McCullum to open the batting

[James]

McCullum to open the batting

 

[Perm]

Can't beleive Daniel Vettori's comments

McCullum's a natural opener

No, he most certainly is not. He was a failure at the top of the order in ODI cricket and this backs up the point that he is not a natural opener.

whenever you have the wicket-keeper opening the batting it gives the side a great balance

The side already had great balance, I don't see how this is going to change that.

Anyway, to be expected really. There was talk that McCullum would play as a specialist batsman with Hopkins to take the gloves, but it seems unlikely given that Vettori thinks he has found the right 'balance'.

 

[chaminda_00]

Sri Lanka become favorites for the group again. I can't understand why you wouldn't have Fulton and Vincent opening. Both have done a decent job and are far more suited to the role the McCullum. Might as well have Vettori opening himself, will be as effective.

 

[Macka]

Can't beleive Daniel Vettori's comments

No, he most certainly is not. He was a failure at the top of the order in ODI cricket and this backs up the point that he is not a natural opener.

The side already had great balance, I don't see how this is going to change that.

Anyway, to be expected really. There was talk that McCullum would play as a specialist batsman with Hopkins to take the gloves, but it seems unlikely given that Vettori thinks he has found the right 'balance'.

Completely agree. It's very frustrating for me to hear comments like this from Vettori. When exactly has he succeeded opening the batting? ODIs? No. First class? No. List A? No...

If they want him to open, well fine, but at least admit he's done nothing to actually warrant that role. He's still not even dominating domestically.

 

[Flem274*]

McCullum is not a natural opener however he does have potential in that role. He needs to stop trying to be the next Gilchrist and do what he does best. Score at a reasonable rate, even if its just singles. As for Fulton opening, please no. Middle order players are not openers, even if they are in great form. I'd prefer Fulton at three or four.

 

[sportychic33]

I think for the Twenty20 NZ is trying to experiment with having the guys who can launch quickly up the top and then if that fails have the more reliable and slightly slower run-scorers after them. The Twenty20 format is jsut another ooportunity to see whether McCullum could possible cut it as an opener, however I agree that McCullum at 7 is a perfect position for the skills he brings and having him as an opener is due to the fact that NZ has a lack of decent openers and an obsession with converting middle order batsmen to opening.

IIRC, When the team was announced Bracewell said that McCullum and Vincent will open together followed by Oram at 3 and then I think it was Styris or Fulton after that.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

No, he most certainly is not. He was a failure at the top of the order in ODI cricket and this backs up the point that he is not a natural opener.

I most certainly agree with this... This waste of time tactic is one that Bracewell has used time and again and has failed time and again... What a surprise that they go back to it once Bracers has been re-appointed. When's Hamish going to get the grovelling phone call asking for his return?

Not only does this mean we waste time at the top of the order with a 'McCague' style pinch hitter against the new ball, but it means we lose his expect run accumulation abilities against the old ball later on.. and we don't even have Jimmy F to backup with the bat when the middle order fails yet again.

Woeful continuation to an era of a woeful coach.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Given he's opened in the other Twenty20 games I thought it was almost a given he'd open in the Twenty20 World Championships.

 

[Flem274*]

Given he's opened in the other Twenty20 games I thought it was almost a given he'd open in the Twenty20 World Championships.

Pretty sure everyone else thought the same but were hoping he wouldn't.

 

[Flem274*]

I think for the Twenty20 NZ is trying to experiment with having the guys who can launch quickly up the top and then if that fails have the more reliable and slightly slower run-scorers after them. The Twenty20 format is jsut another ooportunity to see whether McCullum could possible cut it as an opener, however I agree that McCullum at 7 is a perfect position for the skills he brings and having him as an opener is due to the fact that NZ has a lack of decent openers and an obsession with converting middle order batsmen to opening.

IIRC, When the team was announced Bracewell said that McCullum and Vincent will open together followed by Oram at 3 and then I think it was Styris or Fulton after that.

ORAM AT THREE?!?!?! Oh no we are screwed. Poor technique and inconsistent. Exactly the opposite of what you need for a number three.

 

[Scaly piscine]

What opening batsmen do NZ actually have?

Seems increasingly silly to drop or give Fleming a rest.

 

[Flem274*]

What opening batsmen do NZ actually have?

Seems increasingly silly to drop or give Fleming a rest.

I beleive for limited overs stuff they are:

Central Districts

Jamie How
Geoff Barnett
Peter Ingram

Otago

Craig Cumming
Chris Gaffeney
Gareth Hopkins?

Canterbury

Michael Papps
Todd Astle

Wellington

Stephen Fleming
Jesse Ryder

Auckland

Lou Vincent
Richard Jones

Not sure on Northern Districts

 

[Scaly piscine]

I meant more in NZ's squad or who could get called up. Good opening batsmen are crucial in Twenty20.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Wellington

Stephen Fleming
Jesse Ryder

Erm.... no.... Wellington have used Matthew Bell (remember him ) and the useless Sam Fairley over the last 12 months. Flem would replace Fairley, but Ryder's been used as a middle order bat for the last couple of years, with a few exceptions.

 

[PhoenixFire]

ORAM AT THREE?!?!?! Oh no we are screwed. Poor technique and inconsistent. Exactly the opposite of what you need for a number three.

Didn't he have a decent CB series?

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Didn't he have a decent CB series?

Not batting at three though.

 

[sportychic33]

ORAM AT THREE?!?!?! Oh no we are screwed. Poor technique and inconsistent. Exactly the opposite of what you need for a number three.

Does it really matter? It is one of the tactics they are going in with and if it doesn't work there are plenty of batsmen to follow. Oram could blow the game open if he comes off, quite similar to the McCullum situation. In the off season however, Oram has been working at consistentcy after the issue with the World Cup were he believes that he failed miserably where it counted.( see this month's Sky Sport Magazine).

 

[Scaly piscine]

Does it really matter? It is one of the tactics they are going in with and if it doesn't work there are plenty of batsmen to follow. Oram could blow the game open if he comes off, quite similar to the McCullum situation. In the off season however, Oram has been working at consistentcy after the issue with the World Cup were he believes that he failed miserably where it counted.( see this month's Sky Sport Magazine).

Some would say that is the New Zealand way...

 

[Perm]

I meant more in NZ's squad or who could get called up. Good opening batsmen are crucial in Twenty20.

Vincent and Fulton are both manufactured openers and McCullum and Hopkins (both wicketkeepers) can also open the batting. Makes the decision to leave out Fleming even more stupid.

 

[Julian87]

I thought McMillan would be the key in 20/20, he should be at four imo. I also think Taylor should be three and Oram five. It's not really Fulton's game imo.