Selectorial Issues for Hamilton

Word from the NZ camp immediately after the pasting they received at the Basin was that they wouldn't be ringing the changes. The injury to Daryl Tuffey and the expected state of the pitch, however, have turned things around and given them plenty to ponder.

Kane Williamson, the heralded 19-year old, finally got a call-up as reward for outstanding domestic form. My understanding of this, the most anticipated test selection in NZ cricket for some time, was he would play at number 7 or 8, providing cover for a hopless lower-order as well as the backup spinner's role to Vettori. The think-tank seems to have backtracked now with all this talk of a green wicket, but Vettori has bizarrely stated he might still play a second specialist spinner in Jeetan Patel, which would mean almost no runs to be had from number 8 down. The state our top five are in makes this a strange line of thinking.

There's a battle for the number three spot between the outclassed Peter Ingram and the scarred Mathew Sinclair who hasn't played a test in two years. My feeling is the selectors like what they see in anti-footwork Ingram, and want to give him as many chances as possible to succeed. Still, they seem to have conceded that he isn't likely to come good at the moment, and Sinclair should come in as the just-in-case selection.

James Franklin, despite a poor ODI series, is also back in the mix. It would probably make sense to bring him in at the expense of Tim Southee, thereby providing strength to the tail and some variety with his left-armers.

Of course, none of these changes are really going to make much difference to the Aussies, or the end result in all probability. Personally, I'd like to see Williamson selected because 1)he is certain to be part of the lineup in the future, and 2)a dead-rubber game at the end of the season presents the perfect opportunity to gauge his comfort level at the top. I'd hate to think that all we've learned at the end of the series is that the same old performers on the domestic scene still don't cut it at the top level.