Cricket: Wiseman returns as premier slow bowler

By RICHARD BOOCK

Paul Wiseman will again carry the mantle of being New Zealand's leading spin bowler during the Boxing Day test against Zimbabwe.

The Otago off-spinner was ruled out of the South African series after rolling an ankle before the tour match against Boland, but seems almost certain to make the final XI in the looming test match at the Basin Reserve.

"Wiseman will obviously play," said coach David Trist, while discussing the configuration of the New Zealand attack.

"We'll have Shayne O'Connor and Chris Martin, and the final decision on who to omit will probably come down to a choice between Brooke Walker and the new guy, James Franklin."

Wiseman took over the role as New Zealand's No. 1 spinner after left-armer Daniel Vettori was restricted by a back complaint during the first test at Bulawayo in September.

The 30-year-old right-armer took eight wickets in that test and was named the man-of-the-match, but was under-bowled by captain Stephen Fleming in the next outing at Harare, and was injured before the first test against South Africa.

Because of the inexperienced attack, New Zealand seem likely to promote the conventional three-seamer/one-spinner configuration ahead of any less-orthodox options on Boxing Day.

They could, for example, follow their lead in last summer's opening test against the West Indies when they played two spinners and two pacemen with some success, while they could also decide to use all their bowlers and drop a batsman.

However, the first scenario would mean heading into the test with just O'Connor and Martin as New Zealand's only specialist pacemen, while the latter would mean omitting either Craig McMillan or Nathan Astle, and batting Franklin or Adam Parore at No.6.

While each theory has its rewards, the likelihood is that Trist and Co. are leaning towards playing all three seamers with Wiseman carrying the slow-bowling responsibilities, and Walker carrying the drinks.

"Brooke Walker has made some progress on tour," said Trist.

"But you want your leggie to be able to take five wickets in the fourth innings and whether he's capable of that is questionable.

"He's a possibility, but Wizzer [Wiseman] will be playing."

Trist said there had been general frustration at the number of injuries among the bowlers. Kerry Walmsley, Andrew Penn, Vettori, Dion Nash, Geoff Allott and Chris Cairns had all incapacitated in one form or another.

However, the silver lining was that the forced search for replacement players was developing some much-needed depth in New Zealand cricket, and would augur well when the front-liners became available.

"One thing that's come out of all this is that the bench is becoming deeper, so that when we're back to full strength we're going to have plenty of competition for places."