the selectors figure fast-medium bowling hasn't significantly troubled the Indians so far and spin is the next best option, he'll be in.

Chris Martin, unwanted since the end of the two-test tour of Australia late last year, is back, but the 34-year-old will need to impress on the first two or three days of Auckland's match against Otago, starting in Queenstown today.

Martin, his provincial teammate Tim McIntosh, Arnel - with ND in Christchurch to play Canterbury - and left-arm allrounder James Franklin, with Wellington in Napier to play Central Districts, are all playing the early part of State Championship games before joining the national squad from Monday.

Martin, who has 146 wickets in 45 tests, might have been a late addition to the squad. Captain Dan Vettori is a strong supporter and the original plan was for a squad of 12.

Martin's figures of late won't have had the selectors slavering.

However, at his best he is the country's leading new ball operator and even though down on pace in Australia, he was still pretty tidy, taking six wickets in the two tests.

Martin Guptill makes his test debut, having done well in the ODI side, with an average of 48.87 in 11 matches.

He has usurped Jamie How, whose problems against the swinging ball remain despite hitting 190 for New Zealand A against England Lions in Queenstown a week ago.

And allrounder Jacob Oram has opted out after advising the selectors he did not feel his body was up to the rigours of five-day cricket.

He will return to get some first-class play with Central Districts. He has been unable to bowl more than a handful of overs and is well short of the runs needed to be sure of a spot at No 6.

"He didn't have confidence his body could cope with five days of test cricket," Turner said.

"By going back to CD he can hopefully have an opportunity to spend some time at the crease which he hasn't been able to do over the last 3-4 months because of injury and limited-overs cricket."

So Franklin, in strong domestic form with the bat - averaging 149.33 in the championship - is likely to sit at No 6. He is becoming a batting allrounder, with his swing bowling only moderate this season after returning from a lengthy layoff with knee problems.

The selectors have named an unchanged 12 for the fifth and final ODI at Eden Park tomorrow.

NZ SQUAD

New Zealand first test squad to play India, starting next Wednesday in Hamilton: Dan Vettori (c), Martin Guptill, Tim McIntosh, Daniel Flynn, Ross Taylor, Jesse Ryder, James Franklin, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Brent Arnel, Jeetan Patel, Iain O'Brien, Chris Martin.