KEY POINTS:
CHRISTCHURCH - It was the Zionist poet Jessie Sampter who reckoned that simplicity represented the peak of civilisation.
But then, she'd never been introduced to John Bracewell's theory of rotation or selection; much less had to guess the likely shape of his 15-man squad for the upcoming tri-series in Australia, due to be announced today.
Despite ongoing debate about the merits of the strategy, Bracewell is expected to stick with his revolving-door plans and select all 14 players so far used against Sri Lanka, with Stephen Fleming returning as skipper to complete the numbers.
Presuming Bracewell doesn't get cold feet, that'll mean a World Cup lifeline for batsmen such as Craig McMillan and James Marshall, and for pacemen Andre Adams, Michael Mason and Mark Gillespie.
Having already reserved the right to chop and change his squad during the month-long series, Bracewell appears to be leaning towards leaving at home his trio of recently injured front-liners - Jacob Oram, Scott Styris and Kyle Mills - until they're better prepared for the fray.
That could allow any of the fringe players a chance to lay their claims in the initial matches of the tri-series and, in turn, pave the way for a much-coveted position in the squad to leave for the Caribbean at the end of next month.
Oram, who suffered a hamstring complaint during the second test, is back for Central Districts as a specialist batsman; Styris has recovered sufficiently from his back condition to play as a batsman for Auckland, and Mills is bowling again following his knee injury. In days gone by, all three would have felt under pressure to be available for the start of the tour, but Bracewell's interchange should offer them more time and less pressure to make a premature recovery.
"Normally you take 15 players there for the tournament but Cricket Australia are happy for us to interchange and at the moment it certainly suits us," New Zealand manager Lindsay Crocker said. "Australia have chopped and changed their squad over the years and they said they are comfortable with us making changes. Getting to Australia can be done pretty swiftly these days, so it makes sense."
Of the 15 projected players, the most interesting issue surrounds the makeup of the pace attack; whether there's adequate cover for spearhead Shane Bond and whether they're using James Franklin to best advantage.
The question has been asked that, if Bond was to suffer a season or tournament-ending injury, would it be better to have test strike bowler Chris Martin in the loop, or the less penetrative Gillespie and Mason?
Martin, who can't bat and has his limitations as a fieldsman, is viewed as New Zealand's second best paceman to Bond at test level, and his particular appetite for dismissing left-handers is a useful weapon in any team's armoury.
As for Franklin, the left-armer's intelligent and match-winning batting against Sri Lanka at Queenstown on Sunday fuelled suggestions that he offers greater potential as a batting allrounder than as a bowling allrounder.
At present, Bracewell is experimenting with Daniel Vettori at No 5, but Franklin appeals as a far more technically sound option, as opposed to his left-handed teammate's unorthodox and much more home-made approach.
Better, surely, to use Franklin's obviously blossoming batting skills up the order to best effect, and to employ Vettori in the role that he's filled so impressively over the past year - closing out the innings at No 8.
Whatever happens on that score, the squad seems unlikely to include out-of-form Lou Vincent, or other New Zealand Cricket-contracted players such as Mathew Sinclair, Jamie How and Michael Papps.
OZ-BOUND
Possible squad for tri-series:
Stephen Fleming (captain), Brendon McCullum, Nathan Astle, Ross Taylor, Peter Fulton, Hamish Marshall, James Marshall, Craig McMillan, Daniel Vettori, James Franklin, Andre Adams, Shane Bond, Mark Gillespie, Michael Mason, Jeetan Patel.
