Cricket: Suddenly we're in with a chance

By Richard Boock

LONDON - The dilemma facing the New Zealand cricket selectors these days is not who to leave in their one-day side, but who to leave out.

After chalking up their third successive win in the warm-up to this World Cup tournament - courtesy of Craig McMillan's booming bat - the Kiwis have found themselves in the happy predicament of having several strong options for their opening match against Bangladesh on Monday. And they're being tipped all over as dark horses for a semifinals spot.

If he had not already eased doubts about his form and fitness, McMillan did so emphatically on Wednesday when he clattered 95 off 93 balls as New Zealand completed their tournament practice with a seven-wicket win over Sussex at Arundel Castle.

The 22-year-old right-hander, who was just getting over a hand injury when he left for England, has now scored 23, 86 and 95 against Hampshire, Surrey and Sussex respectively, at an average of 102.

Installed as distinct outsiders last week by bookmakers, New Zealand restricted Sussex to 219 in 50 overs with Geoff Allott again impressive, before galloping to the target with seven wickets and more than 10 overs up their sleeve.

The decision to rest Nathan Astle, who has a back strain, before the Bangladesh game did not backfire as New Zealand were more than adequately served by stand-in opener Roger Twose, who scored an intelligent 56 off 88 balls - while skipper Stephen Fleming continued his strong form with a quickfire 48 off 45 balls.

Allott was again the best of the bowlers, the sharpish left-arm picking up two for 25 off 10 overs after taking two for 31 in the first match against Hampshire.

Tour selectors Fleming and coach Steve Rixon are now being forced to decide who to omit from the regular line-up to make way for Twose, whose form, along with his experience in English conditions and his useful bowling ability, make him difficult to leave out.

The former Warwickshire left-hander came back into the national side after injuries to Fleming and then McMillan during the past summer, the Kiwis usually preferring to bat Chris Cairns at No 5, and carrying an extra bowling option.

However, with Twose now likely to command a starting berth, the selectors are faced with the option of leaving out either seasoned World Cup medium-pacer Gavin Larsen, or the inconsistent opening batsman Matt Horne.

Larsen missed the first match but bowled tidily against Surrey and improved again in the match against Sussex, while Horne has scored 38 (76 balls), 0 and 7 in his outings against county opposition.

The strongest temptation might be to omit Larsen on the basis that New Zealand has bowling options to burn - Allott, Cairns, Dion Nash, Daniel Vettori, Chris Harris, Astle and McMillan - but, on the other hand, the selectors have this season made a habit of stacking their side with bowlers.

While starting to capture wildcard status in these parts, the New Zealanders are still given little chance of winning the cup.

And McMillan said that suited the Kiwis down to the ground. "We're looking to sneak up and surprise a few people."