KEY POINTS:
Let's get something straight. The Black Caps are not in a mess. If you say they are, then you are yet another 'rugby-headed' New Zealander, blinded and perverted by the traditional world domination of our rugby team and wrongly expectant that all our other major and semi-major sporting teams should live up to the same level of consistent success.
You are also probably one of those who constantly refers to the 'glory days' of the 1980s - the same team that holds a good chunk of the less than desirable cricketing records of this country (accepted that they also hold some desirable ones).
Here's my preferred line-up (in batting order) to clean things up somewhat: McCullum, Astle, Fleming, Styris, Taylor, Oram, Vettori, Franklin, Mills, Patel, Bond.
Brendon McCullum - while I believe he has been the most effective lower-order player of the recent past, has shown enough at the top to justify perseverance. He will score fast against all comers and, with practice, learn to score fast for longer.
Nathan Astle is the best opener this country has had and still is, enough said.
Your best and most all-round players should bat at three and four. Stephen Fleming and Scott Styris are just that. They have all-round skills and, at three, Fleming may draw upon his opening experience often. Ross Taylor is touted as a number three but pecking order will see him drop to five.
Five is a tough position and I believe in the West Indies an 'in front of the wicket' method of scoring in the middle of an innings could be the way to go. His footwork needs to be protected from the swinging ball.
Jacob Oram gets the last batting spot. With more time to score runs, he will score more runs. Six batsmen is plenty, given the batting talent in the lower order.
Daniel Vettori, James Franklin and Kyle Mills are simply there to bowl and the runs they score are a bonus and - given they all have the ability to score at a good rate - it is a very good bonus. Shane Bond; nothing more need be said.
Jeetan Patel gets into my team at the expense of Mark Gillespie. It's a horses-for-courses decision but, if he learns the art of variation in pace even on fast pitches, Patel would get my nod. Also, with the depth of batting in the lower order and if the top order do what they should, an extra bowler can be played. Gillespie has been a revelation but is still raw and his eyes should be set firmly on Franklin's position should he not be performing in his core responsibility.
Since Styris and Oram are still absent, then the early part of the Tri-series allows Hamish Marshall and Craig McMillan the chance to become options not replacements.
That puts some order to the situation. We won't beat Australia (the new West Indies of the 80s) regularly right now, but then again if we don't consistently beat England in this series, I'm joining the 'rugby-heads'.
