Andrew Alderson: Medium-pace foursome sounds sweet

Jacob Oram. Photo / Getty Images

The Black Caps have had little luck with the weather in Sri Lanka over the last few days of their tri-series but this World Cup warm-up tour of potentially inconsequential one-dayers has become more meaningful than meaningless.

The latest match in Dambulla has highlighted the need to audition New Zealand bowlers for a remake of "Dibbly, Dobbly, Wibbly and Wobbly", a phrase initially coined by English commentator David Lloyd to describe the New Zealand medium pace attack of Gavin Larsen, Chris Harris, Willie Watson and Rod Latham.

The foursome helped take the side, then known as the Young Guns, to the semifinals of the 1992 World Cup.

While the sub-continent is understood to be under instruction from the International Cricket Council to liven up their wickets, the current Sri Lankan conditions are an indication bowlers who make batsmen do the work will be in demand.

That means bowling slightly short of a length, taking the pace off and using such options as the off-cutter.

Friday night's rained-out match against Sri Lanka was an example.

The relative pace of Kyle Mills - before he contravened Law 17.1 by bowling a practice delivery across the popping crease and was banned for 30 minutes - provided easy pickings for Sri Lankan opener Tillakaratne Dilshan.

This was no better illustrated than when Mills was toiling away, sweat pouring off his brow, and shellacked for four successive boundaries in the fifth over.

Cue the partnership of Scott Styris and Jacob Oram, starting in the 11th over and with Sri Lanka at 61 for 1. They were spelled at the end of the 22nd with Sri Lanka 95 for 2.

They had conceded just 24 runs with Styris bowling Dilshan in the midst of it.

That sort of containment and pressure from Styris - ambling in at little over 110km/h - and Oram - angling the ball down in the mid- to high-120s - must open the selectors' eyes to World Cup possibilities. Out-and-out pace can be a weapon but variations might prove a cunning form of attrition.

If Styris and Oram are cast in the roles of Dibbly and Wibbly, emulating the feats of Larsen and Watson respectively, who will be Dobbly and Wobbly?

If you exclude spinners Daniel Vettori, Nathan McCullum and potentially Kane Williamson, just as Dipak Patel was exempt 18 years ago, then two candidates spring to mind. Jesse Ryder will be Wobbly - the role Latham filled - while Grant Elliott shapes as a possible Dobbly, assuming Harris' mantle.

In all seriousness, they are coveted roles. The 1992 quartet helped New Zealand to the semifinals in what is generally considered the country's best World Cup performance, even if the Black Caps have achieved a last-four spot five times.

The issue raises questions about the balance of the top New Zealand side.

If the DDWW scheme is unleashed, the team could include up to seven all-rounders. That involves a level of risk because Mills and Daryl Tuffey could presumably be New Zealand's only pace bowlers of note with a spot for Tim Southee or Andy McKay sacrificed.

Under that premise, injury permitting, the number six or seven spot in the order faces the most conjecture six months out.

The Black Caps first XI could look like this: McCullum, Ryder, Guptill, Taylor, Styris, Williamson/Watling/Elliott, Oram, Vettori, McCullum, Mills and Tuffey.

If India beat Sri Lanka tonight, New Zealand are guaranteed a spot against the Indians in the final, despite playing them again on Wednesday night.

If Sri Lanka beat India, New Zealand would require a win or another abandoned match to progress.