Cricket: First test contenders get opportunity in Pakistan tour opener

Several players with test credentials, and others who can press a decent argument to stay in the selectors' wider thinking, will face Pakistan in their only match leading into the three-test series this week.

BJ Watling, given an opportunity on the just-completed limited-overs trip to the United Arab Emirates, is one of six specialist batsmen chosen along with likely test duo Tim McIntosh and Daniel Flynn.

Craig Cumming, on the back of a fine century for Otago against Northern Districts in the first-round Plunket Shield clash on the same University Oval which will play host to the first test starting next Tuesday, gets another chance to put his hand up.

And Auckland wicketkeeper-batsman Reece Young can cement his standing as second only to Brendon McCullum in the test keeping pecking order.

Grant Elliott, recovered from a broken thumb suffered at the Champions Trophy in South Africa, leads a side in which all 12 players will take part, at Pakistan's request. They are hosts of the tour, under an arrangement between the two countries to circumvent Pakistan's inability to host international cricket due to security issues.

Fast-medium Iain O'Brien, coming off a five-wicket haul for Wellington against Canterbury, is the frontrunner for a test place among the seamers, although Tim Southee can restate his case for a return to the national side, having done good work with New Zealand A in the off-season and also in the UAE.

Southee, Watling and James Franklin are the only players chosen from the side which returned yesterday from the UAE, having lost the second Twenty20 international by seven runs in Dubai.

Perhaps most intriguing is the choice of Auckland legspinner Tarun Nethula as the sole spinner.

He topped the domestic first-class wicket list with 28 last season.

The qualities of backup spinners Jeetan Patel and Nathan McCullum are well known.

Nethula presents a wildcard option, and is no less fascinating a selection for that.

"There are also a few players who are knocking on the door for selection at the top level - and they will get a good opportunity to test themselves against a strong touring side," national selector Mark Greatbatch said yesterday.

New Zealand captain Dan Vettori's left shoulder strain is to be assessed by a surgeon today, although he is expected to be fit for the first test.

And Vettori, on his return from the UAE yesterday, gave a strong hint that speedster Shane Bond's test return is imminent, providing he comes through Canterbury's game against Otago at Rangiora starting tomorrow.

"He wants to give himself every chance. If he gets through that game all right and he's feeling good then I think he'll be eligible," Vettori said. Pakistan arrive in Auckland today.

* Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara last night joined Indian great Sachin Tendulkar in calling for more test cricket, saying the lop-sided schedule needed to be changed.

"It's really a shame that we are being deprived of test cricket," Sangakkara said ahead of the three-test series against India that opens at the Motera stadium in Ahmedabad today. "The young guys in our side are desperate to perform at the highest level, and that means test cricket. They are just not getting enough of it."

The International Cricket Council is working on a Future Tours Programme for international matches post 2012, juggling to fit in tests amid an explosion of one-day and Twenty20 cricket.

Sri Lanka have just one test series scheduled next year - home to the West Indies in November.

The team

New Zealand Invitation XI to play Pakistan in Queenstown, starting on Wednesday: Grant Elliott (c), Craig Cumming, Tim McIntosh, BJ Watling, Daniel Flynn, James Franklin, Reece Young, Tim Southee, Daryl Tuffey, Tarun Nethula, Iain O'Brien, Brent Arnel.