Brendon McCullum has retired and Henry Nicholls has been positioned as his replacement in both the test and ODI team. Cricket writer Adrian Seconi looks at the other leading contenders.
COLIN MUNRO
The left-hander has a reputation as an innovative and destructive batsman who can be a little flaky.
He hits across the line too often for some people's liking but his game seems to have matured.
While he is still too loose to be seriously considered for a role in the test side, he does appear to play the reverse sweep with more discretion and his power game certainly rivals McCullum's.
He swatted the second-fastest twenty20 half century in history when he whacked 50 from 14 balls against Sri Lanka at Eden Park in January.
WILL YOUNG
The 23-year-old Central Districts right-hander is still honing his skills at domestic level but he has shown plenty of promise.
He has been a remarkably consistent scorer since making his first-class debut in 2012.
While he has not gone on to score as many 100s as he would like, he has scored 50 or more 18 times in 57 first-class innings and enjoys a very tidy average of 41.30.
He was the second leading scorer in the Plunket Shield last season with 909 runs at an average of 53.47.
He has also scored four 50s in five games this summer.
GEORGE WORKER
The 26-year-old has had a taste of international cricket with two ODIs and two international twenty20 appearances.
His career limited-overs record is very decent.
The left-hander has scored 3039 list A runs, including eight 100s, at an average of 39.46.
As an added bonus, he is a useful part-time left arm spinner.
His first-class career has lagged behind his limited overs game but he has been in exceptional form this season, scoring four hundreds and is averaging more than 80.
MICHAEL BRACEWELL
A powerful left-hander who plays his cricket for the Otago, the 25-year-old has compiled a very useful first-class record.
He had a breakthrough season in 2013-14, scoring four 100s.
He has seven first-class hundreds but would have had more had he not had some trouble getting through the 90s.
Still, it is a hell of a problem to have.
He averages a shade over 38 but his prime years are ahead and it ought to head to north.
MARTIN GUPTILL
Perhaps he should shift down the order in the test line-up and take McCullum's vacant spot at No 5.
Guptill is a destroyer of worlds against the white ball but the words destroyed come to mind when describing his test batting.
The problem is who would take his place at the top.
Hamish Rutherford?
Jeet Raval?
Dean Brownlie?
Any idea?
BIGGER PICTURE
Based on their efforts against Australia in tests this summer, the Black Caps have a few more issues than just who will replace McCullum.
The over-rated Tim Southee has not taken a test five-wicket bag since 2013 and bats like club No 10.
Too much ego and no spine.
Trent Boult seems to have shaved 5-10kmh of speed and stuffed his release since beginning work with Dimitri Mascarenhas.
Matt Henry was a big disappointment in the second test against Australia.
The fast bowler did not seem too perturbed when BJ Watling came up to the stumps.
You need more mongrel than that from a fast bowler.
● Statistics correct as of February 22.
