NZTailender
I can't believe I ate the whole thing
Haha, oh dear.
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**Official** England in New Zealand
- Thread starter James
- Start date
Days of Grace
International Captain
I wouldn't mind Vincent getting another crack at opening. If you look at his record, it is pretty good (35 career average) relatively speaking. I mean, he pushes the score along at the top. Much like Sehwag i.m.o. Cumming just looks out of his depth and has a HUGE problem with playing around his pads.
Days of Grace
International Captain
Get the handbags out!!
Richard
Cricket Web Staff Member
Something else that occurred to me a few weeks ago - where on Earth has Matthew Bell been? Not had a look at his recent seasons' record (or even if he's actually been playing) but his career record remains impressive yet I've been told (and had no reason at all to doubt) of late that Cumming and Papps are clearly the best openers in New Zealand.
Smudge
Hall of Fame Member
Suppose you're the type to drive around with the flag of St George on your car aerial.
Days of Grace
International Captain
Papps has been the best opener in NZ domestic cricket for a couple of seasons now. But, as we have seen, it doesn't translate to international cricket (acutally feel sorry for the poor bloke, would have been interested what he would have done against Bangladesh as opposed to Steyn and Ntini).
Cumming has been just average, even in dometic cricket. But the selectors must like his fortitude or something, because he hasn't got the first-class record to back-up his selection.
Bell has been solid in domestic cricket for a few years now. Not outstanding, but consistent.
Cumming has been just average, even in dometic cricket. But the selectors must like his fortitude or something, because he hasn't got the first-class record to back-up his selection.
Bell has been solid in domestic cricket for a few years now. Not outstanding, but consistent.
Smudge
Hall of Fame Member
Was I talking to you? No.
NZTailender
I can't believe I ate the whole thing
Before his comeback his test average was 22. He was discarded after poor form in Australia in 2001 and since then worked to remodel his technique to try and get back into the Black Caps. Before he got recalled, Papps had a stellar season and was called up due to that (albeit a season too late) while How and Cumming were also tried. Now that it appears Papps simply isn't 'good enough' Bell was recalled due to his exceedingly good form in 2007.Something else that occurred to me a few weeks ago - where on Earth has Matthew Bell been? Not had a look at his recent seasons' record (or even if he's actually been playing) but his career record remains impressive yet I've been told (and had no reason at all to doubt) of late that Cumming and Papps are clearly the best openers in New Zealand.
Interesting to note, however, that Vincent with an average of 30 opening has been our best at the top of the order since Richardson - and yet isn't a specialist opener.
Though I believe Cumming and Bell are better than what their averages are and should be able to push them above 30...
Richard
Cricket Web Staff Member
No, no, sorry, was meaning his domestic record.
Captain Cricket
State Vice-Captain
Anyway back on topic:
English batsman > Chris Martin
English batsman > Chris Martin
Richard
Cricket Web Staff Member
Hmm, not sure about that TBH, Vincent averages just 22 from his second shot at opening onwards (ie, excluding that remarkable debut game at The WACA), passing 50 just 3 times. Since Richardson's retirement he's only opened once, too, and that in a makeshift role, scoring 4.
Richard
Cricket Web Staff Member
Nah... you were saying...
Captain Cricket
State Vice-Captain
I was saying that I was tired and I was going to bed. Was I not allowed to go to bed?
NZTailender
I can't believe I ate the whole thing
Indeed - he averages 45 at Wellington, and in 2006/07 he averaged 54 - which was overshadowed by Papps 1005 @ 91.No, no, sorry, was meaning his domestic record.
Amazingly though, Cumming has done anything of note in a while.
While Jamie How has been solid.
From that you would gather that Papps and Bell should be opening. Yet Papps was decimated by the South Africans (a team he hasn't had any success against) so you wonder if he really is test class? After all he's played 7 of his 8 tests against the South Africans so perhaps they're his bogey team. In his solitary test against England he scored 86 & 0 (the 0 being 9
)I think Cumming should be given the England tests to prove himself. If he fails, then I think he should be finally discarded.
NZTailender
I can't believe I ate the whole thing
Haha, excluding Zimbabwe. Of course
NZTailender
I can't believe I ate the whole thing
What, as batsmen? Or as cricketers in general?
Richard
Cricket Web Staff Member
You were saying you'd show me some strong evidence that that wasn't Shirley Manson.I was saying that I was tired and I was going to bed. Was I not allowed to go to bed?