KEY POINTS:
Nathan Astle sent another injury scare rippling through the New Zealand side yesterday before declaring his readiness to join a dramatically re-jigged combination for today's opening one-dayer against Sri Lanka.
The veteran right-hander was whisked away for x-rays yesterday after becoming concerned about his right hand, which was
struck by an erratic outfielder's throw during the Twenty20 bash on Boxing Day.
But just as Canterbury team-mate Craig McMillan was being placed on standby, Astle received favourable news on the damaged hand and was cleared to take his place in what is expected to be a highly experimental batting order.
The suggestion around the New Zealand camp is that Astle will open with Brendon McCullum; skipper Daniel Vettori might bat as high as No 5, and that serious consideration was being given to the idea of playing a specialist batsman at No 7.
Vettori said yesterday the team's plans had not yet been finalised but confirmed McCullum would be opening and said the other options made a lot of sense in terms of maximising the potential of New Zealand's resources.
"Braces [coach John Bracewell] has told me to go away and prepare for that [batting at five] but that doesn't always mean it will happen," he said. "Given the opportunity I'd love to do it but we'll have to wait until closer to the game."
Vettori said that although he'd always considered himself a shot at either batting in the lower-order or opening, he'd never imagined playing such a pivotal role, and one in which the environment was so changeable.
"In some ways it's the most difficult role there is in ODIs because of the nature of the fields, and what you're coming in against.
"Sometimes you're coming in to attack, sometimes you're coming in against the new ball. It's going to be an interesting challenge but I'd like to think my form is good enough to be up to it."
If Vettori does get the nod to play in the middle-order, it would possibly be the first time in which a player with 177 ODIs under his belt has been promoted on the strength of a batting average that hovers at 15.48. However, the 27-year-old can't be faulted on form, having averaged a cool 93.50 over his past seven ODIs, a mark boosted by three not outs, half-centuries against Australia and the West Indies, and an unbeaten 46 against Sri Lanka at Mumbai.
"If I do it well I'd hope I'd get an extended run at it," he said. "But therein lies the challenge. I've got to do it well to get more opportunities.
"But the idea has merit because it gives you the room to play a batsman at No 7, extends your bowling possibilities, and gives quite a nice balance to the combination."
As for the question of using McCullum's vacant No 7 position for either extra batting or bowling cover, Vettori said there was definitely a batting role to be played late in the innings, and that Australia's Michael Hussey was a good example of the influence such a move could have.
"We usually cover off our bowling options pretty well so we probably do have the luxury of playing a genuine batsman at No 7," he said. "McCullum has done it for quite a while but now he's moving on to a new era for himself, and hopefully the team as well."
Chief contenders for the berth are the Marshall twins, Hamish and James.
One-day action
McLean Park, Napier, live Sky Sport 1 from 10.30am today
New Zealand ODI squad (first two games): Daniel Vettori (c), Andre Adams, Nathan Astle, Peter Fulton, Mark Gillespie, Hamish Marshall, James Marshall, Michael Mason, Brendon McCullum, Jeetan Patel, Ross Taylor, Iain O'Brien.
Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (c), Marvan Atapattu, Malinga Bandara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dilhara Fernando, Sanath Jayasuriya, Chamara Kapugedera, Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ruchira Perera, Kumar Sangakkara, Chamara Silva, Upal Tharanga, Chaminda Vaas.
