Super Max side could be useful combination

No match is scheduled for New Zealand's Max Blacks this year after the cancellation of the Pakistan game but evidence at the weekend's Shell Super Max finals suggested New Zealand could have fielded a strong combination.

With none of the team in South Africa in consideration, it would still be possible to name a Super Max 12 with six players with international experience.

A CricInfo selection would include CLEAR Black Caps Roger Twose and Chris Nevin, even if their only match play this summer was on the finals weekend.

Twose, especially, would be assured of his place in the side. He has always acknowledged that his form in One-Day Internationals is attributable to the adjustments he was required to make to his game in Max cricket.

He demonstrated his ability in the finals, even if he was given the benefit of some controversial doubt in his first innings against Otago. He looked to have been caught when on four against Otago but a television replay was unclear.

He smashed 32 runs off his next three balls to give Wellington a vital break on Otago.

Nevin, never really took to the bowling consistently but showed glimpses in getting the innings off to a quick start. Added to that, he is the natural wicket-keeping candidate.

However, he would have to bat at No 3 in the CricInfo selection.

Joining Twose in opening would have to be Otago's Andrew Hore. The biggest and best hitting of the final weekend belonged to the burly Hore. His striking of the ball was always sweet and to him went the biggest hits of the weekend. If Hore can repeat the dose in domestic cricket he is in for a boomer summer.

Llorne Howell was another who used the attacking option to advantage when opening for Auckland. He didn't hit the ball at the same frenetic pace as in his prime but he still managed some lusty blows and played some innings as close to "foundation makers" as you can get in Max.

Richard Petrie still knows how to exploit a situation with his style of hitting and has something to offer with the bat. However, he will be replaced in fielding duties by Dion Nash who may have back problems when he bowls, but there is nothing wrong with the speed, or accuracy, of his throwing arm.

Auckland's Andre Adams offers a useful all-round potential for the side, with the accent on his bowling. A similar claim could be made for Wellington's Paul Hitchcock. His clever use of speed and length troubles most batsmen while he also has the knack to put useful balls into the Max zone as required when batting.

What a season Karl O'Dowda had for Otago. Both with the bat and ball, but especially the ball. He forced his way into the side by sheer presence and it was unfortunate his efforts were not rewarded when it came to the crunch in the last game against Auckland.

Matthew Walker has shown an unlikely ability to make the best of tight situations. He might be a pocket battleship version of the original Big Ship, Australian Warwick Armstrong, but his agility, and ability, should not be under-estimated.

He will join Carl Bulfin, the craftsman at Super Max bowling. To bowl at his speed with such command of length is a great virtue and it would be a great sight if he was to find the continuity of control that could force his way back into international reckoning.

The final spot is a tight one between several contenders but goes to the Auckland left-armer Richard Morgan, who is a consistent performer when opening the bowling. It is a vulnerable area for most bowlers, but Morgan makes a great effort to move the ball through, and around, and keeps batsmen looking to get on with it on their guard.

Unlucky not to head him off were Wellington's James Franklin and Otago's Craig Pryor. Others in the selection frame had to be Otago's Chris Gaffaney, although he never came to light in the final and Aucklanders Aaron Barnes, who has faded a little from his form of two seasons ago, and Heath Davis, who has regained his control but not sufficiently to oust Bulfin.

The CricInfo Super Max side for this year would be:

Andrew Hore, Roger Twose, Chris Nevin, Llorne Howell, Richard Petrie, Andre Adams, Paul Hitchcock, Karl O'Dowda, Matthew Walker, Richard Morgan, Carl Bulfin. Substitute fielder: Dion Nash.