Cricket: Selection policy keeping team on toes, says Styris

Scott Styris has acknowledged the increased tension surrounding the New Zealand camp under the new slash-and-burn selection policy of coach John Bracewell.

The well-performed all-rounder has watched with interest this season as Bracewell axed Chris Cairns, dropped Nathan Astle twice, and then omitted Lou Vincent from Saturday's opening one-dayer against the West Indies, all in the name of development.

A veteran of 112 ODIs and 21 tests, Styris has mixed feelings about the merits of the exercise, but said yesterday he was prepared to accept that it was a case of the greater good taking precedence over all other concerns.

"This extra edge has probably just come in during the past six months," he said. "The selectors and the coach probably realised that they needed a few more players to pick from and have found ways of giving them an opportunity.

"Whilst from a players' perspective it's not always a good thing, it's probably a good thing for the team."

Vincent was the latest member of the squad to be sacrificed on Bracewell's altar of World Cup development, despite being New Zealand's best-performed batsman in last week's Twenty20 outing, when he top-scored with 42.

Bracewell claimed later that Vincent was dropped at the Cake Tin so Astle could play, but the reality was that his place was taken by rookie opener Jamie How, who made the most of his chances with a solid 66.

The same ruthless policy seems set to continue for tomorrow's second one-dayer in Queenstown, according to skipper Stephen Fleming, who said on Saturday night that the selectors had handed down certain "directives", and that some of the resulting changes would "raise eyebrows".

Although Bracewell has since attempted to play down the remarks, it's difficult to ignore the sentiments expressed by Fleming, who has never been one for engaging his mouth before his brain, and would seldom make such a public faux-pas.

If the skipper is to be believed, it could mean more frustration for Vincent or even a shock rest for Peter Fulton, the Canterbury right-hander who has demonstrated strong form but has only one string to his bow.

Styris, one of the team's better performed players this season, said the extra pressure created by the changes would always impact on individual players, which was why he was in two minds about its effectiveness.

"It's probably a good thing, but I guess there's a few negatives as well.

"If you're always on your toes and always thinking you have to keep scoring and improving your performance, then it's got to be good for you.

"Right now, you can't afford to get complacent or even feel secure about your place in the side, and if that produces better performances then it's got to be good for the team."

On the other hand, he said, he would personally rather not be placed in that position: "I'd prefer to know where I was and to have a role."

That, at least, is not a problem at the moment, Styris being the only full New Zealand all-rounder still available following the retirement of Chris Cairns and the heel injury suffered by Jacob Oram.

Styris said his short-term goal now was to recover fully from the knee strain he felt last month and to return to peak form and fitness, in order to better cope with the responsibilities of being the front-line all-rounder.

"The knee's coming right - just a couple more spells and I'll be back to where I want to be, and that's bowling a full 10 overs and carrying the responsibility for batting through the middle of the innings," said Styris.

"I'm quite happy that will happen."