New Zealand has gone into must-win mode for the third National Bank Test against England at Eden Park, and appears to have put longer term aspirations on hold.

It was predictable that Daryl Tuffey was brought into the side, especially after Chris Martin's stamina was tested in trying conditions during the second Test match.

Whether Tuffey should have been the preferred option in the first place is another question, but his presence will be a boost to his Northern Districts team-mate Ian Butler who grows with each outing.

However, the dropping of Matt Horne means the effort towards stablising the long term problem in the New Zealand game, the opening batting position, continues to be put on the back burner.

Lou Vincent's development as a No 3 batsman, after two half-centuries - albeit aided by dubious umpiring decisions, has also been put on hold as he has to shuffle back into the opening position where he made his sensational Test debut in Perth.

Vincent has said that he prefers the No 3 position to that of opening, or batting down the order but, in order to lengthen the batting order and include either Chris Harris or Andre Adams in the playing XI, necessity has become the mother of re-invention.

Horne has been unlucky, although even he would admit he was out of sorts in his first three innings of the Test series and he was unable to convert his first-class form into performances at Test level.

Just where New Zealand goes from here remains the real question.

Tours of Pakistan and the West Indies are shortened affairs by most tour standards so there is not a lot of opportunity to groom players for the role.

As a result, the opening problem is not likely to quickly go away.

And that is the reason it is disappointing to see Horne, the only real option at the moment, dropped. He worked hard in the second innings for his 38 at the Basin Reserve.

Adams clearly impressed during the last round of State Championship games after not being considered for the second Test due to injury, injury that did not prevent him playing for Auckland. He will probably be preferred to Harris if conditions suit and he will be another new cap in the side.

The chairman of selectors, Sir Richard Hadlee said: "It became clear to us during the second Test there was a need to strengthen our middle to lower order batting and come up with some different bowling options.

"Being behind 1-0 in the series, we are in a position now where we need to take the initiative and make things happen.

"Andre Adams is a dynamic player who can make an impact with both the bat and the ball.

"His ability to swing the ball could be useful in Eden Park conditions, and we all know what a dangerous lower order batsman he is."

According to Hadlee the role Harris plays will be decided once the nature of the Eden Park wicket has been determined.

"There's a fair chance the pitch in Auckland is going to be of the lower and slower variety as the game progresses, the kind on which Harris' bowling can be very effective.

"Chris Harris also gives us another batting option in the upper middle order."

The side is: Stephen Fleming (captain), Mark Richardson, Lou Vincent, Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, Chris Harris, Andre Adams, Adam Parore, Daniel Vettori, Daryl Tuffey, Ian Butler, Chris Drum.

© CricInfo