Talk surrounds Black Caps No3 ahead of test

The troublesome No 3 batting spot was a key discussion point as New Zealand's cricket selectors met today to name a 13-man squad to face Australia in the two-test series starting in Wellington next Friday.

Captain Daniel Vettori, Mark Greatbatch and Glenn Turner are unlikely to stray too far from the side who beat Bangladesh by 121 runs in Hamilton last month, although as always the batting lineup offered some head-scratchers.

Tim McIntosh and BJ Watling, both in the domestic runs in recent weeks, will be unbroken as the opening pair but the past fortnight's events have placed Peter Ingram's spot at No 3 under the microscope.

He made his test debut against Bangladesh, scoring a fluent 42 then a scratchy 13. He then struggled to impose himself on Australia's pacemen with his limited feet movement causing the most concern.

In the one-day series he hit a brisk 40 off 41 balls in Napier then scored 14 and five, which saw him dropped for yesterday's fourth match in Auckland and sent back to Central Districts for their Plunket Shield match in Napier, where he spent today in the field but was down to bat at No 3 tomorrow.

Coach Greatbatch said Ingram's name had not been scratched from discussions after an honest self-assessment.

"It (top order) has been an issue, there's no doubt about that. But we've got to be consistent and give guys an opportunity, some time to see whether they're good enough at that level," Greatbatch said today.

"Peter's still in the frame. As soon as he got dropped we had a chat ... it was quite a nice discussion. It's always hard dropping a guy but he said 'I've only got one score out of five (against Australia), I haven't been good enough'.

"He said he still felt good enough and wanted to go and play cricket and get in some nick and go in the mix again. That was refreshing. He's quite an experienced, mature guy."

It may be argued the 31-year-old has earned his test chance, having scored 530 Plunket Shield runs at an average of 75.71 this summer, including 245 not out against Wellington.

There are few other strong contenders to be the test No 3, with Greatbatch confirming Martin Guptill was now ensconced at No 5 after plundering 189 against Bangladesh.

One-day players Neil Broom (584 runs at 83.42) and Shanan Stewart (607 at 75.87) have feasted in the Plunket Shield but neither are perhaps seen as test No 3s.

One of the pair could still make the 13-man squad in case New Zealand decide to stack their batting lineup, although Broom was also axed from the one-day side after scoring 43 at 14.33.

Rising Northern Districts star Kane Williamson will not be thrown in, with Greatbatch saying he was likely to be blooded on tours this year to either Sri Lanka, Bangladesh or India.

If Ingram were jettisoned, it left veterans Mathew Sinclair (610 at 61.00 in Plunket Shield) Craig Cumming (547 at 54.70) as other potential No 3 candidates.

Greatbatch said Brendon McCullum would keep wicket after a sore back saw Gareth Hopkins handed the gloves in the one-day series.

The bowling appears straightforward with Chris Martin, Daryl Tuffey and Tim Southee the likely pace trio, with spinner Jeetan Patel in the squad and Brent Arnel probably the pace bowling backup.

Possible New Zealand test squad: Daniel Vettori (captain), Tim McIntosh, BJ Watling, Peter Ingram, Ross Taylor, Martin Guptill, Shanan Stewart, Brendon McCullum, Daryl Tuffey, Tim Southee, Chris Martin, Jeetan Patel, Brent Arnel.

- NZPA