New Zealand cricket selection convener Sir Richard Hadlee is hopeful that recent comments made by Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak are a sign of a more positive approach to be taken by the tourists in the Boxing Day Test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on Tuesday.

Hadlee, chairman of the national selection panel for the first time in games at home, believes that from a New Zealand point of view the Test is there to be won.

He says it represents a chance to the side that went down 2-0 to South Africa earlier this month to regain some confidence and self-belief before the harder challenges of the summer.

The Test was a chance for the CLEAR Black Caps to get back into some winning habits.

Hadlee said he noted comments from Streak that the Test represented the best opportunity to beat New Zealand with several key bowlers missing through injury.

"That suggests he is going to play positively, and that is to be welcomed.

"It looks like we will have a good Test on our hands," he said.

With several players sitting in the wings waiting their chance to further, or to start, their Test careers, Hadlee is revelling in the fact that more established players are now feeling a bit of heat over their positions.

Most vulnerable in this area are Nathan Astle and Craig McMillan.

But all Hadlee would say is that there were one or two players who should be looking over their shoulders.

"A nice 25 or a very good 30, and then getting out at the wrong time is not going to be enough," he said.

The selectors couldn't afford to make wholesale changes, and still had to give players a reasonable opportunity. But at the same time players could not afford to rely on their averages and they needed to get themselves out of lean trots sooner rather than later.

Hadlee also won't buy into putting pressure on skipper Stephen Fleming. As a result of Fleming being invited to the post-tour debrief, apparently the first time the captain of the side had ever been invited to the selectors' debriefing, Hadlee was very pleased with Fleming's entire approach to his leadership role.

"He has done a very good job with what was an unsettled side. And Flem is the only bloke who can lead the side.

"And whoever the captain is has to be there until 2003. Flem is reluctant to give it up and we're happy with the job he is doing. The way the debrief went, the way things were discussed, was most impressive.

"We asked him questions about why certain things had been done at certain times. The captaincy was discussed and we asked him: 'Are you enjoying it? Do you want to continue?'

"He didn't think his indifferent form was due to his captaincy duties, rather it was because of some technical aspects in his batting.

"It wouldn't surprise me if he turns things around very soon.

"We have every faith and confidence in him," Hadlee said.

It had been very tempting to play other players than those named in what is a one-off Test and there had been what Hadlee said was "a lot of debate" about whether to play Hamish Marshall.

"He did everything that was required of him. He played to the game plan, showed good technique and patience. But if he was to play in Wellington it had to be in the top six," he said.

Hadlee has enjoyed the convenership of the panel although he admitted there was far more work involved in it than he imagined, but that has only enhanced the appeal of the job.

"You do watch the game differently from when you played. You look at things more in depth. You look at players' techniques, how they adapt to pressure situations, their reactions, their attitudes and moods, how they get on with other players, how they work in team routines.

"You have to look at them on and off the field, in a way that people never see. You look at the body language and that can tell some stories. I have found that quite interesting," he said.

Immediately after coming into the job Hadlee set about working out a selection philosophy with his co-selectors, Ross Dykes, David Trist and Brian McKechnie. They worked out the sort of things they wanted from players.

A closer liaison was formed with the six provincial coaches as "they are the selectors' eyes" when the selectors can't always be at games or know about players in team situations.

"We are firm on what our expectations are and we have, and will continue to have concerns over problem areas that need to be addressed," he said. Working on some of those problem areas could affect the intake at the Cricket Academy as Dayle Hadlee is in touch with them about players, and vice versa.

"We ask a lot of questions, talk to a lot of people and we talk to the provincial coaches more than ever before.

"We encourage them to ring us on matters of form or fitness of players," he said.

Hadlee also likes to act the Devil's Advocate in selection meetings to develop debate and while he hasn't had to use his casting vote yet there have been some majority decisions made.

But communication and understanding is high on Hadlee's agenda, between himself and his selectors, between the selectors and the players.

"Communication is an integral part of success," he said.

With Zimbabwe to be followed by Sri Lanka and Pakistan, with teams to be chosen to tour both countries before next year's tour to Australia, communication will be vital.

While the immediate job is success against Zimbabwe, consistent success in the lead-up to 2003 and the World Cup in South Africa, is a long term goal and one which could provide some interesting moments as the selectors plot their path.

Watch this space!

© CricInfo