Cricket: Selectors face patch-up job before second test

Peter Ingram. Photo / GEtty Images

Out-of-luck Peter Ingram and one of the ineffective pace quartet will be sleeping uneasily as the selectors contemplate a patch-up job ahead of the second test.

There should be an acknowledgment that, miracle comeback aside, this team has not just been poorly performed, but poorly conceived.

The justification for picking four seamers seemed sketchy and the flaws behind the thinking were laid bare in the first two days at the Basin Reserve.

Not only were the batting and fielding units weakened - Daryl Tuffey, hardly cat-like, was left patrolling the covers - but none of the four were anything special at the bowling crease.

Coach and selector Mark Greatbatch last night said that while they were comfortable with Daniel Vettori in the No 6 role, they would be looking at different options ahead of the second test.

If the selectors pick the same 13 for Hamilton it may just mean a configuration change, with Mathew Sinclair possibly slotting into the order to give the side six specialist batsmen.

It would also mean dropping a bowler, but which one?

Tim Southee has been the least impressive here, but he at least swings the ball. Tuffey has been economical without looking like taking a wicket. Brent Arnel was impressive on debut, but bowls a similar pace to Tuffey.

That leaves Chris Martin. The old warhorse is picked as Vettori's strike bowler, yet he has been too easily blunted. There must be a temptation to leave him out.

There are other options. They could look outside the 13 to James Franklin, who would give them a left-arm option and some batting expertise.

Or they could pick a second spinner. Jeetan Patel's form, however, has been ordinary and he doesn't do anything to bolster the gossamer-thin batting.

There's a young bloke scoring a few for Northern Districts who would fit the bill, but the selectors have been dogmatic in their belief it is too soon for Kane Williamson.