Cricket: Test recalls may cover weak spots

By Richard Boock

The New Zealand cricket selectors are prepared to adopt a back-to-the-future approach for one of their most fundamental problems: player depth.

The panel of Ross Dykes, Rick Pickard and new coach David Trist will today announce their squads for next month's tour of India, with at least two players - spinner Paul Wiseman and opening bat Craig Spearman - facing test recalls.

Notwithstanding the recent success in England, Dykes said the plain facts were that no genuine gains had been made in the top-order batting and slow-bowling departments, despite the opportunities extended to several players.

"We were very pleased with what happened in England," said Dykes. "But we still have to acknowledge our shortcomings in the batting and spin-bowling areas, and we continue to seek solutions.

"It could be that part of the answer lies in regenerating players who have been tried at test level previously, in that they have already had some international experience and are possibly better prepared because of it."

A New Zealand test squad of 15 will arrive in Mumbai on September 30, with changes likely to be made before the start of the five-match one-day international programme.

Dykes said several batsmen were lining up to lay claims to the national side, among them Mathew Sinclair, Gary Stead, Bryan Young and younger players such as Jarrod Englefield, which was encouraging given the long-running problems in the Kiwi top-order.

Attempts have been made to boost the spin-bowling stocks, with Brooke Walker's selection for the tour of England following last summer's recall of Matt Hart, and before that, the choice of Mark Haslam and Greg Loveridge.

However, offspinner Wiseman, who played a useful role in New Zealand's series-clinching win over India last summer, is expected to be brought back into the fold to compliment Daniel Vettori, while Spearman's handy record in eight previous tests and a prolific first-class season should cement his recall.

Dykes said he expected to receive a good idea of how some of New Zealand's other rising stars might cope with the top level during a busy schedule for the national A side this summer.

New Zealand A play one match against the touring West Indies and host a series against England A, who then reciprocate by hosting a return series in the Kiwi winter.
* Injured left-arm strike bowler Geoff Allott will miss the tour.

Allott had a fitness test soon after the team's arrival home from England last week and was ruled out by the New Zealand medical team yesterday. He suffered a stress fracture in his back in the last county game of the England tour.