Cricket: Three-dayer trial-run for test players

Tim McIntosh. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Expect several New Zealand test contenders to line up against Pakistan in a three-day match in Queenstown to start their tour next month.

The game, from November 18-20, will be the only opportunity to assess the tourists' batting and bowling strength ahead of the three-test series, starting in Dunedin on November 24.

Top order batsmen Tim McIntosh and Daniel Flynn are certainties to be chosen in the New Zealand selection, given that neither is in the United Arab Emirates for the five-game limited-overs series against Pakistan, starting in Abu Dhabi next Tuesday.

The pair, both of whom have spent time playing club cricket in Sydney in the past few weeks, will have just the opening round in the four-day championship, which begins on November 10, and the Queenstown match to get themselves ready for the first test.

Fitness will determine the readiness of Jesse Ryder and Grant Elliott.

Ryder tore an abdominal muscle in New Zealand's Champions Trophy match against England on September 29. He was expected to be out for at least six weeks, which takes him through until shortly before the Queenstown match.

Elliott fractured a thumb in the semifinal against Pakistan on October 2 and he, too, will be a close run thing.

Fast-medium Daryl Tuffey, who made a good return to the national side in Sri Lanka, broke a bone in his hand in South Africa against Sri Lanka on September 27 but is back playing club cricket in Auckland.

It would seem too good a chance not to have a look at Northern Districts opener BJ Watling after picking him for the UAE trip, and the wicketkeeping role would logically go to Gareth Hopkins or Reece Young.

National captain Dan Vettori's perennial understudy, Jeetan Patel or perhaps Auckland's legspinner Tarun Nethula might get the slow bowling spot.