Dykes accepted that evidence from Australia suggested the problem appeared to be at first drop where neither Matt Horne nor Nathan Astle have been able to establish themselves at the crease.

``. . . unfortunately, there aren't too many great options (at No. 3) at the moment,'' Dykes said.

``Matt Horne was chosen to fill that role at No. 3, to provide some solidity there, but unfortunately he has lost some form at the moment.''

New Zealand has failed to uncover a reliable and consistently well performed No. 3 since the retirement of Andrew Jones in 1995.

A succession of batsmen including incumbents Horne and Astle have been tried in that position with limited success. Dykes said coach Steve Rixon will have to battle on with the current squad.

``There haven't been any requests for changes to personnel despite the frustrations of Steve Rixon,'' Dykes said.

``That is the squad that has been chosen and right now they are still our best players because there aren't too many other options.''

Dykes said it was unlikely someone like Wellington's Roger Twose, who has again made himself available for international cricket after a one- season hiatus, might be considered as a replacement.

``We're only into the early days of our cricket season here and the scores in the conference cricket after one day shows that,'' he said.

``It would also be unfair to speak of any one player. We'd like to consider everyone and at the same time give those over in Australia a reasonable chance to regain some form.''

However, should the experienced Twose show a return to form this summer, he is likely to become a strong candidate to push for the troublesome New Zealand No. 3 spot.