Fringe Black Caps players await tour announcement

Canterbury’s Tom Latham will find out today exactly where he sits on the pecking order of New Zealand test batsmen.

Latham’s selection in the 15-man squad today largely depends on how Black Caps coach Mike Hesson rates Martin Guptill.

Guptill’s injured thumb has now mended and he is available for selection. He and Latham will likely be going head to head in the backup batsman’s spot.

The XI who played in the three drawn tests against England last month in New Zealand are all assured of going to England.

Bruce Martin’s spot could have been under threat with the return of New Zealand’s most successful spinner, Daniel Vettori, but Vettori is available only for the shorter formats in England after an ongoing Achilles tendon injury.

Doug Bracewell, who missed the first and second tests against the English through injury and was 12th man for the third, will come in, leaving three spots open: one for a batsman, one for a bowler and an all-rounder is likely to fill the third. Latham and Guptill are the leading candidates for the batsman’s role. Guptill was the incumbent before his dodgy digit ruled him out of the second half of the England tour. Latham was in the squad for all three English tests but didn’t play. He has played at most levels at the top and middle of the order, and provides B J Watling with wicket-keeping cover, though Brendon McCullum can do that too.

Guptill has played mostly as an opener but his aggressive style suits the middle order. But he was out of touch in red-ball cricket and hasn’t had a chance to turn that slump around.

The return – from a side strain injury – of Mitchell McClenaghan makes him a contender for the test side. Though, like Guptill, the fact the tour starts with the tests – after two warmup games – counts against him. McClenaghan and Guptill would benefit from shortform cricket as neither have played since the first one-day game against England on February 17. McClenaghan’s 76 wickets at 39.03 from 26 first-class matches are hardly inspiring numbers, but his recent form, mainly with the white ball, makes him a contender. Then there’s Chris Martin.

If selected, it would be the 38-year-old’s third tour to England with a test side. The English Duke ball swings plenty and Martin’s experience would be valuable.

As far as all-rounders go, Ian Butler looks to be flavour of the month. Like Latham, he was included in the wider test squad against England but didn’t get a run. He is a bowler who can bat rather than a genuine all-rounder.

The one-day squad for the Champions Trophy and three oneday games against England will also be named today.

The Twenty20 squad for the two internationals and warmup game against Kent will be named later.

Vettori is expected to be named in one or both of those squads, while former Canterbury opener Michael Papps’ one-day form has been so good, he too could return to international cricket in the oneday squad.