Cricket: Questions over role for Vincent

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Lou Vincent will play for Auckland against Bangladesh at Eden Park next week, but just where in the order he will bat is a mystery.

Following his stunning success as an opener in his test debut in Perth, there is a feeling that he should continue in that role.

Auckland coach Tony Sail is not so sure, but is not being drawn on just where he will slot the talented 23-year-old into his batting lineup.

However, New Zealand coach Denis Aberhart joined the debate yesterday by maintaining that Vincent must be in the top three, although just where, he was not too bothered.

Sail said he was happy to discuss the issue with convener of selectors Sir Richard Hadlee - but Hadlee said yesterday that it was Auckland's call.

Auckland are blessed with top-order batsmen.

Sail and his fellow selectors have former test opener Matt Horne, the incumbent Mark Richardson, the promising Tim McIntosh and Vincent all capable of filling the first three slots.

Aberhart hinted that Vincent, who scored 104 and 54 as a makeshift opener in the drawn third test against Australia, might find his niche in the test team at No 3.

"Louie is a great find, but whether he stays an opener is another matter," Aberhart said on his return to Christchurch yesterday.

"For Auckland, I would prefer to see him bat in the top three.

"I think it would be a hard call to have [Vincent] opening when you have Richardson and Horne, who are trying to get into the test side as well.

"Hopefully, Vincent will be in the top three for Auckland.

"Louie took his chance [against Australia] with open arms and performed against the best side in the world. I'm sure he'll get another test."

Aberhart would be aware of comparisons between Vincent and Rodney Redmond, who performed similar deeds in his sole test appearance for New Zealand nearly 30 years ago.

Redmond hit 107 and 56 on debut against Pakistan at Eden Park in 1972-73. However, that was the end of his international career.

He lost his place on the subsequent tour of England and never regained it.

There is no chance Vincent will revert to a more familiar middle-order role for New Zealand against Bangladesh and England this season.

Positions four through to eight are securely held by Stephen Fleming, Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, Chris Cairns and Adam Parore.

Sail will tomorrow name the 12 players for the four-day game against Bangladesh starting on the outer oval on Wednesday.

Returning New Zealand players Chris Drum and Parore are, like Richardson, expected to play in a rare international game for Auckland.

While Sail was not being drawn on his final squad, it seems Horne and Richardson are likely to open, with Vincent at No 3 ahead of Aaron Barnes, Kyle Mills, Parore and captain Brooke Walker in a strong batting lineup.

Drum, Andre Adams, Tama Canning, Mark Haslam and Richard Morgan will chase the remaining four spots in the playing XI.

With all but the opening day of their second State Championship match against Wellington this week ruled out by the bad weather, Auckland have not had the preparation they would have liked.

Such is the talent in the squad - nine of the likely team have played either tests or one-day internationals - that should not be a worry except, perhaps, for Bangladesh.

Aberhart, meanwhile, also put in a strong word for his captain.

He said Fleming had lived up to his pre-tour pledges to lead from the front, in batting and captaincy.

"Stephen was top drawer with his captaincy.

"I don't think he looked to be the equal of Steve Waugh, I think he looked to be better than Steve Waugh."

While the middle-order batting and spinner Daniel Vettori were obvious team strengths, there was work to be done on the top-order batting and in improving the consistency of the pace bowling.

All three tests in Australia finished in draws.