That means further delay in clarifying whether Jesse Ryder is back inside the New Zealand tent or not.
New Zealand Cricket have made it clear they are reluctant to muddy the waters over two distinct issues -- a team naming, and whether Ryder is back in favour after being dumped out last February for late night misbehaviour and concerns over how serious he is about returning to the national side.
The holdup in naming the A group is over a fractured finger suffered last week by opener Hamish Rutherford. He is doing further testing today, having been named in the test squad to travel on Thursday to the UAE to play Pakistan.
"If he's unavailable for that then he will be replaced and obviously that will filter down through the New Zealand A setup," coach Mike Hesson said after yesterday's third ODI against South Africa was washed out.
Hesson said it was preferable when calling players to only have to do it once, whether they are in or out of the group of 12 NZ A players, rather than have to call again with a change of news.
He remained tight-lipped on whether Ryder would be part of that NZ A group, who are playing a series of 50-over games in the UAE.
"We've been pretty open in the last two weeks that we've been talking with Jesse -- myself, Brendon (McCullum) and (manager) Mike Sandle," he said.
"We have been in regular communication and it's really important we continue that.
"It's a big decision for us if we are to reintroduce Jesse, not so much to New Zealand but back into the NZ A setup. It's important we get this decision right."
He confirmed Ryder, who was dumped out of the national squad last February over late night misbehaviour, is available for the A squad and would be considered.
One positive out of yesterday's abbreviated game was Canterbury seamer Matt Henry getting his first chance in the series. He took two wickets, and after a wonky first over which cost 12, looked tidy.
- David Leggat of the New Zealand Herald, in Hamilton
