Hope as they might, New Zealand's cricket selectors are almost going to be forced to name their side for the first National Bank Test against India with a fair degree of reputation rather than solid form.

The team is due to be named around lunch time on Sunday.

New Zealand's damnable summer has continued to affect the second round of State Championship matches with weather interruptions, but also with pitches having too much in them to allow players to settle into their respective crafts.

For all that much of the side picks itself.

Certainties have to be: Mark Richardson, Stephen Fleming, Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, Robbie Hart, Daniel Vettori and Shane Bond.

Who Richardson's opening partner will be is not as clear as is needed. Matt Horne and Lou Vincent, the two front-runners have not had a significant innings in the Championship to date. Horne suffered suspected food poisoning towards the end of Auckland's game with Northern Districts and was forced to miss the match with Wellington.

Vincent suffered a duck in the first innings to go with the seven he scored in the first match. Horne had done little better against ND scoring 17. Clearly a good innings by Vincent in the second innings could decide the question, although the selectors may have thoughts of batting Vincent in the middle-order.

With Chris Cairns unable to play in the first Test by his own choice, there may be an inclination to bolster the batting by playing Vincent at No 4 in place of Chris Harris, who is the incumbent after batting their during the latter part of last season.

If that option is no longer feasible then Astle and McMillan will move up to Nos 4 and 5 which does create more room for a specialist bowler at the bottom of the order.

Or, in another thought there could be the possibility of Mathew Sinclair, especially if he is able to mount a suitable case in his innings against India, batting at No 4.

The likelihood is that Scott Styris will be named to play at No 6. His only competition would be from although again the temptation may be there to include Jacob Oram, though Oram has been forced out of the Central Districts tour match against India, succumbing to a hamstring injury.

Hart will bat at No 7, with Vettori at No 8. Normally it would be a straight contest between Daryl Tuffey, Ian Butler and Chris Martin for the honour of opening with Bond, but they have been unable to dominate in their games so far. Butler reportedly suffered an injury while batting yesterday for ND which may hinder his prospects of playing in a Test.

With this in mind there may be a temptation to strengthen the bowling attack by including both, or another, possibly CD' Michael Mason.

A possible Test selection may be: Stephen Fleming (captain), Mark Richardson, Lou Vincent, Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, Scott Styris, Robbie Hart, Daniel Vettori, Shane Bond, Daryl Tuffey, Chris Martin, Michael Mason/Ian Butler.

© CricInfo