**Official** New Zealand in England

[NZTailender]

I can't honestly believe anyone would consider opening with McCullum and playing Hopkins. I mean, who would be stupid enough to seriously think that?


Oh, wait...

 

[Bahnz]

I can't honestly believe anyone would consider opening with McCullum and playing Hopkins. I mean, who would be stupid enough to seriously think that?


Oh, wait...

I wouldn't bother playing Hopkins. There's no reason as far as I can see why McCullum couldn't bat in the top order and keep as well. As I said, he's done it before with moderate success. You could have a batting order like this...

Cumming
How
McCullum
Fulton
Taylor
Hay
Oram
Vettori
Mills
Southee
Martin

 

[Flem274*]

Interesting news today.

ND coach says Greg Hay is highly talented however he relies too much on scoring backward of square and doesn't play enough in the V and, like most inexperienced batsmen, can play loose shots. Now scoring options backward of square can be a strength, Daniel Vettori has been getting away with it for years and if Hay uses wise shot selection, he can too, however it would be great for him to play in the V alot more as well. Taylor is a good example of improvements made in scoring options.

James Marshall apparently has improved his technique, plays alot straighter and is mentally tougher than before.

Personally I have no idea anymore on who to select. What it seems to boil down to is we have plenty of middle order bats with high talent/potential but are flawed in some way (Todd I've posted on before). Good news is the flaws can be worked on if the batsman is willing to make the changes.

Oh and inside info tells me that Peter Ingram has not been selected.

 

[Smudge]

Interesting news today.

ND coach says Greg Hay is highly talented however he relies too much on scoring backward of square and doesn't play enough in the V and, like most inexperienced batsmen, can play loose shots. Now scoring options backward of square can be a strength, Daniel Vettori has been getting away with it for years and if Hay uses wise shot selection, he can too, however it would be great for him to play in the V alot more as well. Taylor is a good example of improvements made in scoring options.

James Marshall apparently has improved his technique, plays alot straighter and is mentally tougher than before.

So, in short, the, ahem, "news" is ND coach talks up his own player while putting down the rival to his charge's chances. Pardon me if I take this with a large grain of salt.

 

[Leslie1]

"That ND Coach" probably based his assessment on the fact that Hay got out cheaply both innings.

Not good timing. Gut feeling tells me the selectors will re-select Sinclair and one or two Otago bolters - so I think we can forget about Cd's Hay and ND's Flynn (one good season don't make you a good player).

 

[Flem274*]

So, in short, the, ahem, "news" is ND coach talks up his own player while putting down the rival to his charge's chances. Pardon me if I take this with a large grain of salt.

Yeah I did suspect that but Bryan Waddle has said that Hay isn't ready yet so I'm undecided.....not that Marshall instills any confidence in me.

Its Prince EWS fault, since he joined that Greg Hay Fan Club he's failed twice and been talked down by a commentator and a coach.

In reply to Leslie:

Yeah bad timing but IMO Todd is only "solid" and Broom has been a bit disappointing this season (or was it Nicol, I mix them up). Redmond or Cumming might get the openers slot, its anyones really since Bell has been rubbish.

If McCullum were to be a specialist batsman (he can't keep and bat surely, too much strain) and bat at three, where my gut feeling tells me he'd be best, that would solve a big problem. Hopkins is solid enough and it covers having Taylor, Hay, Flynn etc bat at three. Iw would probably only be a temporary measure as Myburgh looks the goods and one of the newbies may show they should bat higher up. If it were to be continued then De Boorder or Van Wyk should slip in ahead of Hopkins in a couple of years.

Hasn't Flynn played some List A at three? I haven't seen alot of him, how is he technically? Todd and Fulton IMO aren't up to number three atm, Sinclair...well we know all about him.

Its only opener number two and our number three that we need sorted. Hay or Flynn or whoever shouldn't have too many issues adjusting to number four/five.

 

[Leslie1]

To be honest, I don't know. I can only go by stats, and what other comentators and experts say about him. He hit a purple patch in List A that prompted his immediate rise to the 20 20 and ODI game.

So far this season he's got 6 tons and 2 50s. 3 tons coming from List A. And they weren't just 100s - 110... they were above 140s.

His first three seasons with ND are really poor to be honest. He's 22 now, so he started playing when he's 19. He's also the captain of 2004 U19s.

Other people might be able to chip in better. From what I know, he bats like Tim Ambrose from England. Don't quote me on that one lol.

