Cricket: Test spots still up for grabs

By RICHARD BOOCK

CHRISTCHURCH - Convener of selectors Ross Dykes yesterday challenged New Zealand's aspiring cricketers to force his hand in the countdown to the naming of the first test team.

After watching New Zealand A thwarted by a much-improved batting effort from England A at Lincoln yesterday, Dykes insisted there were still at least two places not yet settled in the team to square off against the West Indies on December 16 - and in a worse-case scenario, possibly four.

Pace bowler Geoff Allott is unavailable, incumbent opener Gary Stead is under moderate pressure following a double failure at Lincoln, while Craig McMillan and Dion Nash are both racing the clock to be fit after suffering injuries in India.

"It's not cut and dried," Dykes said of the likely test line-up. "There's opportunities for several players and we haven't closed our minds to anyone. It's the old story. Take enough wickets or make enough runs - and we're going to have to pick you sooner or later."

New Zealand A now head to Taupo, where a much sterner examination of their abilities looms against Brian Lara's tourists, and Dykes said the three-day match represented a clear opportunity for someone to make a break on the rest of the field.

The situation with Matt Horne's opening partner was not completely finalised he said, pointing out that Matthew Bell could place pressure on the selectors if Stead suffered another double failure, while either Mathew Sinclair or Mark Richardson could position themselves handily to step into McMillan's shoes.

On the bowling front, Chris Drum and Andrew Penn are the only genuine contenders for Allott's spot, although if Nash was to be ruled out both would probably be included.

Nash was to have his first bowl in the nets yesterday after hurting his back during the third test against India and McMillan - who fractured a finger during the second - had the splint removed only this week.

Dykes said while New Zealand Cricket's medical staff were hopeful, there had to be a question mark over the pair with the deadline for selection so close. The panel will meet on Monday with the squad to be announced on Wednesday.

England A's batsmen, meanwhile, rediscovered their form just in time to preserve an unbeaten record which stretches back 34 first-class games to 1994, amassing 331 for six in their second innings - as Aftab Habib scored an unbeaten 101 and Vikram Solanki and Mark Alleyne both made it into the 90s.

Set an unlikely 417 to win by New Zealand A captain Gary Stead, the tourists recovered from the early loss of Ian Ward and Marcus Trescothick to add 51, 94 and 153 for the third, fourth and fifth wickets, respectively, with Solanki falling for 97 and Alleyne for 96.

England A now head to Palmerston North for a three-day match against Central Districts.