New Zealand's best - try this XI

The Black Caps are enjoying a halcyon period, but how many of the current test squad would make an all-time New Zealand XI? Cricket writer Adrian Seconi names his side. 

METHOD

Averages be damned. They are not that relevant when comparing players from different generations anyway. This team will be filled with players who inspired and who commanded a place. There is also the odd player who gets the slot by default - read Daniel Vettori who took longer to take a five-wicket bag than the gap between New Zealand test series wins over Australia.

OPENERS

No room for Bruce Edgar or John Wright. That fabled partnership gets better with each passing year but their actual average partnership was just 31.42. Tom Latham's recent double ton on a placid wicket at the Basin Reserve is not enough, either. Mark Richardson was disqualified for donning a lycra sprint suit. Two of Otago's finest get the nod. Bert Sutcliffe inspired a generation and famously batted on in blood-soaked bandage during the Tangiwai test. And Glenn Turner was simply one of the best batsmen of his generation with an immaculate defence. Sadly, he was lost to test cricket for six years.

MIDDLE ORDER

Freed up a space by having Sutcliffe open but that slot is likely to be tied up in debate. Some very good players will miss out. The other John Reid - John Fulton Reid - was a really solid option at No3. He scored six hundreds in 19 tests which is a great strike rate. Andrew Jones would not let the side down either but Kane Williamson is just something special. Williamson may finish his career with more than 30 hundreds and perhaps even 10,000 runs. Martin Crowe was better to watch, though. He was the gold standard for New Zealand batsmen for so long and is an easy choice at No4. Who to pick next. Stephen Fleming? Nathan Astle? Bevan Congdon? Martin Donnelly? When Ross Taylor shelved the slog sweep he went from good to great. With 17 hundreds and an average threatening 50, you cannot leave him out.

ALL-ROUNDER

Chris Cairns. It would just be fun to see him play in the same team as Turner. Other than that he was an incredible player. He is often maligned for not reaching his potential but take another look at his record. Five hundreds and 13 five-wicket bags. Sorry to all the John Reid fans.

KEEPER

This was difficult. Ian Smith is often favoured but Brendon McCullum and BJ Watling offer so much more with bat. Watling scores tough runs but McCullum entertains and was the better keeper. But it is McCullum's leadership which made the difference. He captains the side.

SPINNER

Vettori. There was no-one else, really. We want the early version who could still spin the ball and was not a stock bowler plugging up an end. Nothing wrong with that. Just rather have a spinner who could take five on the last day to win you a test.

SEAMERS

Sir Richard Hadlee scrapes in on the strength on those 431 test wickets at the miserly average of 22.29. Shane Bond opens from the other end. He had an even better strike rate than Hadlee. The only decision to make - Trent Boult or Jack Cowie? World War 2 interrupted Cowie's playing career. But in the nine tests he did manage to play he took 45 wickets at 21.45. Boult lived in better times and has matured into one of our best. The left-armer gets the final spot.

12TH MAN

JR. And sorry once again. Brilliant player. Nothing he could not do.

THE TEAM

Glenn Turner, Bert Sutcliffe, Kane Williamson, Martin Crowe, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum, Chris Cairns, Daniel Vettori, Richard Hadlee, Shane Bond, Trent Boult, John Reid.