**Official** New Zealand in England

[Flem274*]

Going on that theory, we should have an XI of:

1. N Parlane
2. J Marshall
3. Todd
4. Flynn
5. G Hay
6. Myburgh
7. Weston+
8. Southee
9. Hiini
10. Scott
11. McKay

IIRC, all under thirty, and all with some of the best records this season in NZ FC. Fills both 'potential' and 'current form'.

Slight problem with that team. In class the other day Mr Ingram (the great Peter Ingram who scored a ton today ) says Weston can't wicketkeep anymore due to back injury.

 

[Prince EWS]

Slight problem with that team. In class the other day Mr Ingram (the great Peter Ingram who scored a ton today ) says Weston can't wicketkeep anymore due to back injury.

Haha, that'd be the best class I reckon. State Championship class.

 

[Flem274*]

Haha, that'd be the best class I reckon. State Championship class.

He was filling in for our normal teacher. He spent half the class telling us to shut up and work, failing miserably.

 

[Leslie1]

Funny that, I forgot that first class cricketers still have their part time job to go back to.

 

[NZTailender]

Don't know if you're trying to be smartass here or what.

Obviously I am referring to filling the current 'problem positions', not the whole bloody team.

If someone is performing at the top level in accordance with expectations like most of the Blackcaps are, you don't replace them with someone who had a good season in the shield for the sake of it.

Actually I'm just going to stop here as it's obvious your only intent is to troll.

Haha, was a sarcastic reply. It annoys me when people pick on form ignoring their overall record or abilities. Obviously current form has to be taken into consideration, but someone with better career and actual ability>>>someone with a recent double century but overall bad record.

 

[Halfpast_Yellow]

Granted, I wouldn't put in McIntosh for example. However I would be equally wary about the way Fulton is going. Serious risk picking players who can't buy runs hoping they'll just 'come right' at the right time.

 

[NZTailender]

Granted, I wouldn't put in McIntosh for example. However I would be equally wary about the way Fulton is going. Serious risk picking players who can't buy runs hoping they'll just 'come right' at the right time.

There's warm up matches in which I imagine Fulton will play (if he goes). I think those in question for the first test lineup should be picked for that first test based on how they go in the warm ups, rather than our Domestic season which drawing to a close.

Basically, I hope they reward current domestic performances of those with ability and good experience to get on the plane to England, but then those have to prove themselves when in England to make the side.

 

[Leslie1]

Anyone read the latest news article about Dion Nash coming out slamming the communication issue? Wonder what you guys think of it?

Some interesting comments in there. Also heard on the radio that Braces talking about how he didn't mind the dual captaincy role, but he had lost the 'veto' ability by then.

Selectors: Glenn Turner, Dion Nash, Richard Hadlee (quitting after selecting NZ tour squad)

 

[Smudge]

Michael and Neal Parlane are 36 and 30 respectively. They are flat-track bullies who will never make the step-up. Can we please not ever have them mentioned in discussions about the Black Caps again? kthnxbye.

 

[Leslie1]

Yep, both betrayed ND and left for Wellington city.

 

[Flem274*]

Yep, both betrayed ND and left for Wellington city.

So did Matt Bell...

You better hope Marshall, Flynn and your best mate Vettori don't leave.





I love supporting a side with the best batting order in the country

 

[Leslie1]

Has there ever been any domestic side so pillaged. Is Hamilton really that boring to be in?

Add Tuffey and Styris to that list too.

 

[Richard]

Topping time?

The first game of the tour is just 4 weeks away...

 

[Leslie1]

I'll raise a topic to keep this thread fresh.

All rounders.

Not trying to undersell Oram's bowling too much, but is he ideal for a first change seamer?

By that I mean, when we play two spinners, and Oram is effectively the 3rd seamer, is it 'right' given that he's prone to injury to use him as the bowler who'd bowl a lot of 'stock overs' while the main seamers get a rest.

England uses Flintoff in a similar vein.

Oram never seems to favor his bowling. He prefers to bat. You can tell from his reactions to interviews after every test he's been in where he's bowled a bit too many. "I just bowl the boring stuff, etc..." I've never heard him enthused about wanting to bowl.

You can understand why too. He doesn't want to bowl if he can help it, because it'd mean he's more susceptible to injury as a result of a heavy workload in bowling. Having an extra 3rd specialist seamer means he can come in ALA Collingwood's bowling as utilized by Vaughan. First change is okay, provided he doesn't get bowled to the ground? You shorten an all rounder's career by bowling him to the ground as we found with Cairns.

I don't remember why Flintoff is off injured for so long, but here's a player that's similar in many ways to Oram, except he's also susceptible to injury.

