Circumstances leave the New Zealand selectors little option when they choose their team of Max Blacks to play India in the National Bank Super Max international in Christchurch next Wednesday.

The lack of a Max tournament this year due to the players' strike means the selectors are likely to pick their preferred one-day all-rounders for the side.

It can be safely assumed that: Chris Cairns, Andre Adams, Scott Styris, Jacob Oram, Craig McMillan, Nathan Astle and Shane Bond will be part of the side.

Areas of interest that are likely to feature in the side to be named on November 30, are the possible inclusion of both Chris Nevin and Brendon McCullum. They are now clearly identified as the main contenders for the wicket-keeping position in the side, and they both have the potential to open the innings.

It would be no surprise, given the ability to use all 12 players named in a squad, to see each player open one innings and wicket-keep in the other.

There could also be a chance for a specialist fielder to be included in the side which would bring Lou Vincent into the frame immediately, and he probably wouldn't be required to bat.

There might also be a temptation for the selectors to look at Aucklander Tama Canning in this game. He was on the verge of international selection two summers ago.

After his innings for Auckland in the warm-up game against Northern Districts last week, there may be a consideration given to including him in the side.

Selection convener Sir Richard Hadlee said while the game would not be a pointer for the TelstraClear Black Caps one-day team later in the season, it would be regarded a little like the traditional tour opening matches at Lilac Hill in Western Australia, or Arundel in England.

Hadlee admitted to being concerned at the lack of cricket the New Zealanders have had, especially given the latent batting talent available for India to call on.

"They have so many players who are rated in the top 10 or 20 in the world," he said.

It would be important to choose the right line of attack against them for New Zealand conditions because anything that was too straight would be pushed through the leg-side with ease.

Hadlee was also pleased to see New Zealand team contender Oram in good form for his Central Districts side at the weekend.

He scored 96 to hold his side together against Otago and was a good example of being able to occupy the batting crease while the selectors were also keen for him to show more of his bowling skills, something he had been working on before suffering the injury which kept him out of much of last summer's cricket.

Oram was a player who impressed with his work ethic and was shaping well, Hadlee said.

While the final results of fitness testing haven't been received by the selectors after last week's camp at the High Performance Centre at Lincoln University, Hadlee said the indications were that players had been maintaining their individual fitness programmes.

The key thing now, Hadlee said, was game time.

A full round of State Championship matches starts on Friday.

© CricInfo