KEY POINTS:
It's A shame that Australia choose to use the Chappell-Hadlee series to rest key players but you can hardly blame them.
The Australians have a massive workload over the next year and while taking them on is the peak for our players, you can hardly say that challenge goes both ways.
Nevertheless for our team the challenge of playing an Australian side that is three-quarters to full strength every year is not to be scoffed at and we will be aiming to put out our best available team.
Here is what I believe to be our best available top seven batting order for this series.
BRENDON McCULLUM
He's at the top now so must have a good run at it. He's learning the role and it's fair to say he has been a slow learner so far. But now that he seems to be finding a better tempo, perhaps he may get on the accelerated curve. If it does not work, what a shame - he'll just have to be world-class at No 8.
JAMIE HOW
Small tweak here, as How has enjoyed recent success at No 3 but playing him as an opener allows me to persevere with Lou Vincent. I'm not concerned if he takes his time because if he comes off often, he'll make a difference and his slow failures will be absorbed by the explosiveness of others to come.
LOU VINCENT
Vincent has talent but it just needs to come to the party more often. He is selling himself and us short by playing the pinch-hitter roll. By dropping him down one, it should change his approach just enough. I've no problem having him bat at No 6 either but wherever he is, he needs a good go in one position and it is mainly up to him to justify that consistency of selection.
SCOTT STYRIS
Best all-round player bats at four.
ROSS TAYLOR
Has had a horror run since the World Cup and is under some pressure. There is the temptation to throw him further into the fire with a sink or swim approach at No 3. However, he has no problem scoring at a good rate wherever he bats and the older ball may cause fewer problems for him. Having a good hitter of the slower bowlers helps in this spot.
JACOB ORAM
I've pondered playing him at three. He's better than just a lower-order blaster and that's why I've got him in the top six. No 6 gives him time to get set before blasting off. I'd like to see him forced to think and play like a batsman and time in the middle is the only thing that provides that.
MATHEW SINCLAIR
What to do with Mathew Sinclair? How often do we ask that question? He was great in South Africa belting it at the end and while his form and reputation as a top-order player may make it tempting to move him to No 3, or opening at the expense of Vincent, I'm leaving him right where he is.
