Neesham could be the all-rounder for Kiwis

Coach Mike Hesson has the continued selection headache of finding someone capable of batting in the top-six and being a legitimate fifth bowler for his ideal team balance, with just one three-day warmup game against Mumbai to learn more.

Neesham, who hasn't played Test cricket since he broke down in Brisbane last November, could comfortably bat six in a Test but the jury remains out on whether he can justify his place as a third seamer or even take the new ball if New Zealand play three spinners at Kanpur.

With Corey Anderson (back problems) still not bowling in this week's one-day trials in Christchurch, Hesson picked Neesham for India as his all-rounder on a diet of Twenty20 and occasional 50-over cricket for Derbyshire. He was tidy with the white ball, but his selection was a surprise after Hesson said in June that Neesham would need to prove himself as an international bowler in domestic cricket. More pace and aggression was demanded.

Of Neesham's selection prospects in India, Hesson said last week: "It depends on the conditions. He'd have to be a useful bowling option rather than just a stop-gap measure.

"That skill set certainly gives our squad balance; whether that's Corey or James. To have one of those in the squad at all times is important for the mix.

"James had back issues and worked pretty hard on that. We saw him bowl in England and we were impressed with the progress he was making. He's not a frontline bowler; he's very much a batsman who bowls and we're trying to evolve that as much as possible.

That's been the problem for Hesson over his tenure, trying to evolve one skill or another to create the ideal allrounder in the Ben Stokes mould. Stokes can destroy any bowling attack and bowls a heavy ball and does enough with it to cause problems.

Anderson looked a worthy solution but he's been absent from the bowling crease for much of this year, after originally suffering a back stress fracture in England in May 2015. Whether he returns as an all-rounder or specialist batsman is the next question, but he might struggle to make the side as a batsman only. It also shows how tough physically it is to maintain both disciplines in all three formats.

If Neesham isn't deemed up to test cricket yet, then the search will go on. Doug Bracewell is in their sights and is a handy batsman, but he averages 14 in tests and needs to be scoring big domestic runs in the top-six to be considered a serious all-rounder.

Colin Munro was a consideration but his gentle medium pacers offer less than Neesham, while another Aucklander Colin de Grandhomme takes wickets in domestic cricket with his better-than-average seamers. The other question is whether the power hitter can be a test No 6 batsman.

In the world test all-rounder rankings headed by India's spin whiz Ravi Ashwin, no New Zealanders feature in the top-10 which features five spinners and five pacemen.

Hesson's all-rounder headaches were exacerbated by spinner Mitchell Santner's lack of runs. He was seen as a potential No 6 after an impressive debut in Adelaide last year, but hasn't delivered with the bat at test level which saw BJ Watling move up to six where he might remain in India.

Mark Craig might miss out if New Zealand only play two spinners, given Santner and Ish Sodhi's excellent World T20 tournaments in India. Craig's played one of New Zealand's six tests in 2016 and his off-spin remains a question mark at test level, but his batting almost demands inclusion given the all-rounder problem.

A batting average of nearly 42 from 14 tests is compelling and he could slot in at seven or eight and force the selectors' hands to play three spinners, with Trent Boult and Neil Wagner potentially the only two quicks and Neesham missing out.

"We're going to play at least two spinners and it's whether we play two or three. Conditions will dictate that," Hesson said. "India play three in most conditions in India. You have to assess the conditions and see what provides your best chance of taking 20 wickets. Three is definitely an option."