DEVIANT TOILER
Heard of him?
Of course you haven't. It's an anagram of Daniel Vettori.
The Harry Potter lookalike might take until Christmas to prise batsmen from the crease these days but he is still the best spinner in the country, with daylight to second. You might as well invent a rival spinner, because Vettori doesn't really have one.
Looks like the Black Caps are stuck with him until he knocks off Sir Richard Hadlee's record haul of 431 wickets.
Not the answer, sorry. The 29-year-old legspinner has had modest success in first-class cricket with 89 wickets at an average of 37.98.
He could prove us wrong, of course. With Vettori sidelined for the second test against the West Indies, Nethula may have taken a bucket-load of wickets while we slept.
Doubt it, though. His performances have been patchy at best and he struggled in the three-day warm-up match.
JEETAN PATEL
The former Black Cap stopped curving, dipping and looping the ball not long after he was called into the national squad. There is some evidence he has rediscovered his mojo with some solid performances for Wellington in the Plunket Shield last summer.
BHUPINDER SINGH
An interesting prospect. He cuts a memorable figure with his thick beard and turban, and for a finger spinner he can turn the ball sharply. But the Indian-born right-armer struggles to get consistent game time for Auckland.
BRUCE MARTIN
Could do worse, perhaps. The veteran left-armer has taken 282 first-class wickets since making his debut during the summer of 1999-00.
NICK BEARD
Still learning his craft but made an impact in his first full season for Otago. Shapes as a better prospect in limited-overs cricket.
NATHAN MCCULLUM
His bowling has developed well in the last three or four years but still seen as a limited-overs specialist. Not enough variations to create doubt in the minds of test batsmen.
RONEEL HIRA
Same boat as McCullum and Beard. Has taken just one wicket in first-class cricket and it has cost 205 runs.
MITCHELL SANTNER
Who?
Exactly.
