Cricket: The tour of England - Who will stay and who will go

RICHARD BOOCK weighs the prospects for the tour of England.

PACK YOUR SUITCASE

CHRIS MARTIN

The man who finally exploded the myth that you had to swing (or spin) the ball away from the right-hander in order to become successful at the highest level. Subscribers to the theory (including many at NZC) still maintain that off-spin and in-swing is not as attacking.

The flawed thinking has been so influential that New Zealand hardly has an up-and-coming off-spinner in sight these days, and most in-swingers have been advised to change their actions. Hopefully Martin might have caused a rethink.

BRENDON MCCULLUM

It had always been a matter of when, rather than if, and McCullum's promotion to the test team could hardly have been left any longer.

A naturally athletic wicket-keeper, he appeared to cope well standing up, and took one of the best catches of the summer during his debut at Hamilton.

Not only did the Canterbury gloveman force his way into the test team to play South Africa, he ended the summer as coach John Bracewell's preferred No. 6 ahead of century-makers Jacob Oram and Daniel Vettori.

MICHAEL PAPPS

Another who had to serve a long apprenticeship in domestic cricket before being given the chance at international level, as a replacement for discarded one-day opener Craig Cumming.

Papps exceeded most expectations during the ODI triumphs and was immediately installed in the test team, where he continued to impress with a half-century on debut.

The 24-year-old right-hander struggled in his remaining innings but, barring a further calamity during the tour games in England, appeals as a certainty for the first test at Lord's.

HAMISH MARSHALL

Still without any notable success in first-class cricket, Marshall can start packing his bags for the one-day NatWest series in England following an astonishing season that started with his call-up for Pakistan in December.

Like his test debut at Johannesburg in 2000, he received the chance only because of injury and absence, but took it with both hands and ended the season with an ODI hundred and five half-centuries. A quicksilver fieldsman who usually patrols the hot spot at point, the 25-year gained a reputation for his industry and run collection, and for his ability on international, rather than domestic, pitches.

KYLE MILLS

The Sideshow Bob of the one-day team lived up to his billing when he created a story within a story during many of his outings, and especially after "discovering" that he'd been volunteered for the troublesome death-bowling duties. Bracewell later said he called for volunteers and everyone except Mills took one step backwards.

Mills went through some agonising moments against Pakistan and South Africa, but managed to survive the onslaughts, and is expected to continue in his role during the NatWest Series. His usefulness with the bat and his brilliance as a boundary runner only make him more assured of selection.


ON STANDBY


IAN BUTLER

One of the most affected by Chris Martin's headline act against South Africa, Butler is in danger of missing out on the tour despite taking a six-wicket bag against Pakistan in his latest test outing, at Wellington.

New Zealand's fastest bowler when Shane Bond is unavailable, the Northern Districts paceman was injured during the South African series, lost his place in the side and might now be wondering where he ranks in the pecking order. If Bond, or maybe Chris Cairns, are unavailable, his touring prospects will brighten considerably.

MATHEW SINCLAIR

Has been one of New Zealand's form domestic batsmen this summer, to the extent that he was last week rushed into the test team as a replacement for an ill Craig McMillan.

His performance at Wellington effectively summed up the haphazard nature of his career so far a useful, but not altogether convincing 74 in the first innings, and a disappointing 21 in the second, after shouldering arms to Shaun Pollock.

Possibly the greatest enigma in world cricket, Sinclair already has two double centuries and a 150 to his name, not to mention an average of 38.54, but will probably go on tour if injured batsman Nathan Astle is deemed unfit.


MICHAEL MASON

Another to be leapfrogged by Martin, Mason will probably make the one-day squad but will struggle to retain his place in the test combination following an unsuccessful debut against South Africa last week.

One of Central Districts' king-pins this season, Mason was battling for rhythm at the Basin Reserve.

He was beset by run-up and delivery-stride problems.

If Bond, Martin, Tuffey and Butler are all available to tour, Mason will almost certainly return to the role of a one-day specialist, and depart a little later in the piece.


BRUCE MARTIN

At a time when Daniel Vettori's wicket-taking ability is being called into question, left-arm spinner Martin is beginning to apply some pressure from the cheap seats, to the extent that he could be preferred to Paul Wiseman as a bolter for the test series.

Working on the theory that New Zealand are unlikely to play two spinners in England next month, there is a suggestion that Martin might provide the tour selectors with a better option should they be unhappy with the form, effectiveness or fitness of Vettori.

LOU VINCENT

If anything was to happen to either Michael Papps or Mark Richardson, Vincent would almost certainly find himself with another opportunity at test level, despite being dropped last year during the tour to Sri Lanka.

One of several players who impressed during the Sri Lanka A series, the Auckland right-hander has some prolific domestic form on his side, not to mention the experience of scoring two test hundreds and half-a-dozen half-centuries.

Vincent's back-up wicket-keeping skills could also prove useful so far from home.

His fielding is impressive. And he is probably still regarded as the third best opener in New Zealand.