Chris Harris' chance to stake a more permanent Test claim

Chris Harris has made no secret of the desire that he wants to play more Test cricket but even he could not have imagined that when he regained the opportunity it would be to play for New Zealand as a No 4 batsman.

But that is what he will be doing when playing his 20th Test in 10 years, his first in three seasons, when New Zealand attempt to tie up the National Bank series against England in Auckland tomorrow.

Harris was already shaping as the one-day specialist that has been the unwanted label he has had in his career when making his Test debut on the bomb-blasted tour of Sri Lanka in 1992/93.

His Test career, however, has had more ups and downs than the sharemarket and has been as inconsistent as it has been intermittent.

He has had no time to settle into the Test side and he has scored 582 runs at 19.40 and taking 15 wickets at 66.93.

It is as a batsman that he has been selected this time, and that follows several seasons as one of the most consistently higher scoring batsmen on the New Zealand first-class scene.

While that may not be the most challenging environments, there can be no doubting the record he has carved for himself. He goes into the Test having scored 5333 first-class runs at an average of 46.78. Only Martin Crowe (56.02), Glenn Turner (49.70), Verdun Scott (49.73), Martin Donnelly (47.43) and Bert Sutcliffe (47.41) among those who have scored more first-class runs had a higher average than Harris.

By anyone's standards that is pretty esteemed company.

"It is pretty exciting and it doesn't feel like three years.

"Obviously, I've been playing a lot of one-day cricket in between that time so it doesn't feel that long ago," he said of his time off the Test scene.

He at least goes into the Test match having batted against most members of the Test attack for his Canterbury side, although he is getting over some food poisoning suffered during Canterbury's last game in Christchurch.

A bowl of soup and two pieces of toast was all he had eaten during the last two days. He was looking to eat something a little more substantial in the run down to the Test tomorrow.

"No-one likes to be termed a one-day specialist. I've been called that a few times before and when I've got back people have said the same thing, so I'm just going to go out and enjoy myself just the best I can."

"I'm a little surprised batting at No 4 but I can see the way they are going with Nathan [Astle] at No 5 and Macca [Craig McMillan] at No 6. I'm happy to fit in anywhere really.

"Batting at four or six is reasonably similar. Obviously if things don't go well you could be in with the new ball and could have a job to get through there and hopefully the way the top order has been going we can get a good start."

He is aiming to approach the match the same way he has been looking at playing for Canterbury, getting in and then being as positive as possible and taking what runs are there.

"I've just been a bit more aggressive, and positive. Once you get on the paddock, they are giving you every chance and I've got to try and make the most of every opportunity," he said.

Harris may never have a finer opportunity to state his case for Test match consideration.