Mid-series is never a good time to make changes to a team - so for now the status quo will do - but it does look like the Black Caps will need to make tweaks to their personnel at some time down the track.

But one of the toughest questions in New Zealand sport right now is who is capable of stepping into the Black Caps breach(es)?

As is evident from some of our past players' failings, the State Shield and State Championship - although offering reasonably good viewing - is a little short of international standard.

Despite this it's the best we've got and disregarding those who have been given opportunities recently and have been discarded (Craig Cumming, Michael Papps and to a lesser extent Peter Fulton) here are three batsmen who are tentatively putting their hands up.

1. Greg Hay: Right hand batsman, 23-years-old, and his big innings so far have all come complete with a touch of class. Hay has played 13 first class matches and averages 56.15. He has hit three hundreds and six fifties. In his 17 List A matches to date he averages 49.91 and has four half centuries. He was chosen as New Zealand's young cricketer to Lords some years back and has returned a better player for it. Enough said.

Perhaps New Zealand Cricket is tentative about throwing Hay in the deep end, and this maybe wise for now, as he has the goods to go a long way.

2. Martin Guptill: Lets face it - we need opening batsman. The Auckland Aces have one with probably the best technique in domestic circles right now. Guptill's statistics maybe letting him down now (Av 23.66, S/R 34.69 from 14 matches) but look past the numbers and he seems to have the ability to concentrate and a technique which will allow him to bat for long periods of time.

He is already more technically adept than some options currently in the team.

3. Daniel Flynn: Has already caught the eyes of selectors. Again his average is not spectacular (29.96) but Flynn has already shown the ability to score big hundreds; including 149 this year. He has the advantage of being a left-hander which would be good to add variety to our batting order. Maybe a few more innings of note and a middle order spot will beckon.

On a more comical note, the two batsmen currently heading the list of domestic averages this season are our two most criticized – Matthew Bell and Mathew Sinclair.

Maybe this is why they still haven't exhausted the opportunities offered to them.

Who else could make the grade at international level?