Cricket: Depth of talent a dilemma

By RICHARD BOOCK


The concern for New Zealand cricket coach John Bracewell these days is not so much who to include in his winter tour squad, but who to leave out.

Only weeks out from the naming of a 14-man squad to tour England, he is faced with processing the claims of a test side playing out of their skin, a couple of world-class performers recovering from injury, and a smattering of well-performed hopefuls.

What seemed like an elementary exercise a couple of months ago now appears about as complicated as a Le Carre plot, and is sure to give the coach plenty of food for thought as attention turns to next week's third test in Wellington.

The extra twist in the equation has come from Chris Martin's effort against South Africa at Eden Park, and from a top-order batting line-up that's broken more records than an anti-Beatles rally.

Rookie opening batsman Michael Papps is almost assured of selection, the remainder of the top-order has scored prolifically throughout the series, and twin-tower all-rounders Chris Cairns and Jacob Oram add crucial balance to the mix.

To make Bracewell's job even more difficult, the return of fast-bowler Shane Bond appears to be drawing nearer, and there is a suggestion Nathan Astle might be fit in time to be included in the squad.

Bond played club cricket in Christchurch on Saturday, bowling six overs at about 70 per cent and taking one wicket, and is evidently hoping to play in a New Zealand A-Sri Lanka A one-dayer next week.

The future for Astle, who was forced out of the domestic summer by a second knee operation in January, is less clear, but it is still possible that he might be fit enough next month to warrant close attention.

If both Bond and Astle were pronounced fit, the bottleneck for places would almost become an embarrassment for Bracewell, who seems likely to opt for Paul Wiseman as a second spin option, and the same pace attack that performed so well at Eden Park.

That means strongly performed players such as Michael Mason, Mathew Sinclair and Matthew Bell will face a difficult task to break into the tour, and even someone such as Ian Butler who took a six wicket bag in his last test, will be under threat.

The only relief in sight is the chance that Daryl Tuffey's patella tendon problem will be addressed, in which case a spot would open up for an extra paceman.

New Zealand Cricket are expected to announce their touring squad after the final New Zealand A-Sri Lanka A one-dayer on April 7.

The squad leaves in late April and will play tests at Lord's, Headingly and Trent Bridge.