Will it be Ross or Brendon?

Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum will be vying for the New Zealand captaincy once Daniel Vettori steps down after the World Cup. Both have strong claims, and enjoy the respect of their team-mates. Andrew Alderson, in the New Zealand Herald, looks at the relative strengths and weaknesses of the two men and feels that Taylor is ahead in the race for the top job.

Taylor exhibits Andrew Strauss tendencies - cerebral, considered and a safe pair of hands (including at first slip); an appointment capable of doing the job justice and setting an example.

If Taylor is Straussian, McCullum probably comes more from the Ian Chappell ilk. His captaincy is likely to be aggressive and positive with a "follow me" flavour. There would be few grey areas and it's doubtful any test tenure would have too many marks in the 'draw' column.

In the same newspaper, Mark Richardson says that the current rotation policy being followed by New Zealand is hardly the ideal way to prepare for the World Cup.

Management may sell rotation to the players - after all they have no option - but you must be very careful not to sell them confusion, frustration, doubt and a sense of being underdone. What player doesn't like stability?