The national selectors must have been burying their heads in their hands when news filtered through that four of New Zealand's top six were skittled for a grand total of seven runs among them.
The England attack of Matthew Hoggard, James Anderson and Stephen Harmison shredded the Otago Selection XI's top order, bowling the side out for a paltry 146 at the University Oval yesterday.
Among the victims were an out-of-sorts Peter Fulton (0), Matthew Bell (0), Stephen Fleming (5) and Mathew Sinclair (2).
It was left to former Otago wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins (38) and Jordan Sheed (47) to save further blushes with a useful partnership of 86.
The Otago Selection XI batted again and reached 102 for three when the warm-up match was called off. But it was a dismal reply to England's innings of 369 for nine.
Fulton went some way towards redeeming his day, scoring 33 in his second effort. But Bell went back to a full delivery from Monty Panesar and was adjudged lbw for 22 to complete a poor day at the office.
This was not just a points victory to the England attack ahead of the first test in Hamilton next week - it was an obnoxious neon sign blinking out a warning.
Fleming and Bell are safe and Sinclair should get the nod, but Fulton desperately needs some runs before the test series begins.
After yesterday's performance, Fulton probably registered two strikes and, with Jamie How and Ross Taylor knocking on the door, can ill afford a third.
If Fulton is jettisoned, Otago captain Craig Cumming could hold on to his opening berth with How coming in at first drop.
Had Jesse Ryder not cut his hand after an early morning incident in a Christchurch bar, the left-hander would have surely come into the mix.
The naming of the test team has been delayed until Sunday, which means the three-day first-class game between a New Zealand Selection XI and the tourists at the University Oval starting tomorrow is effectively a New Zealand trial match.
England captain Michael Vaughan was pleased with his side's hit-out and chuffed about racking up the psychological points. ‘‘We bowled excellent early in the morning,'' he said.
‘‘Hoggy has hit his straps right from the minute he arrived in Christchurch last week and looks fit and strong and bowling how we know Matthew Hoggard can bowl for us. I think all the bowlers, at times, bowled very well. It was nice to knock a few of the batsman that we are going to play next week in Hamilton and get them out cheaply.''
Harmison was a mixed bag though. A lot of what he offered up was best described as loose.
The fast bowler has a knack of getting extra bounce and picked up two for 41 in the first innings, but both deliveries should have been whack across the rope.
‘‘I've seen him spray it worse than [yesterday] so it is quite a good start for him,'' Vaughan said, laughing.
‘‘He has arrived in some kind of, I guess not great, form. But he's working very, very hard and, as I said, the more he bowled [yesterday], the better he got.''
After losing the one-day series 1-3, England has enjoyed two good days. The only negative was the news Ryan Sidebottom has been ruled out of the three-day game.
The pace bowler has ‘‘a slight niggle in his hamstring'', Vaughan said, and will be rested.
He is expected to feature in the first test. England will name its side for the three-day game today and the team is expected to be a shadow test side.
