**Official** New Zealand in Australia

[Matt79]

I think the only problem is, given the kind of outing both Clarke and Haddin have had now as openers, it would be very hard for the team-management to demote them in the batting order, especially for someone like Hopes.

So i guess until Marsh and Watson make a comeback, they are pretty much going to be the makeshift openers.

Haddin was noticeably cool on the idea of opening permanently in ODIs when asked about it during the game tonight. Made it pretty clear he likes batting in the middle order more than the top. I'd be pretty certain that's Clarke's preference as well. Agree that while Marsh and Watson are injured, they might need to suck it up and do it for the team, but it's surely only a short term thing.

They need Hopes in the team at the moment, and they need to lose one of White or D. Hussey - putting one of the middle order players currently opening back into the middle order in their stead, giving Hopes his preference of batting spot and settling once and for all whether he can play a role with the bat, and getting a proper 5th bowler seems to be win/win/win.

 

[Matt79]

Yeah, but why bring him up now when the squad's been named? It's like you actually looked at the squad and thought "What? No Noffke?!?!" which would be, at best, stupid, if you knew why he hasn't been getting picked before. His situation hasn't changed, so he's not going to get a game.

I think he deserves a chance as well but if we have to have the same discussion every time the selectors name a team he isn't in, it's going to get a bit tiresome. In fact, it already is. I think it's time we accept he isn't going to play and move on.

Kinda like arguing that its a stupid decision of the selectors, on on-field records, not to have selected Symonds. It's hard to argue against, but we all know that's not why he's not in the team.

 

[pup11]

White is 6, 7? years younger than David and has done enough to show that he's got the potential to be a long term part of the team. They just need to stop making him bowl.

David Hussey has unfortunately this summer done all he can to show he'll always be Dannii to Mike's Kylie...

Seriously don't agree with this, White has shown nothing to suggest he can nail a place in the Australian middle order atm, whereas Dussey might have have shown some indifferent form, but still he has shown enough class playing for Victoria and occasionally for Australia, that he deserves a longer run.

White either needs to work on his lower order batting, or he needs to go back playing for Victoria and score heavily to put his claim for a middle order slot in the Australia team.

 

[pup11]

Haddin was noticeably cool on the idea of opening permanently in ODIs when asked about it during the game tonight. Made it pretty clear he likes batting in the middle order more than the top. I'd be pretty certain that's Clarke's preference as well. Agree that while Marsh and Watson are injured, they might need to suck it up and do it for the team, but it's surely only a short term thing.

They need Hopes in the team at the moment, and they need to lose one of White or D. Hussey - putting one of the middle order players currently opening back into the middle order in their stead, giving Hopes his preference of batting spot and settling once and for all whether he can play a role with the bat, and getting a proper 5th bowler seems to be win/win/win.

Clarke (who btw is always very keen to play as an opener) and Haddin are the most viable options for Australia until Marsh and Watson comeback, and i don't think they would really break that opening partnership now just to get Hopes in there, if they wanted to do that, they would have done that today itself, by opening the innings with Clarke-Hopes, instead of Clarke-Haddin.

I think Haddin opening the batting allows Australia to pick an extra bowler, without having to drop Hopes, so ireally don't see the need of making Hopes open the batting now.

 

[Matt79]

Except Haddin's not mad about it, and has done better in List A in the middle order in recent times...

 

[Prince EWS]

Except Haddin's not mad about it, and has done better in List A in the middle order in recent times...

Yeah, but if they wanted Hopes to open, he would have done so today. Opening with Haddin, watching him score a ton and then swapping him with the guy who batted 7 doesn't really make much sense. I was in favour of Hopes opening before today but it's not going to happen.

Obviously when Marsh and Watto are fit, they should open, but Haddin gave himself a chance (whether he wants it or not) to open today with that ton.

 

[pup11]

Except Haddin's not mad about it, and has done better in List A in the middle order in recent times...

So who's saying he should be permanent opening batsman, all i am saying he and Clarke would be opening the inning until Marsh and Watson comeback, it would be pretty ridiculous to throw Hopes in as the opener now.

