Delay likely in naming of New Zealand Test side

New Zealand's Test side to play in South Africa will not be named tomorrow (Wednesday) as originally scheduled.

New Zealand Cricket operations manager John Reid said he wasn't able to give a definite time when the side would be named.

One of the important considerations was checking the form of opening batsman Matthew Horne who broke a bone in his hand after scoring a century in New Zealand's first Test win over Zimbabwe in Bulawayo last month.

It is expected that his fellow batsmen Mathew Sinclair and Mark Richardson will be named in the side, while with the injury problems that have occurred on the African tour to Daniel Vettori, Dion Nash and Chris Cairns, along with the likelihood that Geoff Allott will not be risked on the longer form of the game, some bowling replacements will be included.

Wellington's Andrew Penn, Otago's Kerry Walmsley and Canterbury's Chris Martin are in the frame as pace bowling considerations while it is likely the leg-spinner Brooke Walker could be asked to stay on the tour. He joined the side for the One-Day Internationals in South Africa.