KEY POINTS:
GEORGETOWN - It might be carnival time in this part of the world but New Zealand have remained a picture of conservatism as they prepare for tomorrow morning's World Cup showdown against Ireland, at the aptly named Providence Stadium.
The side that changed shape on a weekly basis earlier in the season have now moved into a phase of general stability and Stephen Fleming is anxious for it to remain that way as New Zealand approach the halfway point of their second round.
Translated, that will probably mean batsman Ross Taylor sits out another game with his torn hamstring, that fast bowler Shane Bond will make his fifth tournament appearance, and a lot of heartache over whether to play off-spinner Jeetan Patel or either Mark Gillespie or Chris Martin.
Mindful of the three heavyweight fixtures looming in Grenada over the next fortnight, Fleming made no apologies for adopting a steady-as-she-goes approach to selection, saying he'd made his position clear to coach John Bracewell from the outset.
"My personal view is to keep your strongest side going," he said. "I've been involved in a few World Cups where we've chopped and changed a bit too much, and I made the point to John earlier on that my view would always be conservative.
"If you've got 11 or 12 guys in form and doing well then you keep that going as long as possible. Injuries will come into it at some stage so you've just got to ensure that the other guys are practising very positively - and that's worked out okay for us so far."
New Zealand practised yesterday at the Bourda Ground, Guyana's spiritual home and reportedly the only test cricket venue that lies below sea level.
Against a backdrop of empty colonial-style stands, Bond put himself through a physical workout under a steamy sun but Michael Mason was reduced to gentle jogging and Taylor still appeared a little downcast about his fitness.
Gillespie and Martin, who was flown over as a late replacement for Daryl Tuffey, trained freely and seemed to promote themselves for selection. They could even both get a run if the selectors opt to rest James Franklin.
On the other hand, the success of the Bangladesh spinners during their team's stunning win over South Africa yesterday could tip the balance towards Patel.
Whatever the decision, Fleming appears in no mood for gambling.
"We want to get him [Taylor] back into the fold but he's not quite right yet and we'll probably be conservative.
"But Bond will definitely play. It's important we get two points against Ireland so we'll pick the strongest side available."
He was also unimpressed with suggestions of Peter Fulton being in danger of being dropped, and threw his support behind the Canterbury right-hander, who has failed twice after inheriting the opening position following Lou Vincent's injury.
Fleming believed it would be unfair, even if Taylor returned to No 3, to drop Fulton on the basis of a couple of misses in an unfamiliar position.
"Pete was in the best of form right up until we had to switch him to opening. He's been put there for a number of games because of his form and because we also realise that it's a foreign position."
The only time Fleming strayed from the straight and narrow was when he suggested a surprise to come in the remaining games of the World Cup, and that he expected a challenge to the four sides favoured to progress.
"I reckon there's a twist to come. People are talking about Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka and New Zealand but there may yet be a bit of a twist. Maybe with England, maybe with the West Indies, who're under the pump and can come out and do something, but the next few days are going to tell us a lot in terms of the top four.
"Ideally if you swept in by winning every game you'd be in a good spot mentally but at this point we just want to get through and I don't think it matters a helluva lot who you play."
THE TEAMS
New Zealand:
Stephen Fleming (c), Peter Fulton, Hamish Marshall, Scott Styris, Craig McMillan, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori, James Franklin, Shane Bond, Mark Gillespie, Chris Martin, Jeetan Patel, Michael Mason, Ross Taylor.
Ireland:
Trent Johnston (c), Jeremy Bray, William Porterfield, Eion Morgan, Niall O'Brien, Andrew White, Andre Botha, Kyle McCallan, Paul Mooney, Dave Langford-Smith, Boyd Rankin, Kevin O'Brien, John Mooney, Peter Gillespie, Kenneth Carroll.
