**Official** England in New Zealand

[Leslie1]

Word is Franklin won't make it injury wise through practice matches, let alone thrusting him back as soon as he's fit with no cricket behind him into the first test.

The bowlers are already confirmed -

(Order of preference)
1. Mills
2. Martin
3. Mason / Gillespie - one of which will miss out on the tour altogether.
4. Southee - great debut, but he'll still make way for the incumbents

Maybe drag half-fit Franklin as all-rounder cover, but what would be the point of that.

I get this feeling Bell will make the tour (due to lack of openers) so here's a few confirmed:

Jamie How
Ross Taylor
the "Big 3" of Oram, McCullum and Vettori
Matthew Bell
Greg Hay - definite
Daniel Flynn - definite - Hadlee in his last hoorah as the selector and he's been watching this kid like a hawk - like Southee. Instrumental in Flynn getting the shock selection in the lone ODI. Plus regular big runs this season, he's also done his time in the first class scene.
Not many batting positions left after the above.
Peter Fulton is injured AGAIN....

 

[Prince EWS]

Daniel Flynn - definite

That's so dire. If you must drop Sinclair, at least drop him for someone who justifies a place. One good season and FC average of 31.62 (less than Sinclair's Test average!) should not get you in the team. It'd be a change for the sake of change rather than for betterment. If Sinclair isn't still a better batsman than this bloke, I'd be highly surprised, bad home series or not.

If Sinclair gets dropped for Hay or Fulton, that's understandable. I'd be very upset with the whole thing anyway, bordering on completely distraught, but the selection would be completely justified and I wouldn't argue it. Flynn... no, just no.

 

[Flem274*]

I love Tim Southee

Good interview on the news with Greg Hay today. In the shots I watched we might actualy have a batsman that MOVES HIS FEET!!!

Very good attitude too, very positive and determined. Fairly sure he's on the plane to England.

So, the series. At the start of the tests, no one gave us a chance. On the whole even though we lost I feel some big improvements have been made, starting with the emergence of:

Jamie How
Ross Taylor
Tim Southee
Kyle Mills

All have shown the can perform at test level. Its excellent to see a stoic opener in How. He's not especially talented but he has a brain, some heart and a solid technique. He won't be amazing but if he even has half the toughness of Richardson he'll be pretty decent.

Obviously we need to work on our concentration and find another opener (which Hay is not BTW) but we've come a fair way.

 

[Leslie1]

That's so dire. If you must drop Sinclair, at least drop him for someone who justifies a place. One good season and FC average of 31.62 (less than Sinclair's Test average!) should not get you in the team. It'd be a change for the sake of change rather than for betterment. If Sinclair isn't still a better batsman than this bloke, I'd be highly surprised, bad home series or not.

If Sinclair gets dropped for Hay or Fulton, that's understandable. I'd be very upset with the whole thing anyway, bordering on completely distraught, but the selection would be completely justified and I wouldn't argue it. Flynn... no, just no.

If Daniel Flynn can't average past 10 in his last 20 innings playing for New Zealand in tests, then he's no better than Sinclair. Because that is essentially where the comparison should be. We all know domestic cricket stats is of no consequence when it comes to being able to foot it in the highest level.

Jesse Ryder wasn't setting the world on fire when he got picked for ODIs, yet he's now a near certainty when he comes back from injury.

Give Flynn a go. There must be a reason why Hadlee gives such glowing praise for this kid. He picked Southee and the kid gets a 5-for for his vision.

 

[Leslie1]

I love Tim Southee

Lol. So do Hadlee, Lillee and the organisers of the U19 world cup.

I've listened to his interviews and also how Deepak Patel (his coach for U19s) talks about him:

(paraphrasing)
Great head on his shoulders, doesn't get too far ahead of himself. Grew up in a tough upbringing from men of high integrity in the north. Works harder than anyone else in the U19 side and proves that you can make it in the highest level if you put your head down and work.

He also was pretty severe on himself in the first innings bowling saying that he bowled a few that he didn't want to repeat again. Thats from a 5-55 effort, and he still picked his faults.

The only issue I see with him is too much too fast. Should not start in the tests unless injury forces his selection.

 

[Tim]

I get the feeling the selectors will want a left-hander somewhere in that top order so that immediately gives McIntosh and Greg Todd an advantage.

Todd has an average of 38 with 4 centuries and 9 half-centuries after 35 odd matches. Not bad compared to other top order players around NZ and I think he could he a surprise selection.

I also think Greg Hay will be selected. Mark Greatbatch said the other day he is technically one of the best players he had seen at youth level while he was coaching C.D and so far in first class cricket he's backed up that claim.

I have no idea who the selectors to pick but my 15 (ready for the first test):

Jamie How
Tim McIntosh
Ross Taylor
Daniel Flynn
Greg Hay
Peter Fulton
Jacob Oram
Brendon McCullum
Daniel Vettori
Tim Southee
Jeetan Patel
Chris Martin
Kyle Mills
Michael Mason
Bradley Scott

I had to think about the top order long and hard but I guess maybe they should give McIntosh a crack to see what he can do at the highest level.
Flynn's had success in both one dayers and four dayers for N.D this season so Id see him being selected ahead of Todd.
I like the look of Brad Scott as a left armer, he looks pretty good if you ask me, especially in English conditions.

