KEY POINTS:
Jesse Ryder is poised to inherit the No 3 batting position that Stephen Fleming practically held a mortgage on during his test cricket career.
New Zealand play and Bangladesh meet in the first of a two-test series which begins at Chittagong from Friday.
Ryder will make his test debut in the first test of a busy summer schedule and appears certain to bat at first drop - the pivotal position New Zealand have struggled to fill adequately since Fleming's retirement last year.
Big-hitting Ryder had only a moderately successful one-day series against the Bangladeshis, but New Zealand coach John Bracewell gave a broad hint today the left-hander would pad up behind Aaron Redmond and Jamie How.
Brendon McCullum batted at three during New Zealand's 2-0 series loss in England four months ago but the wicketkeeper will drop down to five for the tests.
Bracewell pinpointed Ryder's preference for facing pace as a justification for using the in-form Ross Taylor at four.
However, the coach said the tests against the lowly-rated Bangladeshis amounted to a trial for Ryder, noting discard Peter Fulton's recent form for the New Zealand A team in India.
The rest of the batting line-up is straight forward with Daniel Flynn expected to bat at six before allrounders Jacob Oram and captain Daniel Vettori.
A reliable top and middle order has long been a problem for New Zealand - and their performance remains a concern despite two comfortable ODI victories securing that series 2-1.
Redmond, who averages nine after his debut series against England, is added to the mix though he can at least point to an encouraging visit to India, where he made 105 against the A team's counterparts.
Jamie How, who made an important 73 during the series-clinching 79-run win in Chittagong last night after scores on seven and 0 earlier in the series, appears to be adapting to the sub-continent's slower-paced wickets while Ross Taylor's third ODI century was another positive for Bracewell to reflect on.
"We're really pleased with their progress, they produced runs in pretty trying circumstances," he said.
After assessing the test wicket today, Bracewell predicted another difficult assignment for the batsmen, suggesting the quality of the pitch could see the test finish well ahead of time.
"It's more plated (cracked) than the one we played on (last night)," Bracewell said.
"It's a little bit of a concern. They absolutely flooded it last night and are trying to roll it out and flatten the plates (cracks).
"We're hoping they can get the wicket a little bit better than it actually looks. If it plays as it looks, it could be a fairly short test match.
Bracewell said the wicket was uneven and the cracks extensive, a scenario that ensures Jeetan Patel's role as Vettori's support act.
Patel took two for 29 off his 10 last night , a return that will see him earn a fourth cap.
"We were extremely pleased with the way Jeetan bowled," Bracewell said.
"He found the pace of the wicket very quickly - he was extremely challenging."
Redmond's legspin is another option given New Zealand intend to employ just two pace bowlers, Kyle Mills and probably Tim Southee.
Iain O'Brien, a member of the A team tour party, and Mark Gillespie are the other options if it is felt Southee's workload should be regulated.
Despite their shock loss in the opening game of the one-day series, New Zealand are unlikely to suffer a similar state in the tests, a format they have a six-win 0-loss record against their hosts.
- NZPA
