KEY POINTS:
Bradley Scott has joined the long line of New Zealand cricketers tossed the job of bowling at the death.
The 28-year-old from Ashburton gets his opportunity to make a lasting impression in arguably the toughest of circumstances - the slap happy, bowler unfriendly Twenty20 game.
One of two "bolters" selected in New Zealand's squad for the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa next month, coach John Bracewell identified the Otago left armer as a candidate to handle the last couple of overs - when any remaining batsmen are in full flight.
A touch over medium pace, Scott's unusual ability to bowl around the wicket late in the innings is the point of difference that may see him succeed where a procession of one-day representatives, from Craig McMillan to Mark Gillespie, have occasionally been found wanting.
"He comes in from a unique angle and gets the ball in the hole - it's a difficult angle to slog from if you get it right," Bracewell said.
"He's got good stats behind him. He's got two good (New Zealand) A tours behind him and we see him as an adaptable cricketer."
Should Scott, who has 111 wickets at 26.46 since his first class career started in 2000-01, come off, he may play an even bigger part in the coming summer, although the pre-World Cup diet of one-dayers has been pared back.
New Zealand tour South Africa and host Bangladesh and England with a total of 11 ODI's scheduled.
Scott and Otago teammate, Nathan McCullum, older brother of wicketkeeper Brendan, are the new faces in the 15-man squad led by Daniel Vettori.
The spinner's captaincy role was further evidence of New Zealand Cricket's succession planning, though Bracewell emphasised Stephen Fleming still figured in the test and ODI plans.
"In terms of the development of our leadership group, it was a good opportunity for Dan to take the team away," Bracewell said.
He and fellow selectors Dion Nash, Sir Richard Hadlee and Glenn Turner suggested Fleming remain with English county Nottinghamshire in order to focus on the longer version of the game.
"It was my idea," Bracewell admitted.
"I talked (to Fleming) about the length of the season, his age (34), and what we were trying to achieve in respect of advancing our leaders.
"He was comfortable with it."
Fleming relinquished the ODI captaincy after the Black Caps' World Cup campaign ended in April but still features prominently in a summer that - in stark contrast to the last two summers - contains seven test matches.
McCullum, who like Scott earned his selection through the A team, is considered the third spinner in the squad behind Vettori and Jeetan Patel.
He has also fashioned impressive stats at domestic Twenty20 level with 12 wickets at 14.33 and an economy rate of a 6.45 runs per over from nine matches - an excellent rate in the glorified slogathon.
Other notable features see test specialist Chris Martin employed as the second strike bowler alongside Shane Bond while left armer James Franklin is being held back to concentrate on perfecting his technique.
"We've been working for a long time to get James's front foot down quicker," Bracewell said.
"He can fall over the vertical so we're trying to stabilise that to make him a little bit more powerful at the crease."
Allrounder Scott Styris has been named but he has to confirm his fitness before the team depart ahead of their first game against Kenya in Durban on September 12.
- NZPA
