Selectors set to keep faith
Coach Mike Hesson looked annoyed but a wild swing of the selection axe won’t be among his responses to the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy debacle.
One or two fringe players will miss out but nearly all New Zealand’s squad who lost 3-0 to Australia are expected to be retained for three one-day internationals against Bangladesh starting in Christchurch on Boxing Day.
The selection panel of Hesson (convenor) and Gavin Larsen will meet this week before naming their squad on Thursday, for a series which previously looked a walk in the park but is now vital for restoring confidence on the scoreboard and win column. Blunder in that series, and selection cuts must loom.
Middle-order batting, allrounder and wicketkeeper are problem spots but any new names such as gloveman Tom Blundell, batsman Tom Bruce, spin bowling allrounder Mark Chapman or leftarm seamer Ed Nuttall - all looking sharp in domestic cricket - are unlikely to enter contention till some senior men rest in three Twenty20 internationals starting on January 3.
A new captain will also be needed for those T20 matches, and Tim Southee becomes the leading candidate by default. Kane Williamson will likely be rested, Ross Taylor sidelined after eye surgery and Tom Latham and BJ Watling unlikely T20 options.
First things first, and the incumbents will get the chance to make amends for their Australian ODI shortcomings, with the potential additions of Corey Anderson and Mitchell McClenaghan.
With the Champions Trophy looming in June, Hesson has already used 19 players across eight ODIs in India and Australia, for two wins and six defeats. Both tours ended in dire batting collapses against spin in Visakhapatnam and pace in Melbourne.
‘‘You’ve already seen plenty [of new faces]. We’ve got to identify the right players and give them a number of opportunities. Hopefully we get a few back from injury as well,’’ Hesson said after the 117-run hammering at the MCG.
Hesson counted 10 players they’d lost from a year ago and others were still finding their feet in international cricket.
Without Taylor, a middle order of Jimmy Neesham, Colin Munro and Watling looks set to remain while Anderson - still not bowling due to back stress fractures - may be considered as a batting option. Few in domestic cricket make a compelling case, with Bruce topping the list of contenders.
Neesham was gamble at four in Australia but responded with 74 in Canberra before a crack to the arm from a Mitchell Starc bouncer ruled him out of the finale. His replacement, Henry Nicholls, and legspinner Todd Astle who wasn’t used in Australia, may be surplus to requirements.
Munro scored 49, 11 and 20, the latter innings ending with feet anchored against Starc, but with a first-class average of 49 and form on New Zealand pitches will likely get another chance.
Watling is the headache. The test gloveman averaged 10 in three different batting spots and looked someone without a clearly defined role who wouldn’t offer the hitting power needed to chase down 10 an over. Former gloveman Luke Ronchi isn’t out of the frame but needs white ball runs while Blundell seems the obvious new face to provide some spark.
On selection loyalty and experience, test No 1 Watling appears safe for now but can’t have another unconvincing ODI series.
The other problem with the current side is the lack of allrounders being allrounders which makes selection tricky. Spinner Mitchell Santner was excellent with the ball but can’t buy a run, while Colin de Grandhomme bowled reasonably well but averaged under 10 with the bat when they really needed his finishing power. Neesham, on the other hand, has a serious questionmark beside his bowling.
Less of a worry are the frontline bowlers who will welcome the return to familiar climes, notably Matt Henry. Lockie Ferguson deserves another chancewhile McClenaghan may be kept on ice till the T20s as he makes a measured return from injury.