Just when you think the Black Caps have settled on an opening combination they make a change for the first test against South Africa beginning in Dunedin today.
The reshuffled top order means Brendon McCullum dropping down the order to No 3 to accommodate Cantabrian Rob Nicol.
South Africa-born wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk will replace incumbent gloveman BJ Watling, who was ruled out with a hip complaint. Both Nicol and van Wyk will be making their test debuts, as will Andrew Ellis, although he is likely to carry the drinks.
The decision to open with Nicol is a shift in policy with the Blacks Caps seemingly having made a commitment to develop McCullum and Guptill in the role.
However, captain Ross Taylor said McCullum was happy to drop down the order to allow Nicol to play where he is most familiar.
"Martin Guptill and Rob Nicol have shown a good partnership there [in the limited over matches] and Brendon is happy to open or bat three," Taylor said.
"Rob Nicol opens for his major association and that was probably the main reason."
Taylor said the Black Caps had no intention of asking Nicol to temper his aggressive approach.
"Just because it is your debut doesn't mean you change anything. Rob Nicol would have scored 50 off 200 balls when he opened the batting.
"It has only been in the last couple of years he has come out and changed his game and has been rewarded for scoring a lot of runs. So I don't expect Rob Nicol to change the way he plays."
Watling's omission will be a huge disappointment for the Durban-born right-hander. He was a controversial inclusion for the one-off test against Zimbabwe.
His critics felt the spot should have gone to a specialist keeper rather than a part-timer. But Watling responded in the best possible fashion with a maiden test century and a satisfactory effort behind the stumps.
"It is a little bit disappointing for BJ but it is nice for Kruger," Taylor said.
"I've played with him at CD [Central Districts] for a couple of years now and he will be relishing the challenge to play against his fellow countrymen."
Van Wyk has been in impressive form with the bat in the Plunket Shield tournament with 638 runs at an average of 91.14, including two hundreds and four 50s.
South African captain Graeme Smith greeted the news of van Wyk's inclusion with mirth.
There has been a steady parade of players leaving South Africa only to pop up for teams all over the world.
"I guess it is something we have got used to as a South African team touring the world," Smith said.
"It is nothing new to us, especially when we are touring England.
"A lot of guys in our squad played with him [van Wyk] ... but he is an opponent now for the next five days."
Smith admitted he has been surprised how quickly the New Zealand public has been prepared to write off the Black Caps' prospects in the test series.
"Obviously, the guys have performed really well on the tour so far so naturally I think people are getting a little despondent.
But in this test series New Zealand get a lot of experience back ... and we are by no means taking New Zealand for granted."
Smith has shrugged off an arm complaint to play in the opening test. Morne Morkel struck him on the left forearm during his first net session after arriving in the country.
Classy all-rounder Jacques Kallis' back complaint has improved but he remains under an injury cloud.
