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ST. JOHN'S - The previously flawed experiment to play Brendon McCullum as an opener in one-day cricket could be tried a third time as New Zealand consider top order contingencies after bidding Lou Vincent a sad farewell from the World Cup yesterday.
Vincent, who had his left wrist
broken by a Shane Bond delivery during a treacherous net session, checked in at the VC Bird Airport 24 hours after Daryl Tuffey became the first mid-campaign casualty to fly home.
Hamish Marshall is due to join the squad today and faces the ominous task of batting at first drop against the West Indies at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Friday.
His slotting in at No 3 for the hamstrung Ross Taylor still leaves the opening berth alongside captain Stephen Fleming vacant, and two prime contenders were identified after a mercifully trouble-free training session yesterday.
While the more measured Peter Fulton appeared the logical replacement to face the new ball - although he has only opened once in 29 ODIs - the possibility of McCullum having another crack at the lead-off role was confirmed by New Zealand manager Lindsay Crocker.
"That's one of the things we need to consider. Brendon is an option but whether we actually take that option is yet to be decided," he said.
Given Fleming has emphasised the need for wicket conservation during the formative overs - particularly when batting first in the early morning - it seems likely that McCullum would again be employed in a pinch-hitting role which has so far yielded only moderate returns.
McCullum started as a specialist opener in the one-day side in 2002 but since then only 10 of his 85 one-day innings have involved facing the first ball. He averages 17.30 as an opener with a top score of 37.
Most recently he was given an extended period in the spot during the four game home series against Sri Lanka and the first two matches of the Australian tri-series across the Tasman in January before sanity prevailed and he reverted to his specialist position, the hard-hitter at No 7.
McCullum scored just 102 runs in six innings in the front line this summer, with a best of 32 from a series of brief though bludgeoning cameos. But he has subsequently thrived after his demotion down the order, icing Black Caps' victories over Australia in Auckland and Hamilton last month.
On Saturday his boundary clearing ability in the dying overs was personified by his recording of the World Cup's fastest-ever half century, from just 20 balls against Canada.
It seems to be tempting fate to promote him again but in Marshall's case there is little choice to have him padded up practically before he has shrugged off the jetlag.
Taylor had another MRI scan on his strained right hamstring but was already rated as no chance of playing.
New Zealand are unique among remaining World Cup contenders as the only team to ask for International Cricket Council permission to call in replacements.
Chris Martin (for Tuffey) and Marshall have already been fast- tracked to the Caribbean and although vice-captain Daniel Vettori expressed hope there would be no more injury farewells, history suggests otherwise.
New Zealand were going to carefully watch the game between Australia and the West Indies early today to see how the pitch behaved on a ground having its first international match after being purpose-built for the World Cup.
Vettori wasn't too bothered about the din sure to resonate from the designated "party stand".
"The main thing is not to let the West Indies dominate. If you keep on top of them and keep the crowd out of it then it's no worry at all."
- NZPA
