Bradburn hopes Williamson won't be rushed in

Northern Districts coach Grant Bradburn is urging the national selectors to keep their hands off his young batting star Kane Williamson as they desperately search for a first drop for the test series against Australia.

The test team will be named today and the only debatable selection is at No3 where Craig Cumming and Mathew Sinclair represent the old guard vying for a recall, while Williamson is the up-and-comer earning rave reviews.

Also in the mix is incumbentPeter Ingram, though there has to be concerns about his suitability after his lack of success in the limited over series against Australia.

Bradburn regards Williamson as a "future test star" but says that now is not the time to blood the 19-year-old who scored 170 against Wellington at the Basin last week.

"He's the best player in the country, but now is not the time to pick him," Bradburn said. "One of the winter tours [Bangladesh, India] would be the perfect timing to inject a young star like him."

Williamson plays well off both feet and after a slow start to the season has now scored 334 first class runs at 41.75. Overall he has scored 1148 runs at 44.15 – a minimal return in comparison with a run machine like Sinclair – but his technique is certainly sounder.

"He plays back well to the quicker bowlers and also has a very sound defence. Technically he is the best we've got in the country – emerging or emerged," Bradburn said. "He's also a great kid, he has come from a good background, he has a very supportive family. So it's all heading in the right direction, but as I say it's a little bit soon in my mind."

There might also be a school of thought that asks why not throw him in? Martin Crowe was only 19 when he was pitched in against Australia and he came out the other side. If not, Cumming might make the most sense to bat at No3 in the first test against Australia starting at the Basin Reserve on Friday.

He would be a virtual third opener behind the incumbents BJ Watling and Tim McIntosh.

Cumming has played 11 tests (441 runs at 25.94), the last of which was two years against Bangladesh.

The 34-year-old is enjoying a solid season (547 runs at 54.70) as is fellow 34-year-old Sinclair (610 at 61).

Ask the players and the first-class coaches and they still regard Sinclair as the most prized wicket on the domestic circuit, but the selectors will have some concerns that he has the yips against Australia (eight tests, 212 runs at 14.13).

Ingram is still in the frame despite being released from the one-day squad, selector Mark Greatbatch says. New Zealand will name a squad of 13 with Jeetan Patel probably making the cut as the second spinner and possibly James Franklin and Brent Arnel will be named as cover. Tim Southee was awful in Auckland on Thursday but he can be handy on the opening morning of a test if there is swing in the air.

Greatbatch confirmed Brendon McCullum would resume the wicketkeeping duties.

IN THE RUNNING

Possible New Zealand squad: Daniel Vettori (captain), Tim McIntosh, BJ Watling, Craig Cumming, Ross Taylor, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Daryl Tuffey, Tim Southee, Chris Martin, Jeetan Patel, Brent Arnel, James Franklin.

- © Fairfax NZ News