What about Watling back to open? Just needs some ever readies...
I would be amazed if it were possible to keep wicket in a test match and open the batting successfully. If you batted first you could probably get away with it but imagine keeping for 130 overs and then going in having to face 10 overs from a new ball after a 10-minute break?
Likewise. I've heard there is talk about using him as an opener but I would be horrified if they do. Watling is shaping up as one of the best keeper/batsmen we've ever had and he is proving to be a major part of of NZ's recent success.
But it wouldn't surprise me one little bit if they ignored this and stuck him in as an opener, whereupon he'll inevitably fail, get dropped and be told to "go away and work on your game, son".
I hear that Neesham is keen for the CWC openers role and potentially the Test role too. He has the chops for it at international level (so far) and we wouldn't miss his bowling (but it would be there as an option). He's shown that he can play the new ball and can pace an innings nicely with a mix of early sensibility and then random acts of bat on ball violence. Could be a good experiment, but possibly a bit of time doing this at Provincial level first. Shame he couldn't get some county cricket under his belt.