Mark Richardson: Fighting fit for summer

New Zealand's summer of cricket kicks off tomorrow when the Black Caps play South Africa. Well it's more like the summer of one-day cricket but, even if you resent the lack of test cricket on offer for our team, you can't deny that, with the World Cup at the end of the summer's schedule, this summer is all about one-day cricket.

There's a possible 19 ODIs, 2 Twenty/20s and two test matches before the Black Caps head to the Caribbean - and the goal has to be an ODI team firing on all cylinders. That means injury free, roles defined and a total squad with depth.

The first phase is the ICC Champions Trophy and, with a full strength team on tour for once, the focus has to be that of dress rehearsal for the World Cup. If I was John Bracewell, I would picking my strongest team in the roles I see them in come March 2007, sitting back and seeing what happens.

I'll concede some players may be a little down on match fitness and may take time to find their best but then again with players like Daniel Vettori, Shane Bond and Jacob Oram they are not on trial and so do you really want them peaking so soon?

The great thing about the limited workload - especially for our bowlers - provided by a diet of ODIs is reduced chances of losing our attack to the usual stress fractures. Expect light roles for Bond, Vettori and Oram in the two test matches in December.

Depending on what happens at the Champions Trophy, the five ODIs against Sri Lanka will provide a chance for the blooding of a new batsman. If Hamish Marshall fails to convert his county form to country form, if Peter Fulton fails to consolidate number six or if Nathan Astle gets on the wrong side of his form fluctuations, then someone like Ross Taylor gets another chance.

The death bowling will always be a work in progress and I suspect several players will be tried. For this reason, it becomes a big season for Kyle Mills whose accuracy is handy at the top of the innings but who needs to work on his length and pace at the death. Will Jeetan Patel continue to provide a death option?

Perhaps, though, the major focus through the later part of the Sri Lankan series and the VB series will be settling on the balance that works best for us. A lot will depend on Oram and Scott Styris' availability with the ball. Oram has been effective batting in the lower order and smashing us home, as has Brendon McCullum. Both these players could bat higher but, if you are getting overs out of Styris and Astle, there is no need and the team's competitive advantage becomes depth in the batting order. However when Vettori and Mills bat so well is there space for another bowler, perhaps a spinner in Patel, at the expense of a top order batsman? Remember, there is no super-sub.

You can run as many scenarios through your head as you like but if everyone gets injured, it's all academic. Focus number one for the summer - keep everyone fit.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY