I don't mind 'A' teams being a little light on batting: the side needs to showcase the most promising batting, the most promising glovework and the most promising bowling... but you're surely looking for a genuine batsmen with medium-term potential with the ball or a genuine bowler with medium-term potential with the bat rather than for a new Sobers!

An 'A' team no 6 might well find their debut at Test level is at 8: to take an England example you might envisage Dalrymple batting at 6 in an 'A' side and then playing at 8 in a Test side that has Flintoff at 6.

Bottom line: I think it's easier to teach a promising bowler to become a consistently effective batsman than it is to teach a promising batsman to become a consistently effective bowler... so I'd have no objection if you went with bowling promise even at 6.

That said... I'd like to see two spinning options in that 5 man attack: quite aside from matters of balance... the 'A' team shouldn't need to showcase a 4th choice seamer... and should at least showcase the two most promising spinners!

Now, I would tend to agree with you under normal circumstances, Rachael, but New Zealand is far from a spinner's paradise and there appear to be few options other than Jeetan Patel to provide a second spinning option. Bruce Martin and Nathan McCullum spring to mind, but neither are particularly promising. On the other hand, Ross Taylor provides some useful offies, and if Todd Astle was selected he bowls some decent enough leg-spinners to fill a gap.

As the NZ A team would play in New Zealand conditions 50% of the times the would play, I think it very important that there are the bowlers in the team to exploit the local conditions. That means that the additional bowler should be a seam option.

Now, interesting news as the NZ selectors have announced their latest NZ A team

James Marshall (capt), Neil Broom, Grant Elliott, Gareth Hopkins (wk), Jamie How, Nathan McCullum, James McMillan, Warren McSkimming, Rob Nicol, Iain O'Brien, Mark Orchard, Michael Papps, Aaron Redmond, Bradley Scott

Note that Craig Cumming and Jesse Ryder were unavailable for selection and Marshall, Hopkins, How, O'Brien and Papps are all unavailable for selection.

The key point to note, however, is that Grant Elliott has been selected for the A Team. This means I was wrong and he IS eligible. Hence, I have reset the poll to include him in it and will let everyone have another vote.

Bradley Scott: Bowling: 111 wickets @ 26.45; Batting: 678 runs @ 20.54, Age 27
Brandon Hiini: Bowling: 28 wickets @ 30.14 ;Batting: 401 runs @57.28, Age 25
Tim Southee: Bowling: 16 wickets @ 33.43 ;Batting: 96 runs @ 32, Age 18
Grant Elliott: Bowling: 48 wickets @ 33.95; Batting: 1342 runs @ 27.95, Age 28

I've voted for Elliot but would like to see him bat at six as his experience would be very helpful conisdering we have a rather inexperienced batting line up. Plus he would act as a fifth bowler.

However I think Scott should be at number 8 as he is the best bowler of the allrounders and we need to be able to bat as far down.

So in hindsight I should have probably voted for Scott for allrounder but its too late now.

That's okay sittingduck, I can adjust the poll to move your vote from Elliott to Scott if you want me to.

Thanks Andy.

I'm still inclined towards Scott for the all-rounders spot; but I would have no problem with Elliott batting in the middle order now the eligibility issue has been sorted.

Basically I'm in agreement with sittingduck's post here: 135300.

Which would mean that the second opener and one middle order spot is left to be decided, unless I'm much mistaken?

__________________
"Being second is to be the first of the ones who lose."
- Ayrton Senna

Im happy to go with Scott as the all-rounder, but I'd still like to have the vote over the two middle order slots as there are plenty of options in that area. Brandon Hiini is my preferred option in the middle order - he looks to be pretty damn good and he provides a decent bowling option as well. Elliott is a similar type of player, but with more experience. Then we've got people like Nicol, Broom, Hay, Stewart etc. There's certainly a decent amount of competition for the middle order slots.

The only potential problem I can see in selecting Hiini, is that his batting (and to an extent, bowling) figures are artificial, given the low number of games he's played. Prior to this season, he'd played only four matches, and he only made his one-day debut this season. I just wonder whether Hiini would have anywhere near enough experience to be selected in this 'A' team.

__________________
"Being second is to be the first of the ones who lose."
- Ayrton Senna

Well, Bradley Scott has secured the all-rounder slot for now, but I will reserve the right to revisit the all-rounder vote if Grant Elliott ends up not gaining one of the middle order slots, as I would have voted for Elliott as all-rounder otherwise.

Now, there should be plenty of competition for the middle order. Please add your thoughts to the following list of candidates:

Grant Elliott
Rob Nicol
Brandon Hiini
Neil Broom
Greg Todd
Shanan Stewart
Greg Hay
Reece Young
Iain Robertson
Nick Horsley

A few real greenhorns in there - Hiini, Hay, Robertson - but their form from this year warrants them being considered.

Is there anyone else in with a shout??