KEY POINTS:
Tim Southee and Daniel Flynn will have more reason than most to hope Brendon McCullum's back recovers enough for him to take the gloves for the first test at the Gabba on Thursday.
McCullum left the field with back spasms on Friday during New Zealand's warm-up match against New South Wales at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Gareth Hopkins has been flown to Australia earlier than planned to cover for McCullum in the lead-up to the series.
If McCullum plays as a batsman only, either Flynn or Southee will almost certainly miss out.
Complicating matters further, Peter Fulton, who was essentially a non-travelling reserve, has been flown to Australia to cover for Jesse Ryder.
The 24-year-old left-hander was quarantined from team-mates on Friday and placed on an intravenous drip after picking up a mystery illness.
Ryder returned to the SCG yesterday but McCullum's back rendered him incapable of keeping for the second day running.
At this stage, New Zealand management are confident both will be fit in time for the first test but what was shaping as a simple team selection meeting will now have a number of posers.
The team for Brisbane was to be the 11 picked for the New South Wales match, with batting allrounder Grant Elliott and seamer Mark Gillespie missing out.
If Hopkins is squeezed into the line-up and McCullum remains as a specialist No 5 batsman, as happened in the third test at Trent Bridge on New Zealand's recent tour to England, it fractures the balance of the side.
New Zealand have made it clear in their selection for the NSW game, that they intend taking four seamers into the Gabba _ Southee, Chris Martin, who took a five-wicket bag the last time New Zealand played a test there, Iain O'Brien and Kyle Mills.
However, that would mean either Hopkins or, most likely, skipper Daniel Vettori batting in the pivotal No 6 role, and the extra bowler might be considered a luxury they can no longer afford.
That would mean no recall for Maungakaramea man Southee, who made a startling debut against England at Napier and followed it up with an illness-affected performance in the return test at Lord's, the last time he played a test.
If they decide a McCullum-Vettori-Hopkins-Mills axis is a strong enough middle order,
then Flynn will be mixing the orange drink.
Perhaps, given John Bracewell's rather erratic performance as a tour selector, nothing should be ruled out.
At the Gabba four years ago he selected Craig McMillan, on tour as cover for Stephen Fleming and Nathan Astle who were under illness and injury clouds, ahead of Hamish Marshall, an original tour selection.
Perhaps Fulton should have a few extra nets.
Meanwhile, it was a familiar story as New Zealand captain Vettori stood firm to rescue his team from cricketing calamity against New South Wales.
In similar vein to last month's test victory in Bangladesh when he contributed 131 runs and nine wickets, Vettori calmed New Zealand's second innings on the third day of the four-day tour match against a young NSW side.
After mopping up the NSW first innings for 361 to end with figures of four for 71, Vettori strode on to the Sydney Cricket Ground with his side teetering at 35 for four, still 60 short of making the hosts bat again.
When stumps were drawn early in the gathering gloom he was still there, unbeaten on 61 as New Zealand reached 157 for five for an overall lead of 62.
More is required today from Vettori and his vice-captain McCullum, who is on five not out, as New Zealand seek to avoid a third consecutive defeat to NSW after 1997-98 (by an innings and 95 runs) and 2004-05 (by nine wickets).
New Zealand badly needed Vettori's steadying influence after a second consecutive top-order collapse while McCullum and Ryder both couldn't bat higher than No 7 due to their absences in NSW's innings.
NSW allrounder Moises Henriques then threatened to embarrass the tourists as he took all five wickets to fall, four to catches behind the wicket.
Henriques began the slide when opener Jamie How was adjudged leg before wicket for nought by debut umpire Gerard Abood just before lunch.
The next three batsmen were all caught behind _ Redmond pushing forward on 13, Ross Taylor hooking for 18 and Mills prodding defensively for nought.
At least Flynn banked some time at the crease, making 55 in 140 minutes, as he helped fellow left-hander Vettori add a crucial 113 for the fifth wicket on a slow pitch.
Flynn pulled a short delivery from legspinner Steven Smith to the boundary to reach 50, but soon afterwards he drove at Henriques and was caught at second slip to end his 123-ball innings which included seven boundaries.
- NZPA
