Test places are up for grabs: Fleming

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming has challenged Chris Martin and Shane Bond to earn their places in the team's unsettled bowling attack for next week's second test against Australia in Hobart.

New Zealand, who almost snatched an unlikely victory in this week's drawn first Test in Brisbane, will play South Australia state in a four-day tour match starting in Adelaide on Friday.

Fast bowlers Chris Martin, 26, who has played seven Tests, and the uncapped Shane Bond, also 26, would be given every opportunity to press their claims for Test selection, Fleming said.

Fellow quick Dion Nash, who is suffering from a stomach injury, has returned to New Zealand while left-arm seamer Shayne O'Connor is another casualty from the first Test and is battling a knee problem.

"There is a Test spot up for grabs, maybe two, and they're stupid if they don't see that," Fleming said.

"I think they've been made very aware of what's up for grabs and they'll be playing very well, very hard."

New Zealand's match-winning all-rounder Chris Cairns, whose six wickets and 104 runs in the second Test pushed the tourists to within 10 runs of a four-wicket victory, is likely to be rested from the South Australia match ahead of the second test starting on November 22, a team spokesman said.

The Brisbane Test was the first played by Cairns this year after recovering from a serious knee injury.

New Zealand are yet to name their team for the South Australia match.

"We had an opportunity and we played reasonably well for an afternoon," Fleming said of the first Test, which featured three declarations.

"There were aspects previous to that that weren't so hot and we've got a lot of work to do to go into that Hobart Test feeling a little bit better than what we are at present."

Mail Cricket Editor