Adam Parore: Selectors build depth steadily

The first two West Indies one-dayers have borne out what I thought of their capabilities before the team even arrived.

They were easily beaten when chasing 288 in Wellington, then, after having New Zealand 13 for four in Queenstown, couldn't finish the job.

My reading of them is that they're not hopeless, but they're nothing special. But I like the look of speedster Fidel Edwards.

He is distinctly sharp and looks a wholehearted type of cricketer. My pick is he'll be good value for the West Indies throughout this tour.

I suspect Queenstown might have been the tourists' best chance to win an ODI on this tour. However, I won't join the throng bagging New Zealand's batting effort down there.

Given most sides have a few days every year when they find their top order cast aside, the criticism seemed overdone. Especially so when most of it centred on the view that the selectors were experimenting.

For the life of me I cannot see what is experimental about the current batting lineup - except for Lou Vincent missing out in Wellington - because for the first time in as long as I can remember we have about eight batsmen good enough to be in the side.

And all are in some semblance of form at the same time.

Queenstown also showed New Zealand still have decent batting depth, through the likes of Daniel Vettori and Brendon McCullum.

I know I've banged this drum before, but it seems with just about every innings, McCullum's claims to move up to the top of the order grow stronger.

The selectors can't be unaware of what that move might offer. It's not so much the runs McCullum is making, but the way he's doing it, and I'm certain it won't be long before he gets a crack at the top despite John Bracewell's determination that he continue to bat at No 7.

I find it very hard to disagree with much of what Bracewell and his panel have done of late, but I think he is off the mark on this one.

It is simply not true that the reason the best sides are winning games at present is that they have guys like McCullum batting at No 7.

The real reason is that they also have guys like him opening the batting and making big scores.

Bracewell needs his top order to continue to deliver, otherwise he will find it hard to justify a unique talent like McCullum being restricted to the last 20 overs of each innings.

Outside that, the selection panel deserve a big pat on the back for their work in the past few months.

The way they have managed their selection processes and assessed their options has impressed me. They have changed the philosophy of selecting the New Zealand side.

Previously, selection was often as simple as identifying the six or so players with proven international records, figuring out who the five next-best were, and there was your team. Then you sat down and tried to figure out how you were going to win.

The current panel have changed tack significantly. They have acknowledged they want to win the World Cup next year and have also figured out that if they pick the team along previous lines we'll come fourth, as we normally do.

Reading between the lines, my guess is they have already worked out the way the Black Caps need to play to win it.

They pretty much have a strategy all mapped out, which, when you think about it, is pretty sensible.

Certainly it seems a more robust process than the way it was done when I first played - i.e., we sat down over a couple of beers the night before the game and asked everyone what they thought.

Having now settled on the plan, they are trying to work out who can implement it best.

As we have already seen this summer, the implementation is not necessarily best handled by the players who have played the most games and made the most runs.

Hence Nathan Astle's trials and tribulations. Certain sections of the media think this is experimentation. It is not.

A very methodical, well-thought-out plan is in place to develop specific types of players in appropriate conditions.

Jeetan Patel is a case in point. The offspinner's introduction has been stage-managed with the World Cup specifically in mind, and on the evidence to date he is looking like developing into a real asset.

There's been much made of Vincent's omission from the ODI in Wellington when he had good form leading up to the game.

A few seasons back, Vincent would have been cursing the decision. As it is he would have consoled himself with the knowledge that he would be back on the field in three days' time.

In other words, players aren't sweating on sitting games out because they are aware they're in the frame long-term.

These selectors have brought on several players in the past few months. Think of Jamie How, Peter Fulton, Vincent, Patel - and, to an extent, Michael Mason.

In my day, if you developed one player a year that was good going. As a consequence there was a sameness about the dressing room.

Central Districts' dashing Ross Taylor, whom I suspect might turn out to be the best batsman of the new crop, hasn't been called up yet. I will be surprised if he's not a Black Cap by the end of next week.

The selectors must pick the right players to do the job the way they want it done. It's the only way New Zealand will win the World Cup.

That's the bottom line and I reckon Bracewell and co have the philosophy just right.