Any one else just want some ruthless trans-Tasman cricket? We're getting there, slowly as the BLACKCAPS and Australians provide plenty of chatter and food for thought while there isn't much else to sink our teeth into. It's fun and the banter, pink ball dramas and the usual antics before a Test series only serve to build up the hype, but damn I just want some cricket.

Last weekend's warm up fixtures -  I'm going to assume that the final tour match which starts today is the same - provided very little in terms of player performances. Six batsmen retired in the two-day game against a Cricket Australia XI in which seven kiwi bowlers were used while the one-day fixture against a Prime Minister's XI was a one way traffic for the kiwis. The remaining warm up match against a different Cricket Australia XI won't feature any Test candidates for Australia with Australia's Test squad getting some Sheffield Shield cricket under their belts as preparation for the first Test in Brisbane.

I only have two spots up for grabs in my BLACKCAPS Test team: third-seamer and an opener. That's a trick statement though as I don't really have an openers spot ... open, I just want to give Hamish Rutherford a fair crack at it. I much prefer the Martin Guptill/Tom Latham combo as Rutherford hasn't filled me with any confidence in Test cricket and if we are to take anything away from the two warm up games that have been played, then it's advantage Guptill/Latham. Rutherford scored 41 in the two-dayer as an opener, after he notched a duck at no.3 in the 50-over game which isn't enough to oust the incumbents and even if Rutherford whacks a swashbuckling double-hundy over the next few days, I'm struggling to see him overtake either Guptill or Latham.

The battle for the third-seamer position is what has me pondering. Matt Henry didn't bowl in the 50-over game, which is up for interpretation and didn't take a wicket in the two-dayer while Doug Bracewell took a wicket in each game. I'd be clutching at straws if I were to make any judgements on these two now, which makes the next few days so important for Bracewell and Henry. Coach Mike Hesson might already have an inkling as to who he wants as his third-seamer and as Henry has been that guy most recently, you'd have to guess that he might have a nose ahead of Bracewell. The Gabba wicket and Brisbane's overhead conditions won't play too much of a factor with the only slight difference between the two right-arm medium pacers being that Bracewell bowls with naturally sexy out-swing. 

Either way, I won't be too upset.

One area of concern could be Mark Craig's returns from the two warm up games so far. Craig has one wicket so far: 0/39 off 5 overs @7.80 in the 50-over game and 1/105 off 22 overs @4.77 rpo in the two-day which makes Craig the most expensive BLACKCAPS bowler so far on tour. Craig does have an opportunity over the next few days to fine tune his craft in Australian conditions and I have to keep reminding myself that Craig should benefit from a Gabba wicket which always offers plenty of bounce for the spinners; one of Craig's best assets is the bounce he gets. I've got this as a massive tour for Craig who will be put under immense pressure from the Australian batsmen.

Brendon McCullum will get some cricket, which is nice.

Ross Taylor has 16 runs from two innings, which isn't nice.

Besides the battle between Bracewell and Henry and how Craig goes, I'm also going to be keeping a close eye on Jimmy Neesham's work over the next few days. Neesham took 3/23 off 6.2 overs @3.63 in the 50-over game (sending both Hussey brothers back to the sheds) and 0/25 off 7 overs @3.57 in the two-dayer which is a pretty handy return from what will be the fourth-seamer available to McCullum. Australian conditions and again, the Gabba wicket could suit Neesham's ability to hit the deck and deliver a heavy-ball which is exciting as the last time we saw the BLACKCAPS Test team in action, McCullum lacked a fourth-seamer with Corey Anderson battling injury. Neesham has a great chance to showcase his ability as an all-rounder and if he can get his tail up in the last warm up game then we could see him flourish in Brisbane.

The Cricket Australia XI to face the BLACKCAPS in Sydney does feature Aaron Finch, Cameron White and promising seamer/spinner Gurinder Sandhu which will enhance the contest between the two teams. There are no other well known names though so I imagine the BLACKCAPS' will continue to give all the lads time in the middle to further what has already been a great preparation for a big Test series. There's only really two players that you need to check in on with Bracewell vs Henry the most intriguing battle that will go down.