Here is an inspired idea. Let's play the world's best fullback out of position at centre.
Oh wait, that has been done. John Hart, Christian Cullen . . . remember?
If history teaches us anything, it is that you leave people to do what they do best.
So what was Black Caps coach Andy Moles thinking when he decided to surrender his side's major advantage by playing Brendon McCullum in the outfield and Peter McGlashan behind the stumps during the world twenty/20 tournament?
McCullum performs two roles - that of explosive top-order batsman and agile keeper - and he is, quite simply, New Zealand's trump card.
With McCullum in the mix, Moles can include either an extra bowler or an additional batsman.
The way the middle order went during the tournament the latter certainly would not have gone astray.
New Zealand was bowled out for 99 against Pakistan and 110 against Sri Lanka - the sort of scores you expect at Bishopscourt.
This is not an attack on McGlashan, who is a handy gloveman and useful batsman.
But he should have had no place in the XI before McCullum injured his hand in the dying stages of the game against Pakistan.
There are a few schools of thought as to why he made the line-up.
One is that, with Black Caps captain Daniel Vettori sidelined for much of the tournament with a shoulder injury, stand-in skipper McCullum was better to be in the outfield where it would be easier to direct the troops.
But, really, when has the chirpy gloveman ever had a problem getting his message across from behind the stumps?
While he might have been a success in the outfield it is not a compelling reason to keep him there.
Quite the contrary. Behind the stumps is exactly where you want your best fielder.
You know, to take catches, effect stumpings and run outs, and field return throws. That sort of thing.
The best argument for McGlashan's inclusion is as a specialist batsman, and it has some merit.
He had a good season for Northern Districts.
In the domestic twenty/20 tournament he scored 161 runs at an average of 26.83 runs, and in one-dayers scored 272 at 45.33.
But in my opinion, Otago's Neil Broom, who was also in the squad, is a more accomplished batsman.
And is McGlashan really in the top five or six limited-overs batsmen in the country?Even if you pick him as a batsman, why would he take the gloves? McCullum is a superior keeper.
Perhaps it was McCullum's idea not to keep.
He is ambitious and has looked to bat up the order in test cricket recently.
He got his international break as a specialist top-order player and it is possible his future plans include preserving his body and specialising as a batsman.
As for the world twenty/20 campaign, the Black Caps had their share of injury setbacks but it was a hugely disappointing effort.
Yes, they lost to two of the form teams in South Africa and Sri Lanka.
But the reality is they had a fortunate draw and, arguably, never had an easier road into the semifinals of a major competition.
With just wins against cricketing minnows Scotland and Ireland to show for their work, there is not much to crow about.
