KEY POINTS:
International batsman Scott Styris is in doubt for Auckland's three-day match against the West Indies starting at Eden Park tomorrow.
And if a niggling back injury counts Styris out, Auckland are considering handing a first-class debut to promising young left-hand batsman Jeet Raval.
Styris and Auckland officials had discussions with New Zealand Cricket yesterday over the state of his injury, with an eye on what lies ahead this season.
Although Styris, 33, has retired from test cricket, he is still a member of the ODI squad. With the two Twenty20 internationals against the West Indies on Boxing Day and December 28, and five ODIs to follow from December 31, it is likely that unless he's feeling sprightly today, Styris will have a rest.
Auckland are expected to confirm a 13 tomorrow and Ravel could be the surprise name.
He was unlucky to miss last February's under-19 World Cup in Malaysia owing to problems over his visa, but he is highly regarded. He was a key batsman in Auckland's winning the national under-19 tournament last season and hit 203 for Suburbs New Lynn against Papatoetoe in club cricket a fortnight ago.
It may come to a choice between Raval and English professional Steven Croft for one spot against the West Indies.
Three West Indians have been named to join the squad for the Twenty20 and ODI leg of the New Zealand tour - but there's no word on who they are replacing.
Trinidad and Tobago allrounder Kieron Pollard and Jamaican pair, left arm spinner Nikita Miller - the outstanding bowler in the last domestic competition with 42 wickets, including 10 in the final - and lefthand batsman Shawn Findlay will come to New Zealand, according to the Trinidad & Tobago Express newspaper.
The West Indian squad for the one-day games was named in November and has several changes from the party already here for the first-class leg of the trip.
* Five islands have put in bids to host matches in the 2010 World Twenty20 tournament in the Caribbean - half the number which applied to hold World Cup games last year.
Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, St Kitts and Nevis and St Lucia met the November 18 deadline for bids. Three venues are needed and the International Cricket Council will make the final decision. It has already received the organising committee's recommendations.
