KEY POINTS:
Faltering batsman Peter Fulton must have walked off Eden Park on Friday night wondering if there was a selectors' bullet with his name inscribed on it.
Yesterday he found out that there was indeed a bullet, but it was aimed at Auckland allrounder Paul Hitchcock. For that Fulton must be thankful, with the Canterbury right-hander given two more opportunities to rectify a season that has gone backwards since a stylish 83 against Bangladesh in December, starting with the pivotal fourth one-day international against England at Napier on Wednesday.
Fulton is the stand-out non-performer in a middle order that has struggled mightily in its two opportunities - the second ODI was won by 10 wickets - against a useful but hardly awe-inspiring attack.
To make matters worse, Fulton fielded like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders making fundamental concentration errors as he roamed in the corners of Eden Park's outfield.
He might have been alone in his thoughts but it is unlikely that he was alone in wondering whether his position in the side was becoming increasingly tenuous. Scott Styris knows better than most that the selectors' patience with non-performers can wear thin, especially after he was jettisoned from the test team after a poor tour to South Africa.
He bowled superbly at Wellington but has played a spectator's role in the series since, failing again with the bat on Friday. With numbers three through six producing little of substance this series, or in the preceding Twenty20 international, it has been left to one-man rescue act Jacob Oram to salvage respectability.
But Styris, like Fulton, survived this cut. Instead, Northern Districts youngster Daniel Flynn is promoted in place of Paul Hitchcock, who bowled poorly on Friday in conceding 56 from seven fruitless overs.
Fulton, Styris, Iain O'Brien and twelfth man specialist Jeetan Patel will be released to play for their provinces today, and Flynn will also remain with Northern Districts before joining the camp in Napier tomorrow.
Flynn was brought into the New Zealand squad for the second Twenty20 international in Christchurch but did not make an impression, coming in late in the innings and contributing two to a losing cause.
He has impressed in the State Shield this season, scoring two centuries, including his 149 against Canterbury that caught the eye of the selectors.
There is a good chance he will play in Napier, with boom youngster Jesse Ryder facing a race against time to be fit after spraining his ankle while batting on Friday.
His absence could see Jamie How open, with the out-of-form Fulton moving to more familiar surroundings at No 3. That would see Flynn slot into the side at No 6, with Oram and skipper Daniel Vettori providing the safety blanket at No 7 and No 8 respectively.
For Hitchcock it might be a last look out the Rear Window.
Designated as a specialist 'death' bowler, the 33-year-old was targeted by England captain Paul Collingwood who master-minded the run chase with an unbeaten 70 off 50 balls.
Hitchcock's last over cost 18, placing the tourists in an unbeatable position as they sealed the win with 18 balls to spare.
* NEW ZEALAND SQUAD:
Daniel Vettori (c), Jesse Ryder, Brendon McCullum, Jamie How, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Peter Fulton, Jacob Oram, Daniel Flynn, Kyle Mills, Jeetan Patel, Iain O'Brien, Chris Martin.
REMAINING MATCHES:
4th ODI, McLean Park, Napier, Wednesday at 11am.
5th ODI, AMI Stadium, Christchurch, Saturday at 2pm.
