Cricket: McCullum's move creates room for Rutherford to open

Brendon McCullum is back down the order. Photo / Getty Images

Hamish Rutherford should consider buying Brendon McCullum a thank-you gift ahead of the first test against Sri Lanka starting in Christchurch on Boxing Day.

The decision to move captain McCullum back down to the middle order opens the way for a return for specialist opener Rutherford.

Had McCullum dug his toes in - on the back of 347 runs in three tests opening against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, and with an opening average of 39.87, slightly superior to his overall 38.19 over his 90-test career - Rutherford would have been preparing for Otago's first Ford Trophy match against Northern Districts in Alexandra next Sunday instead of aiming to repay the national selectors' faith.

New Zealand pitches have more pace, bounce and seam movement than those in the UAE, so it was felt prudent to move McCullum back down the order and bring back an out-and-out opener, rather than stick with Mr Versatile, whom they see as having more impact in the middle order.

"He's a very adaptable player and he's had experience. He's a smart cricketer," national selector Bruce Edgar said, adding that McCullum was "absolutely comfortable" with the decision.

"He's that sort of guy, he has the team first approach."

Lefthander Rutherford made a century on test debut 21 months ago but only one 50 in 24 test innings since. His form on the New Zealand A tour to England in August impressed and his return means two lefties going in first, along with the in-form Tom Latham.

With Corey Anderson out through a groin injury, Dean Brownlie is back in the test 13 and vying for the No6 job with Jimmy Neesham, now over a mild groin strain suffered late in the ODI series against Pakistan.

Neesham averages 44 after six tests - but that number was 64 before four failures against Pakistan. He had a poor return with bat and ball in his two ODIs in the United Arab Emirates.

His selection may come down to how much backup seam value the selectors feel he offers, plus a desire not to dispense too rapidly with a young man who scored fine centuries in his first two tests this year.

The Otago offspinner Mark Craig has won the sole spinners' spot ahead of Northern Districts' legspinner Ish Sodhi.

Then again, after taking 10 wickets in a man-of-the-match-winning effort in Sharjah a couple of weeks ago, that should not be a surprise.

Sodhi will be back but Craig offers greater control, not to mention 25 wickets in his first six tests after winning a surprise initial callup to the West Indies this year.

"Ish bowls some magic balls," Edgar said.

"It's more the consistency we're looking at.

"We were never going to take two spinners into a test here and we have [part-time offspinner] Kane [Williamson] as well."

NZ squad
New Zealand first test squad to play Sri Lanka in Christchurch, starting on Boxing Day: Brendon McCullum (c), Hamish Rutherford, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Jimmy Neesham, Dean Brownlie, BJ Watling, Mark Craig, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Doug Bracewell, Trent Boult.

•Dec 26-30: First test, Hagley Oval, Christchurch.

•Jan 3-Jan 7: Second test, Basin Reserve, Wellington.

•Followed by seven ODIs throughout January.

Bracewell battles Wagner for spot as third seamer

- Kris Shannon

The battle for the third seamer spot for the first cricket test against Sri Lanka starting on Boxing Day heated up as Doug Bracewell and Neil Wagner bowled their sides to victory in the Plunket Shield yesterday.

Bracewell took six wickets in the match as Central Districts crushed Auckland by 245 runs, and Wagner snatched seven scalps in Otago's 82-run victory over Canterbury.

Both bowlers have been included in the Black Caps' 13-man squad to tackle Sri Lanka, with the selectors set to face a tricky decision to determine the third seamer spot behind Tim Southee and Trent Boult.

Wagner is the incumbent - although he sat out the recent drawn series against Pakistan as New Zealand opted for two spinners - but Bracewell has been in red-hot form on the domestic scene.

The 24-year-old is the leading wicket-taker in the Plunket Shield, having picked up 23 wickets in three matches as he attempts to win a recall to the national side for the first time since last October.

Bracewell's efforts against Auckland at Eden Park's outer oval will certainly help his cause, claiming 3-25 as Auckland were skittled for 130 in their chase of 376.

Ben Wheeler (3-41) matched Bracewell's efforts with the ball as only Tarun Nethula (38no) offered any resistance.

In Rangiora, Canterbury were unable to haul in their target of 299, collapsing to 216 all out after resuming on 92-2. Wagner picked up the key wicket of Peter Fulton early in the day, and Black Caps spinner Mark Craig also collected a couple of scalps.

The other match of the round was wrapped up inside three days as Southee and Boult helped leaders Northern Districts demolish Wellington by 395 runs. The Plunket Shield now goes on hold until February with the Ford Trophy one-day competition set to begin on December 27.
- NZME.