 

[Brett Dale]

Cannot believe the first match of the tour is just four weeks away, perhaps they should of combined both series, for one large six test series.

Southee can only get better, hopefully Ryder will have his head screwed on straight, and if Martin can use the conditions, we may be okay.

 

[FBU]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=29&objectid=10501541

Originally he was meant to be out for 6 months coming back in June but he just might make a Test.

 

[Matt52]

Just to raise another topic here. I heard Mark Greatbatch during the test in Napier say that Greg Hay was actually an opener at youth level and he would have no hesitation in putting him up to open. He also said Hay was one of the best youngsters he had coached but apparently he struggles to hit it off the block. Sounds like a New Zealand opener.

I know this will get a few, "dont put middle order players up to open" posts but I think its a good idea. That would free up space in the middle order for Taylor, Ryder , Fulton, Oram, Broom, Nicol, Flynn, and whoever else.

 

[Smudge]

An Otago-centric piece (understandably) from the Otago Daily Times:

BLACK CAPS skipper Daniel Vettori believes at least five Otago players could go close to selection for the national side’s tour to England.

The test and one-day squads are due to be named later this week and Vettori yesterday hinted there could be some new names in the squads, particularly for the one-day series.

Asked if there were likely to be any surprises, Vettori said that depended on how closely cricket fans followed domestic cricket.

‘‘There are some names there who have been knocking on the door for a little while. Probably a couple of guys have got a chance in the one dayers.

‘‘They may be a surprise to some people. It’s inevitable that when guys haven’t performed there are going to be a few changes.’’

While Otago wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum is a given for both the test and one day squads, Vettori, when asked to comment on Otago representation for the tour, suggested at least four others could be looked at closely by the national selectors.

‘‘Looking purely at a one-day squad, I’ve heard good things about Neil Broom. I haven’t seen him play too much but all reports back say he’s a very good player.

‘‘Then you need to look at guys like Warren McSkimming and Bradley Scott who are having fantastic years again.

‘‘While they may not be considered for the test squad, I’m pretty sure they’re knocking on those one-day squads because it’s pretty important that you look at the guys who are succeeding at first class level.

‘‘They should be the guys who get a chance if people at the top aren’t performing.’’

Vettori said Otago opener Craig Cumming, who has suffered from New Zealand’s revolving door policy with test opening batsmen, would continue to be close to selection in the test squad.

Vettori had been in close contact with the national selectors and while he had no sway over final selections, his input was sought.

‘‘They’ve been great with me. They seem to value my opinion and they like to know my feelings on a player. I’ve got a good relationship with all four of them.

‘‘We get together and discuss it . . . I give them my thoughts and they take those to the selection meetings and work it out from there.’’

http://www.odt.co.nz/article.php?refid=2008,04,02,29,02902,c4fd29455408af02fbcec7723fa565c6&sect=6

 

[Leslie1]

Just to raise another topic here. I heard Mark Greatbatch during the test in Napier say that Greg Hay was actually an opener at youth level and he would have no hesitation in putting him up to open. He also said Hay was one of the best youngsters he had coached but apparently he struggles to hit it off the block. Sounds like a New Zealand opener.

I know this will get a few, "dont put middle order players up to open" posts but I think its a good idea. That would free up space in the middle order for Taylor, Ryder , Fulton, Oram, Broom, Nicol, Flynn, and whoever else.

Team to be announced tomorrow. Yeah, I heard that interview. Given our lack of openers around the country that can show that they can stick around scoring runs aside from Bell, who stands out like a beacon in domestic, but hasn't done it at test level.

I think Bell would still be there, and the absolute fringes Flynn and Hay would be competing for the number 4/5 spot with Taylor occupying one of that spot.

Current possible batting lineup:

How
Bell
Fulton
Flynn / Hay
Taylor
Oram (Elliot if Oram doesn't get fit in time)
McCullum wk
+ bowlers

Second possibility being talked about around the radio:

How
McCullum
Fulton
Flynn / Hay
Taylor
Oram
Gareth Hopkins wk
+bowlers

 

[Flem274*]

Just to raise another topic here. I heard Mark Greatbatch during the test in Napier say that Greg Hay was actually an opener at youth level and he would have no hesitation in putting him up to open. He also said Hay was one of the best youngsters he had coached but apparently he struggles to hit it off the block. Sounds like a New Zealand opener.

I know this will get a few, "dont put middle order players up to open" posts but I think its a good idea. That would free up space in the middle order for Taylor, Ryder , Fulton, Oram, Broom, Nicol, Flynn, and whoever else.

Erm can someone explain that term?

Hay may well be capable however in his firts test, when it comes, I'd like to see him start off in the middle order. Remember Lou Vincent?