KEY POINTS:
Craig McMillan is still waiting to play the role of an end-of-innings specialist, despite being groomed for the challenge when he was recalled weeks ago.
The 180-game veteran was thrown a World Cup lifeline when he was brought back into the New Zealand one-day side for the series against Sri Lanka at the start of this month and was asked to adopt the part of an end-of-innings "closer".
But with the New Zealand batting line-up these days proving about as reliable as a punctured prophylactic, the 30-year-old right-hander has mostly found himself attempting to repair an innings either in decline or complete disarray.
Such was the case on Tuesday when McMillan, primed to come in during the final 15 overs to increase the scoring rate, instead found himself facing the music before the halfway point of the innings following a customary New Zealand collapse.
Rather than aiming to strike boundaries and sixes, he was forced to play with the utmost caution, grinding out an unspectacular 22 before being caught and bowled by Paul Collingwood in the 38th over.
In his last innings in New Zealand before leaving for Australia the "specialist finisher" was required in the middle before the end of the seventh over and forced to labour for most of the innings while compiling a meaningless 29 not out off 64 balls.
He had a chance to show his credentials for the new job in the first tri-series game against Australia at Hobart, but blew it when he misjudged a single to Michael Clarke and was run-out after facing only seven deliveries.
With the World Cup looming, McMillan's job description is just one of several debatable initiatives being tested during the tri-series. It's a role that could yet be scuttled before the Caribbean crusade.
Brendon McCullum, whose promotion to opener created the vacancy that McMillan filled, is still looking for his first substantial contribution in five outings, although it must be remembered that he's fallen foul of at least three marginal decisions.
But, if the worst comes to the worst and McCullum cannot prove his mettle in Australia, don't be surprised if coach John Bracewell shuffles him back to No 7 for the three Chappell-Hadlee ODIs in New Zealand, and the subsequent World Cup.
Such a move would almost certainly throw McMillan's World Cup chances into doubt.
It would also mean an unseemly race to find a more efficient opening combination, although Nathan Astle and Stephen Fleming appear the front-runners.
