Test all-rounder berth an issue for Black Caps selectors as South Africa looms

It seems inconceivable that a bowler who recorded the best figures by a New Zealand cricketer on test debut could be vulnerable to axing just three matches later, though there is potential for Colin de Grandhomme's career to come full circle at Hagley Oval.

Two months ago the Zimbabwe-born 30-year-old justified his belated step-up to the test arena with an unexpected six-wicket haul when the first test against Pakistan finally got underway on day two.

A medium pacer better known for his hard-hitting approach to batting, de Grandhomme thrived on an early season seamer to overshadow Trent Boult and Tim Southee by snaring 6-41 to set the scene for the Black Caps' eight-wicket victory.

Naturally it would be unrealistic for de Grandhomme to replicate those bowling exploits on a regular basis but a difficult Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series in Australia last month - where he averaged 9.66 with the bat and took three wickets at 50.33 - has been exacerbated by a subdued two-test series with Bangladesh.

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At the Basin Reserve he delivered 20 overs without reward (0-65) as first change and was not required in Bangladesh's second innings before they were rolled for 160.

On day one in Christchurch he was also wicketless though Jeet Raval dropped a chance of Soumya Sarkar at slip.

De Grandhomme then suffered another setback when he was dropped two slots to No.8 in the Black Caps batting order - a straight swap with Mitchell Santner - and could only contribute a three-ball duck on Saturday as Shakib al Hasan pulled Bangladesh back into a contest that lost day three to a deluge.

As light rain fell, de Grandhomme - whose highlight since his test debut was an unbeaten 41 to finish off the opening T20 in Napier on January 3 - became Shakib's third victim as the Black Caps struggled to 260-7, a deficit of 29.

Shortly before the lunch break de Grandhomme was named in the 14-man Chappell-Hadlee Trophy squad, which starts at Eden Park on January 30, but selectors Mike Hesson and Gavin Larsen may not be so accommodating when considering their line-up for three tests against South Africa in March.

Should Larsen and the Black Caps head coach opt for an alternative all-rounder, Otago's Jimmy Neesham - who is also in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy squad - shapes as the leading candidate though after 10 tests (and 12 wickets) his test bowling average sits at 46.00.

Neesham, though successful batting at first drop in Australia before he missed the final loss at the MCG due to injury, only bowled seven overs at an economy rate of 10 per over.

Corey Anderson would also come into calculations, but only once he fully recovers from a back injury and is able to bowl for the Northern Knights in the Ford Trophy and ideally the Plunket Shield which resumes in late February.

The other selection issue that could impact on de Grandhomme is whether raw speedster Lockie Ferguson adds a test cap to his ODI and T20 debuts this summer.

New Zealand's only bowler capable of clocking 150kph, while Adam Milne remains injured, Ferguson could be promoted to work alongside Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner - though that would require Mitchell Santner to bat at No.6, a position he filled on Saturday after de Grandhomme slipped to the spinner's usual spot at No.8.