 

[PhoenixFire]

I really hope Aus stick it to NZ and give them a real thumping in the next ODI. Doubt that it will happen, but it would make good viewing.

 

[oldmancraigy]

Agree with this - and when Watson is fit again, he comes in as a straight swap for Hopes and it looks even better..

Except that Hopes is one of our best one day cricketers at the moment...

He's got the best career economy rate of any of the bowlers we could pick.
He's got the best economy rate of any bowler in this series (yes - that includes Vettori)
He's taken the third most wickets in this series of any bowler in either team.

Hopes picks himself as a bowler - the fact that he can bat a little bit is an absolute bonus really. When Watson comes back, sure he should fit into the team, but NOT at the expense of Hopes.

Watson
Clarke
Ponting
Haddin
Ferguson
M Hussey
White?
Hopes
Johnson
Lee
Bracken

A "fully fit best XI" could look something like that.
And there's no spinner, because there's simply none worth picking

 

[Flem274*]

I really hope Aus stick it to NZ and give them a real thumping in the next ODI. Doubt that it will happen, but it would make good viewing.

Still won't make lower totals than england

Anyway, C9 labelled Elliott a "talent" so all the guys known for being talented are handy and Harris mkII is a talent.

Love C9 logic, always keeps me entertained.

 

[PhoenixFire]

I love Elliot as a player. Always gives the impression that despite not being hugely talented (like someone like Bell), he can still grind out runs and be pretty sucessfull (unlike someone like Bell).

 

[Flem274*]

Everybody loves Ian Bell.

 

[Mixmasterreece]

SO that 'talent' Gareth Hopkins is being flown over to lead us to glory again.....

Why not Watling instead? He can't do any worse.

 

[Flem274*]

SO that 'talent' Gareth Hopkins is being flown over to lead us to glory again.....

Why not Watling instead? He can't do any worse.

And Watling used to be a wk.

I actualy like Hopkins, think he's under-achieved, but he'll never be better than a good wicketkeeper who can average 20 in tests and 15 in ODIs I'm afraid.

 

[Mixmasterreece]

strong rumour that Styris may be back in black tomorrow.

Mixed feelings about this, Styris' time is over in the black caps as far as I'm concerned. Don't know who you'd drop for him?
* Guptil - would be harsh
* Broom - Unthinkable
*Fulton - Most likely candidate, but looked good last night

 

[MoxPearl]

would have to be fulton imho.

Gun of a photo

Btw if mcculum cant play... who takes the gloves ???? hopkins ??

 

[Matt52]

strong rumour that Styris may be back in black tomorrow.

Mixed feelings about this, Styris' time is over in the black caps as far as I'm concerned. Don't know who you'd drop for him?
* Guptil - would be harsh
* Broom - Unthinkable
*Fulton - Most likely candidate, but looked good last night

Surely they would have him as a replacement for McCullum. If your'e gonna play Hopkins then you have to have an extra batsman to cover. If not, I think we're a batsman short anyway. Its kinda been a miracle that we've scored these runs.

Mills at 7 is scary IMO. Longest tail Ive ever seen in an NZ ODI team.
If McCullum is fit, then drop one of the bowlers, and bat Styris at 6 or 7 and get 10 overs out of Styris and Elliott.

McCullum
Guptill
Fulton,
Taylor
Elliott
Broom
Styris
Vettori
Mills
Southee/Patel
OBrien/Patel

 

[slugger]

RE: Styris... against aust. he avg 19.70 this is from a 2000-2007 from 25 inn top score 101 ..it was a pretty important 100 he scored that in the chase of 332 of a c&h match. mind you. but i cant see how you can walk into a team with avg like that ..

 

[inbox24]

There's really no point in changing the squad if;

1. They gonna stick with just 3 specialist bowlers
2. If they don't use the new players

Which seems to be a pattern that the selectors have entered into.

 

[Matt52]

RE: Styris... against aust. he avg 19.70 this is from a 2000-2007 from 25 inn top score 101 ..it was a pretty important 100 he scored that in the chase of 332 of a c&h match. mind you. but i cant see how you can walk into a team with avg like that ..

Mmmmm. Good point. I think his time is up but I think we just need another batsman in the side, whoever it is.