 

[Somerset]

Firstly a word on Southee - outstanding. I wonder if a recognised batsman had been at the other end, á la Cairns in 2002, if England would've started to become a little worried. When Chris Martin's at the crease I guess the same fear is never an issue.

Congrats to England. Its been an entertaining series though the better side won. As I said in my post last night, New Zealand need to start making starts into big scores, and for players to lead the bowling attack as Sidebottom did for England, well assisted by the rest (after the first test obviously).

My 15 for the tour of England would be:
How, Bell, Ryder, Fulton, Taylor, Elliott, Oram, McCullum, Hopkins, Vettori, Mills, Southee, Patel, Martin with the 15th member, depending on fitness, either Mason or Franklin.

Most of the squads posted already fail to include a back-up keeper to McCullum. I highly doubt Bracewell will risk bringing his side to England for a two month tour with no back up to Brendon (remember in the past at least the likes of Vincent, Sinclair and Papps were potential back ups).

 

[Somerset]

I get the feeling the selectors will want a left-hander somewhere in that top order so that immediately gives McIntosh and Greg Todd an advantage.

I had to think about the top order long and hard but I guess maybe they should give McIntosh a crack to see what he can do at the highest level.
Flynn's had success in both one dayers and four dayers for N.D this season so Id see him being selected ahead of Todd.
I like the look of Brad Scott as a left armer, he looks pretty good if you ask me, especially in English conditions.

I'd love to see a left hander in the mix but I don't think McIntosh has done enough to cement a spot. Todd am uncertain on. Ryder would be my pick, providing his hand has recovered from the incident. Daniel Flynn may be worth the punt given his performances in domestic cricket for ND in the earlier part of the season but, again, I can't see him being included in the squad.

By the way Tim, great to see 'Quiz Night' re-introduced to Radio Sport on a Wednesday night.

 

[Tim]

Ah yes, quiz night returns. I think im gonna be on in a couple of weeks with Alderson...good luck sneaking a cricket question past him!

 

[Somerset]

Ah yes, quiz night returns. I think im gonna be on in a couple of weeks with Alderson...good luck sneaking a cricket question past him!

Haha...am thinking of giving them a question tonight. Whos the quiz night team going to be? Kent Johns obviously the host...Alderson a weekly part of it?

D'Arcy, Goran (probably spelt wrong), Dale Budge and Ross were the previous quiz night team if I can remember correctly.

 

[Smudge]

Ah yes, quiz night returns. I think im gonna be on in a couple of weeks with Alderson...good luck sneaking a cricket question past him!

Sounds like a challenge...

 

[Leslie1]

I just want to see what people think of this statement by Vettori...

"Most middle-to-bottom orders are aggressive, but if the score is 50 for 4, it's tough," said Vettori. "I put it to the top order to find the runs to allow the bottom order to flourish. If we can find some openers and a No. 3 and 4, we can settle into a really good team. Until then we'll need a Ross or a Jacob [Oram] or a Brendon to get us out of the mire, as we've been in the last couple of Tests."

I'd say goodbyes to Bell and Sinclair if that's his thinking. How might be on a short string too from that statement. Fleming is number 3 and he's gone. Basically what I gather from that is they are now really considering trialling batsmen from 1-4 during the early part of the English tour.

 

[Tim]

It'll be Kent'o, Budgey & Brenton Vanissleroy tonight I think..I can't remember who the other one is.

If you listen late on tuesday nights, sometimes Kent gets me to run a lame ass trivia game where you can win great prizes.

 

[Gloucefan]

TG Southee (rhb) 77 40 4 9

I should have staid up...

Fair play to New Zealand for giving it a go.

Well done England.

 

[Halfpast_Yellow]

I just want to see what people think of this statement by Vettori...

"Most middle-to-bottom orders are aggressive, but if the score is 50 for 4, it's tough," said Vettori. "I put it to the top order to find the runs to allow the bottom order to flourish. If we can find some openers and a No. 3 and 4, we can settle into a really good team. Until then we'll need a Ross or a Jacob [Oram] or a Brendon to get us out of the mire, as we've been in the last couple of Tests."

I'd say goodbyes to Bell and Sinclair if that's his thinking. How might be on a short string too from that statement. Fleming is number 3 and he's gone. Basically what I gather from that is they are now really considering trialling batsmen from 1-4 during the early part of the English tour.

If How starts going backwards he'll be under some pressure. But he should be fine for now, given no one is banging down the door, he made a 92 and a start in the first test, got out to jaffa in welly, and looked okay Napier till he missed a straight one

 

[GIMH]

Played England

 

[pasag]

Congrats England, although I don't think there was really anything answered during the series and the same questions over a vast majority of the line up still remain. Entertaining series nonetheless, though it usually is in some form or another with England.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Played England indeed. Very happy with the series win. Although that Southee kid looks to be handy in the extreme. What an innings.

 

[GIMH]

Congrats England, although I don't think there was really anything answered during the series and the same questions over a vast majority of the line up still remain. Entertaining series nonetheless, though it usually is in some form or another with England.

Very true, I agree, I think I reflected this with my end of series marks for the players

 

[Agent TBY]

Wow, Southee.