***Official West Indies in New Zealand***

[Beamer]

That was a horrible performance from the West Indies, from start to finish.

A good tight Kiwi bowling and fielding performance + awful West Indies batting + bad umpiring from Benson + 2 crucial dropped catches = humiliation

They are still capable of winning this series on the back of performances from Gayle, Sarwan and Shiv as they are the 3 best batsmen in this series, but it is unlikely to happen and there is no way we will improve as a team until some of the others start performing.

The regional season that is about to start is absolutely vital to our progress as we desperately need some players to put their hands up and force the deadweights like Powell, Findlay and Pollard out of the team.

Btw Powell has to be dropped for that shot he played when Shiv was at the other end. I don't care about 3 wickets gifted to him by poor shots, enough is enough.

 

[roseboy64]

Powell's not a batsman. That alone ruins your entire argument.

 

[Beamer]

Powell's not a batsman. That alone ruins your entire argument.

A test average of 46, a ODI average of 33, combined with a terrible attitude when batting supports my argument. He is a West Indian cricketer and he has let Shiv down too many times.

 

[Polo23]

Powell's not a batsman. That alone ruins your entire argument.

Everyone in the team is a batsman, bowlers included. Powell had a job to do for the best batsman in the team, and he showed how much of a selfish idiot he is. While I don't think he should get dropped (he was gifted the 3 wickets that fell) he needs a serious talking to.

 

[Polo23]

Guptill added to the 12 man squad for the last two ODI's at the expense of How. Good call on the behalf of the selectors. How needs a break from the national team and needs to start scoring some domestic runs.

My XI for Auckland would now be:

Ryder
McCullum
Guptill
Taylor
Flynn
Broom
Elliott
Vettori
Mills
Southee
Gillespie/Patel (depending on pitch)

Pretty sure they'll go with both Broom and Guptill given Ryder showed he was more than capable with the ball in Wellington, and Elliott can offer a few handy overs. A shame to see Broom at 6 though...

 

[roseboy64]

A test average of 46, a ODI average of 33, combined with a terrible attitude when batting supports my argument. He is a West Indian cricketer and he has let Shiv down too many times.

Everyone in the team is a batsman, bowlers included. Powell had a job to do for the best batsman in the team, and he showed how much of a selfish idiot he is. While I don't think he should get dropped (he was gifted the 3 wickets that fell) he needs a serious talking to.

Yes he should do better with the bat. That shouldn't matter much on his selection in this situation though. If a bowler who's doing well similarly with the ball but better with the bat is up for his position then he should be dropped. He's doing main job well enough in ODIs. In Tests though he should be dropped.

 

[S.P. Fleming]

I wouldnt open with Mcullum, he has been overly agressive and needs to settle down. It would also give marty guptill an oppurtunitty opening. I think Elliot/Ryder can do at least ten between them so I would like to see Broom in for Oram. This comes to...

Ryder
Guptill
Flynn
Taylor
Broom
McCullum
Elliott
Vettori
Mills
Southee
Patel

 

[_Ed_]

Guptill added to the 12 man squad for the last two ODI's at the expense of How.

That's a shame for How, hope he can find some form at domestic level. Fantastic to see Guptill in there though.

 

[Athlai]

Guptill
Ryder
Flynn
Taylor
Broom
McCullum
Elliot
Vettori
Mills
Southee
Patel

Would prefer a top 3 of something like-
How-McCullum then Ryder
or Guptill-How then Ryder

As I think that could give it a bit of balance to the team in mixing up our genuine stroke players with good turners of the strike. Yet giving How a rest is probably a good idea. I hope McCullum gets put down the order to strengthen our lower order though, let Two toes, BFJ, Flynn and Rossco take care of the first 20-30 overs.

 

[Polo23]

McCullum isnt going to be put down the order. In fact, i'm confused as to why you guys want him down the order...he was the best opening batsman in ODI cricket last year, he has started this year with a couple of lowish scores, and you guys want to move him back to where he averaged 20 odd?

While I do agree he needs to take a bit more time to get in, and perhaps save the walk down the pitch until he feels comfortable at the crease, something as drastic as putting him back to number 7 isn't necessary.

 

[Athlai]

McCullum isnt going to be put down the order. In fact, i'm confused as to why you guys want him down the order...he was the best opening batsman in ODI cricket last year, he has started this year with a couple of lowish scores, and you guys want to move him back to where he averaged 20 odd?

While I do agree he needs to take a bit more time to get in, and perhaps save the walk down the pitch until he feels comfortable at the crease, something as drastic as putting him back to number 7 isn't necessary.

It's more of a strengthening the end due to the loss of Oram than demoting McCullum.

My ideal opening combination wouldn't contain Ryder but be more like How-McCullum, McCullum-Guptill yet when Oram isn't in the team and Ryder (who should be a no.3 IMO) a player best used up the order ready to hold the aggressive opening slot we may as well let Baz cover Big Jake's spot.

 

[thierry henry]

Has anyone else noticed how Gayle seems to play Mills with an almost excessive level of respect and caution?

 

[Athlai]

Has anyone else noticed how Gayle seems to play Mills with an almost excessive level of respect and caution?

From 5 matches they've played against each other Mills has got him 3 times.

Bowled
LBW
Caught off WK

Bet Gayle would hate getting out like that. And in matches involving Mills his HS is 36, the other dismissal's being bowled by both Bond and Vettori.

 

[thierry henry]

It just seems like Gayle conspicuously deadbats everything Mills bowls at him, no matter how pedestrian, yet he seems happy to throw his bat at Southee.

Nice to see signs of Mills getting into that class where batsmen start to worry that every ball he bowls is a hand grenade.

 

[Athlai]

It just seems like Gayle conspicuously deadbats everything Mills bowls at him, no matter how pedestrian, yet he seems happy to throw his bat at Southee.

Nice to see signs of Mills getting into that class where batsmen start to worry that every ball he bowls is a hand grenade.

One of the better spells of his career was that one though.

 

[roseboy64]

Could be a combo of how Mills bowls and how Gayle bats.

 

[Polo23]

Gayle also seems unable to pick Mills slower ball...that could be coming into it also. He knows the slower ball is coming at some point, but isnt sure when, so he doesnt want to throw the bat at it and be early on the shot. Southee bowls significantly less slower balls, and perhaps they are easier to pick.

 

[S.P. Fleming]

I really hope the dropping of How is them more telling him to take a break and find some form domestically before returning to the side rather than a complete"your not good enough" type of dropping.

 

[Polo23]

I really hope the dropping of How is them more telling him to take a break and find some form domestically before returning to the side rather than a complete"your not good enough" type of dropping.

How could it possibly be a "you're not good enough" dropping when Turner himself said they wanted How to return to domestic cricket and regain the form they know he can produce.

It's just a "take a break and get some confidence back" dropping. Though in saying that it gives Guptill a chance and if he impresses could be pushing for How's spot in the test team.

 

[Days of Grace]

Would Kyle Mills make an alltime New Zealand ODI XI?