Hamish Marshall surprise opener
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One Marshall may look exactly like the other but the national cricket selectors have backed Hamish to do a better job than James opening the innings against the West Indies.
In a somewhat contradictory call, the New Zealand selectors stated they wanted to do away with makeshift openers and then promoted Hamish Marshall, leaving out both incumbent openers, James Marshall and Lou Vincent.
Hamish Marshall will open alongside debutant and specialist Jamie How at Eden Park with another newcomer, Peter Fulton, at No 3 – where Marshall starred last season.
The other new cap in the 13-strong test squad is off-spinner Jeetan Patel, although he is unlikely to make the final playing XI.
Coach John Bracewell said the selection panel wanted to move away from transforming middle-order players into openers.
"It has been an on-going concern and we have been using makeshift options," he told NZPA.
"This selection panel had been looking specifically at opening batters. I don't think Hamish is a great risk because of his experience against the new ball so far, albeit at No 3," Bracewell said.
"We want to get away from trying to transform middle order players, we want to get more stability into those number one, two and three positions.
However, Hamish Marshall has never opened for ND while James has for the bulk of his career.
James also made a reasonable fist of opening in test cricket last season after being thrown in the deep end against Australia, averaging 23.71 in five matches.
But despite being virtually replaced by his twin brother as the test opener (an experience only Steve Waugh can empathise with after being dropped for twin brother Mark), James backed Hamish to do the job well.
"It is (a strange situation)," he said.
"But good luck to Hamish. I hope it all goes well for him.
". . . while he hasn't opened before he has batted at No 3 and if you lose a wicket early it's basically the same."
Marshall said he had been happy with the way he played as opener until the tour of Zimbabwe, when he made five and 10.
"It's a bit disappointing but I think I let myself down in Zimbabwe, not scoring big scores there and I guess I haven't been as consistent for ND in the four-day games as I would have liked.
"I'll just keep slogging away and scoring runs for ND."
Vincent is particularly unlucky after showing good form in the one-day series against the West Indies.
The Aucklander scored a double century in the final home test against Sri Lanka last season and in his last test appearance made 92 opening in Zimbabwe.
Squad:
Stephen Fleming (c), Jamie How, Hamish Marshall, Peter Fulton, Nathan Astle, Scott Styris, Brendon McCullum, James Franklin, Kyle Mills, Daniel Vettori, Jeetan Patel, Shane Bond, Chris Martin. (Two players will be omitted on the morning of the first test to play domestic cricket.)
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