The same armchair critics who cheered on New Zealand all-rounders Jacob Oram and Scott Styris have now got them in their sights.
Scratchy form and a lack of fitness have caused the pair's popularity to plummet to the point where some are suggesting it is time for a change.
If you are in that camp, ask yourself this question: who would you choose to replace them?And bear in mind you probably want to ditch the likes of Peter Fulton, James Marshall and Jamie How as well.
While it is a popular pastime to make light of the Black Caps' failings, few, when pushed, could come up with many viable alternatives.
And since you still need 11 players per side, it is probably best to make the odd nip and tuck rather than severing a limb or two.
Daniel Vettori, Brendon McCullum, Chris Martin, Kyle Mills, Iain O'Brien, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor and Shane Bond will be among the first to be contracted.
And you would normally add Oram and Styris to that list.
However, with Styris specialising in one-day cricket and Oram seemingly always injured, they must have slipped down the rankings though not out of the top 20.
It is the stuff of fantasy to suggest there are talented hordes capable of filling their shoes.
Potentially, though, the selectors could make significant changes, perhaps as many as seven or eight.
Bond has been sorely missed from the bowling attack since he signed with the Indian Cricket League.
Daryl Tuffey also returns from exile, but questions remain whether he has done enough to warrant a retainer.
Martin Guptill is a rising star and made a stunning international debut, scoring an undefeated 122 against West Indies in a one-dayer in January.
While he has yet to make a similar impact in test cricket, he is one of the shining lights and will pick up one of the contracts possibly vacated by Fulton, Marshall or How.
Fulton, arguably, is on the cusp of selection.
He has been a prolific run-scorer in first-class cricket but his technique has been found wanting at international level.
Some see him as a one-dimensional player with a limited range of shots.
He also struggles with short-pitched bowling, although he is not alone there.
Marshall earned his contract on the back of good domestic form but was overlooked for further honours.
Perhaps test opener Tim McIntosh will snaffle his spot.
How has had a charmed ride but that road could be coming to an end if the court of public opinion is any judge.
He could make way for Otago's Neil Broom.
The Otago camp is quietly confident Broom will get a contract but, arguably, he has not done enough.
Volts team-mate Aaron Redmond could count himself unlucky if he loses his job.
Initially, the opening batsman was a surprise selection for the tour of England last year and found runs hard to come by in the tests.
But he warmed to his task and helped bail New Zealand out with a fine test innings against Bangladesh and took his chances when he was called into the Black Caps during the world twenty/20 championship.
He is a versatile player who is worth keeping.
Whether the selectors see it that way remains to be seen.
Wellington all-rounder Grant Elliott has to come into contention.
The South African-born player has an outstanding one-day record which cannot be ignored.
In 21 matches he has scored 421 runs at an average of 52.62 and taken 13 wickets at 24.46.
Enough said.
Otago's Ian Butler proved his worth to the national side this season and his return to international cricket, after a four-year absence, was one of the best stories of the summer.
Butler's selection would be a boon for Otago cricket.
With as many as four players given national contracts, Otago would be free to offer their provincial contracts to other players.
With Bond a certainty and Butler and James Franklin highly likely, Tim Southee, Michael Mason and Mark Gillespie could be fighting over one spot.
Jeetan Patel will probably edge Otago's Nathan McCullum.
McCullum is the better batsman and fielder but Patel is a more attacking bowler and more likely to play a role in test cricket.
In the wicketkeeping stakes, Northern Districts gloveman Peter McGlashan has been favoured over the contracted Gareth Hopkins.
Those two players could switch.
And Mathew Sinclair? If it came down to the numbers he would bolt in.
The contracts are awarded based on how players rate.
Twenty-five players are ranked by the selectors against set criteria in both test and limited-over cricket, with test cricket given slightly more weighting.
Those 20 players with the highest aggregate scores are then offered contracts.
It is hard to see how Sinclair would miss out under that system.
But even his staunchest advocates must concede he has had plenty of opportunities.
