***Official*** New Zealand in Australia

[HeathDavisSpeed]

haha coming from Mr Drop Jamie How after his first bad score.

I wasn't knee jerking. How shouldn't have been in there in the first place. I THINK if you check your facts, I was saying that at the time, and even after his 80 odd in SAF, I was still saying that he wasn't good enough.

Nnanden's point about people changing their ideal XI every five minutes is spot on if you ask me. Either the guys you pick are good enough or they're not. The only black spot for my ideal XI is that Vincent would usually be in mine, but after 6 or 7 failures, his neck in my XI is on the line now. I would not change my XI based on 1 single innings.

 

[Athlai]

Na Heathster I think if we were able to field our best possible team there would be far less knee jerking. Our replacements for Franklin and Bond are hardly anything to write home about and other than Mills our seam line up looks woeful.

Our batting is weaker with the losses of McMillan, Fleming, Astle and the injured Fulton.

I think the current instability of the team itself is what is making us feel so ready to chop and change. The national team itself changes every match.

 

[Flem274*]

I wasn't knee jerking. How shouldn't have been in there in the first place. I THINK if you check your facts, I was saying that at the time, and even after his 80 odd in SAF, I was still saying that he wasn't good enough.

Nnanden's point about people changing their ideal XI every five minutes is spot on if you ask me. Either the guys you pick are good enough or they're not. The only black spot for my ideal XI is that Vincent would usually be in mine, but after 6 or 7 failures, his neck in my XI is on the line now. I would not change my XI based on 1 single innings.

Two innings

How doesn't need to be the most talented player in the world, if he does what he did against SA he'll be fine.

 

[Nate]

After taking Voltman's suggested uppercut from myself, things seem clearer. Apologies for the harshness of my posts in the thread. Blame it on my ankle, the weather and Styris' two fours off Bracken. But yeah, sorry.

Is Paul Hitchcock any good? Have just read a few articles on him, gathered that he's a leg-spinning all-rounder? Sounds promising. Vaguely remember him from ICC.

 

[Laurrz]

who should/will open with haydos?

 

[Fiery]

who should/will open with haydos?

Lawry

 

[Fiery]

Is Paul Hitchcock any good? Have just read a few articles on him, gathered that he's a leg-spinning all-rounder? Sounds promising. Vaguely remember him from ICC.

Are you extracting the Michael? He nearly 33 so "promising" not the right word. He hasn't played this season. I think he may have retired? Can anyone confirm?
Anyway he wasn't a leg-spinner. His batting improved out of sight last year. He has played 13 ODIs already btw

 

[Prince EWS]

who should/will open with haydos?

Hopefully not Haddin. There's a reason his form for NSW went through the roof when he stopped opening the batting: he's not very good at it. Personally I think any decent opening bowling would have him for breakfast, although I fear the same for Michael Clarke anyway really. Whoever opens with Hayden, I'd be betting on Kyle Mills getting them early. Out of the current lineup I'd probably open with Hopes just as to not waste Haddin or Clarke.

 

[Nate]

Nah, rate Clarke opening tbh. Hope he does.

 

[cameeel]

Open the batting with Clarke, and bring in David Hussey for Gilchrist

 

[Prince EWS]

Open the batting with Clarke, and bring in David Hussey for Gilchrist

 

[Laurrz]

Hopefully not Haddin. There's a reason his form for NSW went through the roof when he stopped opening the batting: he's not very good at it. Personally I think any decent opening bowling would have him for breakfast, although I fear the same for Michael Clarke anyway really. Whoever opens with Hayden, I'd be betting on Kyle Mills getting them early. Out of the current lineup I'd probably open with Hopes just as to not waste Haddin or Clarke.

ooo thats what i was thinking

Pup Huss and Haddin are all really good in the middle

id go with Hopes .. If Mills gets it in the right place i can see him getting him out easily too... the kiwi pacemen will be so so so happy to not see Gilly

 

[Mister Wright]

I'm loving the fact that the 3rd game is on Thursday. I just assumed it was on Tuesday and I'd miss it because of work. I'm working until Wednesday, but have Thursday off because my car is in getting work done. Was wondering what I was going to do, now I know. Just praying for no rain now.

 

[Smudge]

After taking Voltman's suggested uppercut from myself, things seem clearer. Apologies for the harshness of my posts in the thread. Blame it on my ankle, the weather and Styris' two fours off Bracken. But yeah, sorry.

My brand of toughlove usually works.

Is Paul Hitchcock any good? Have just read a few articles on him, gathered that he's a leg-spinning all-rounder? Sounds promising. Vaguely remember him from ICC.

Medium-pace bowler who specialised as a death bowler, attempting to bowl yorkers. Had mixed success at international level. In saying that, I think he was discarded a little quickly - obviously doesn't fit in with Bracewell's plans.

http://content-www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/37263.html

 

[Flem274*]

I don't even remember Hitchcock playing TBH. He looks a better bet than Gillespie for ODI's so why not give him a recall though if he didn't play last year as someone suggested then maybe not.

 

[Craig]

I could be at cover point watching your avatar all day long. Best avatar ever? Yes IMO.

 

[Craig]

I'm loving the fact that the 3rd game is on Thursday. I just assumed it was on Tuesday and I'd miss it because of work. I'm working until Wednesday, but have Thursday off because my car is in getting work done. Was wondering what I was going to do, now I know. Just praying for no rain now.

Same I finish work that day and I'm out of there by 11am at the the latest as well.

 

[pup11]

Nah, rate Clarke opening tbh. Hope he does.

Yeah Clarke could do well opening the batting as he has done in the past (except for two ducks recently in India) but still he is too valuable for us as a no.4, he holds things together brilliantly while batting in the middle-order, rotates the strike well and builds big partnerships through the middle overs and he doesn't let the spinners settle down into a rhythm either, so i would prefer having him at 4.

 

[Somerset]

I don't even remember Hitchcock playing TBH. He looks a better bet than Gillespie for ODI's so why not give him a recall though if he didn't play last year as someone suggested then maybe not.

I remember him playing most of the ODI games in the West Indies in 2002 tbh. Rated him at the time after his performances before disappearing from international selection and is opening the batting for Auckland in one day games. Would've prefered to have seen him concentrate on his bowling really.

 

[Somerset]

Yeah Clarke could do well opening the batting as he has done in the past (except for two ducks recently in India) but still he is too valuable for us as a no.4, he holds things together brilliantly while batting in the middle-order, rotates the strike well and builds big partnerships through the middle overs and he doesn't let the spinners settle down into a rhythm either, so i would prefer having him at 4.

Just a quick thought on the Australian opening situation, is Michael Hussey not an opener? I had the impression he played the majority of his domestic cricket there before finally being selected for Australia.