Cricket: Bracewell defends caution

Michael Mason is in for the injured Kyle Mills. Picture / Daily Post

John Bracewell has mounted a spirited defence of his selection policies after naming a steady-as-she-goes one-day squad to square off against the West Indies this month.

Faced with mounting claims from a clutch of already discarded internationals, Bracewell remained true to the conservative style that's marked his tenure so far, offering a reprieve to only Nathan Astle, while calling up Central Districts paceman Michael Mason for the injured Kyle Mills.

Bracewell's reluctance to embrace more change and development has attracted some criticism, particularly over the case of young Central Districts' batsman Ross Taylor and the Canterbury duo of Craig McMillan and Chris Harris.

Taylor has been especially impressive for Central Districts, striking his third century of the competition on the first day of his team's State Shield semifinal against Otago at Napier, in front of Bracewell and fellow selectors, Glenn Turner, Sir Richard Hadlee and Dion Nash.

However, Bracewell struck back yesterday with some candid observations, saying Taylor's progress had been encouraging but that it would've been counter-productive to push for another new face in the side, so soon after the introduction of Jamie How and Peter Fulton.

"It all came down to numbers," he said.

"We're not the Junior Black Caps; wholesale change wouldn't have made sense, and to keep changing just because you've already made some changes doesn't make sense either.

"Strength and depth and competition within the ranks are critical for us. But it's fair to say that I had a word with Ross after his semifinal innings because, as selectors we agreed that he deserved that sort of acknowledgment."

McMillan, axed at the end of the Chappell-Hadlee series, has just started to rediscover some decent form and Bracewell hinted that he'd left his run too late, and couldn't expect to force his way back after only a couple of successes.

"Craig has started to address some of the issues in terms of getting back to his belligerent best but has probably been slightly late in producing some form," said Bracewell.

"He probably hasn't shown the same degree of consistency as Taylor, or James Marshall for that matter, so I think he's still got a bit of work to do yet."

As for Harris, Bracewell said the veteran Cantabrian was considered as a middle-order batsman-cum sixth bowler but was ultimately trumped by the competition, and in particular bowlers such as Daniel Vettori who could also play a valuable role with the bat.

Harris spent the best part of a year rehabilitating after a shoulder injury suffered in the inaugural Chappell-Hadlee series in 2004, but has slowly worked his way back to fitness and has more latterly expressed his desperation to be recalled.

However, in what is starting to sound like the final chapter of Harris' international career, Bracewell confirmed yesterday that concerns over his post-surgery throwing and fielding had not been an issue, and that the other players had simply been preferred.

"Chris is performing in Canterbury cricket and domestic cricket and was discussed along with a number of others in relation to that middle-order role," said Bracewell. "In the end we probably felt that some of our bowlers who can bat could do a similar job that he was offering.

"But certainly, his throwing and fielding isn't keeping him out of the team."

Chris Cairns will be added to the squad for the Twenty20 match against the West Indies next Thursday in Auckland, while Bracewell said Mills was still underdone after his groin strain, and could benefit with some match play at club or domestic level.

However, the status of Oram's bruised heel was still a concern: "We simply don't know how long he'll be out.

"We'll just have to wait and see."


New Zealand

Stephen Fleming (c), Nathan Astle, Lou Vincent, Hamish Marshall, Scott Styris, Peter Fulton, Jamie How, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori, Jeetan Patel, James Franklin, Michael Mason, Shane Bond.