The Surfer

What to do with McCullum?

In the New Zealand Herald , David Leggat writes that New Zealand's effort at the Champions Trophy bodes well for the future, but not every aspect of team composition is settled.

In the New Zealand Herald, David Leggat writes that New Zealand's effort at the Champions Trophy bodes well for the future, but not every aspect of team composition is settled.

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Out of the tournament New Zealand saw Guptill reinforce his value in the top three; Elliott show he should stay in the middle order for the cool head he brings to the crease; Franklin suggest he is not a frontline first or second-change ODI bowler; and Taylor show he is a top class slip catcher. The key performers? Vettori, Elliott, Guptill, Mills and Bond. Those they needed more from? Taylor, McCullum, Broom, Franklin and Butler.

The biggest question remains what to do with McCullum. It boils down to this: do Vettori and coach Andy Moles - remember, that's now half the national selection panel - want two dashers at the top in a high risk, high reward approach, or move one of McCullum or Ryder down the order in favour of a more measured policy.

New Zealand

Brydon Coverdale is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. He tweets here