KEY POINTS:
The selections of two new batsmen for today's ODI at Eden Park gives an insight into the importance of the modern A tours for the national selectors.
Both Martin Guptill and Neil Broom were involved in the Emerging Players tour to Queensland and the New Zealand A trip
to India shortly before this season began.
Before the days of those trips, players would jump from domestic first-class or one-day cricket straight into the national team. Some made the step up, others didn't.
But now the selectors have more tools at their disposal when it comes to assessing the merits of cricketers.
You have to hand it to them, their record in the last two or three years has been impressive although, as is to be expected, they have had the occasional miss as well. Importantly they have the courage to introduce new players to the mix.
Think of Tim Southee, Jesse Ryder and Daniel Flynn, all now integral members of the New Zealand team, either in the ODI or test side, or both.
So, based on their recent form, I'd back the selectors to have done their homework, and given their track record I'd also suggest Guptill and Broom - perhaps not immediately - will come to be seen to have the right stuff for the top tier.
Both have scored runs, but neither can match Mathew Sinclair's output this season. Sinclair's time seemed to have come and gone until Ryder's latest booze indiscretion but the selectors are right to be looking forward at younger men.
In Guptill's case, he looks good in the limited amount of time I've seen him bat.
The advantage the selectors enjoy is they've watched the leading players over an extended period. And over time you see subtle things which lead you to believe certain players can make the adjustment to the international game.
There is more to it than just making runs, or taking wickets. That is where these A tours are so critical in terms of stacking up who gets picked, and in what particular order.
If you want to get to the front of the queue, go on an A tour, do well and show the powers that be that you've got something a bit extra special, in terms of your attitude or approach, or something that gets a tick in the right box.
Those tours also give an opportunity to study players off the park.
Selectors want to know how they fit into the team mix, what the chemistry is like with the other players, all of which become more important the higher up the ladder a player climbs.
New Zealand must win the last two ODIs against the West Indies or it will suggest they are in decline.
The rankings are hinting at that already although they can be misleading and a decent case can be made for this side now being well into their rebuilding phase and seeing some light at the end of the tunnel.
They will be feeling frustrated that they haven't put some distance between themselves and what is an average Windies outfit.
The fact the teams remain level will be annoying for Dan Vettori and his men.
And remember the Chappell-Hadlee series is coming up in Australia early next month.
New Zealand must take some momentum with them when they arrive in Australia if they are going to be competitive.
Australia will be coming off far tougher cricket - with all due respect to the West Indies - than New Zealand have been playing.
Anything less than a 3-1 series win against the West Indies will have New Zealand starting from the back foot against the Aussies.