But I reiterate, one season don't make a good batsman and he's had one 60+ average season out of 4 seasons to average 34 ish overall.

Edit: I thought the side gets named today (Thursday), but obviously not?

 

[sportychic33]

Side gets named Monday according to news reports today.

 

[Bahnz]

If McCullum were to be a specialist batsman (he can't keep and bat surely, too much strain)

Ummm...why not? As said he's done it before, at both first class and international level. He's already been doing it succesfully in ODI's for months. It's not like he's a frontline bowler asked to do the opening batting. Wicketkeeping isn't that much more physically and mentally draining than...say...standing in the slips for hours on end, as Fleming did for a decade straight.

 

[Leslie1]

I thought about this as well, but general consensus is that wicket keeping, you're always on your toes moving about to catch the ball, concentrating on not allowing byes, stumping. It's a lot to think about (mental strain).

Opening bat is similar, you really have to concentrate on the ball, and make sure you don't play balls that do not get anywhere near your stumps.

Has there ever been an opening bat who does wicket keeping as well in tests ever? Would be keen to know.

 

[Richard]

Not many regular. Our Norwegian friend Haakon Mork did some research on the subject a little while ago, I seem to recall, however, and I'm sure when he reads this he will link \ post again.

 

[Leslie1]

*bump (when are we going to sticky this thread?)

When is the England Squad named? And would we expect Flintoff to be back? (I asked this many times sorry)

If Flintoff comes back to that team, which bowler/batsman would you drop?

 

[Somerset]

Heard on the news this morning that Flintoff is expected to be back for the test series. Will be most interesting to see the England side's composition if that proves to be correct, I'd say Paul Collingwood would be most at risk at the moment.

 

[Prince EWS]

If a batsman is dropped for Flintoff, the England team will be worse off than in is now as far as I'm concerned. Regardless of how well he bowls, what he takes away from the batting is enormous.

 

[Richard]

Flintoff should no way bat at six in Test cricket - ever. Nor am I exactly enthused with the idea of Ambrose doing so currently.

Nor, FTM, am I enthused at the idea of Flintoff returning for the First Test. There's no way we can get a remotely accurate gauge of his fitness in a whole, what, 2 months - that I think is about how long he's been bowling for again.

Should he be fit at some point to return long-term, I'd want him to replace a bowler.

 

[Days of Grace]

Straight swap really - Flintoff in for Anderson.

Flintoff to bat at 7 or 8. And all of a sudden this English side is looking the goods (providing Freddie can bowl at least 15 overs a day).

 

[GIMH]

Strauss
Cook
Vaughan*
Pietersen
Bell
Collingwood
Flintoff
Ambrose
Broad
Sidebottom
Panesar

Think most CWers would have Ambrose batting ahead of Flintoff, but I doubt that that will ever happen. Then again, if Flintoff plays, it probably would be as part of a 5-man attack. Don't particularly fancy dropping any of the top six tbh

edit - hadn't seen DOG's psot when i posted this, looks like he agrees mind you

 

[Days of Grace]

He almost does...

I would drop Strauss and make Vaughan open with Cook. Bell to no.3.

Vaughan
Cook
Bell
Pietersen
Collingwood
Flintoff
Ambrose (wk)
Broad
Sidebottom
Hoggard
Panasar

Hmmm, short on batting now, but not too bad as you have Broad at no.8.

Bell batting at no.3 in a test match anyone??

 

[Richard]

Don't want Bell at three, don't want Vaughan opening. These are two things I'll avoid at all costs in any team which I'm picking\recommending.

Also, it's pointless to suggest Strauss won't be (given fitness) in the team for the opening Test. There's no way anything else will be countenanced. Let's hope this results in he and Cook walking out first with Vaughan next.

TBH, I'd also be far happier with Ambrose ahead of Flintoff. I wouldn't count it out, either - if he can produce enough innings of calibre, then he'll force even the most embedded ideas to be reconsidered.

 

[FBU]

Strike Rates -

South Africa - Ntini, Steyn, Morkel, Kallis, Harris - 289.0
Australia - Lee, Clark, Johnson, Symonds, McGill - 293.9
India - Khan, RPSingh, Pathan, Kumble, Harbhajan - 304.5
New Zealand - Martin, Mills, Southee, Oram, Vettori - 320.1

England (4 bowlers) - Sidebottom, Broad, Flintoff, Collingwood, Panesar - 347.9
England (5 bowlers) - Sidebottom, Hoggard, Broad, Flintoff, Panesar - 322.7