By RICHARD BOOCK
Not for the first time in this series New Zealand are toying with the idea of promoting a new opening batting partnership against Australia - and the challenge today seems to be headed Chris Nevin's way.
Frustrated by opening stands of 0, 2, 0, 2 so far in the series, New Zealand are set to opt for their third opening combination in four matches if Nevin - who made his ODI debut on Wednesday night - is chosen to start the innings with Nathan Astle in today's final match at Eden Park.
Changes were first mooted when Craig Spearman was dropped after the third ODI at Carisbrook, but replacement Mathew Sinclair was given the job instead of the in-form Stephen Fleming - and managed to last just four balls in his first two matches.
The player who broke all manner of records while knocking up 214 in his test debut, Sinclair sank from the sublime to the ridiculous after being called into the ODI line-up, receiving a first-baller from Damien Fleming in Christchurch and a simply dreadful lbw decision from umpire Evan Watkin at Napier.
Nevin, who was tidy behind the stumps in his first ODI, opens the batting for Wellington in the Shell Cup and came in at No.8 for New Zealand at McLean Park, but seems likely to thrown in at the top today and will struggle to do any worse than his predecessors.
Coach David Trist said yesterday New Zealand were likely to follow the strategy used in Napier and carry seven bowling options on to Eden Park, which meant there was a greater responsibility on the batsmen to deliver.
The Kiwi brains-trust responded to Craig McMillan's lean run of form by dropping him on Wednesday evening and Trist indicated New Zealand would again sacrifice a batsman for an extra bowling option today.
"We want the variety which we had in Napier and to do that, we have the shorten the batting to lengthen the bowling," he said.
"Craig has been in disappointing form and perhaps being omitted in the last game might prove to him that nothing stays the same, and that unless you do the job for which you're selected, your place will be under threat. Not playing should be a salient reminder that no-one's expendable."
Trist said although New Zealand were trailing 4-0 and were in danger of being whitewashed today, the camp was by no means in disarray.
Included in Australia's leaked briefing papers was the observation that New Zealand would "have to play out of their arses" to win, and the New Zealand coach conceded the world champions were accurate in their assessment.
"I think we've made small gains right through this series," he said. "But we haven't been able to play out of our trousers as the opposition have suggested we need to.
"We do want to break Australia's (world record) sequence. We'd love to be the team who did that, but we know we have to give an outstanding performance in all three disciplines to succeed."
Australia, meanwhile, seem likely to play all five of the players returning home at the end of the ODI series tomorrow, which could lead to recalled test player Damien Martyn being rested, and possibly one of the fast bowlers.
Teams:
New Zealand (from): Stephen Fleming (capt), Nathan Astle, Chris Nevin, Roger Twose, Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, Daniel Vettori, Scott Styris, Simon Doull, Paul Wiseman, Robert Kennedy, Craig McMillan.
Australia (from): Steve Waugh (capt), Adam Gilchrist, Mark Waugh, Matthew Hayden, Michael Bevan, Damien Martyn, Andrew Symonds, Shane Lee, Ian Harvey, Shane Warne, Damien Fleming, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath
Cricket:: Nevin next in line for top order chance
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