*Official* Compaq Cup 2009 in Sri Lanka

[Raghav]

I think the NZ fans need to calm down a little - it's one loss in a situation where the odds were stacked against you when you lost the toss.

Last thing you want to do is move McCullum back down the order, his record opening (but not facing the 1st ball) is just what you need.

Marc, What about the Cricket Web Predictions League on your Signature...

Is it really back? Check it once............

 

[Zinzan]

Broom 6

Boom Boom Broom Broom yawn yawn. I keep hearing this, the reality is that had he played most games in recent times the same posters would probably be suggesting he be dropped.

I'll ask it again, what has he actually done at International Level?

In ODI's he's played 8 innings, twice not out & has the glorious batting average of 17, an exceedingly average strike-rate of 74 (for someone in the middle order) & a high score of just 29. Not to mention his T20 average of 15 from 4 games played.

Sure Oram's not striking the ball the way he was a couple of years ago, but to replace him with a player (who can't bowl for one) with the above stats at International level seems ludicrous to me.

What am I missing with Broom? The few times I have seen him bat, all I can remember is he looks decidedly shaky when he first comes to the wicket, (which ironically has been the main criticism of Oram of late), likes to play across the line & in the one innings he has played of note (when we won chasing against Oz last year), 2 of his 3 boundaries were edgy miscues.

 

[Prince EWS]

I keep hearing this, the reality is that had he played most games in recent times the same posters would probably be suggesting he be dropped.

Haha, this is so true.

 

[marc71178]

Marc, What about the Cricket Web Predictions League on your Signature...

Is it really back? Check it once............

No sorry - haven't got the time to do it any more.

If someone with better computing skills knew how to get it into a web based format that can be easily tied into excel etc then I guess it may return some day.

 

[straw man]

I think the NZ fans need to calm down a little - it's one loss in a situation where the odds were stacked against you when you lost the toss.

Last thing you want to do is move McCullum back down the order, his record opening (but not facing the 1st ball) is just what you need.

Agree with this. While it was a rubbish performance with the bat it's hard to point to individual players (it's our first ODI for ages after all). The pitch, the lights and the team selection were all a factor.

The experiment that started a while back of McCullum opening is still not really decided either way IMO. He's been decent and at times excellent, but I think generally struggles when he's not able to bat purely as a hitter and has to play a 'proper' innings. This seems to happen when it's a pitch on which a low score is par, if we lose early wickets at the other end, or if we bat first and they're not sure what the target should be.

If any opener were to be dropped down the order then IMO it would be Ryder, who still looks vulnerable against the new ball but would be more than capable at (for example) 6. Only problem is that would leave Guptill and McCullum opening, who are both right handed and are similar types of players.

 

[_Ed_]

Butler/Mills
Tuffey/O' Brien

In my opinion it should be

Mills
Butler/Tuffey/O'Brien

I know I'm a bit biased towards Mills, but I can't fathom why he wouldn't be an automatic selection in ODIs.

 

[straw man]

On another note, think that pitch would have suited Scott Styris down to the ground. Low and slow, where you can sit on the front foot all day. Think Piggy dreams of those.

This is true. However it's not going to happen as the selectors have obviously decided no more Styris.

 

[Prince EWS]

In my opinion it should be

Mills
Butler/Tuffey/O'Brien

I know I'm a bit biased towards Mills, but I can't fathom why he wouldn't be an automatic selection in ODIs.

Yeah, AWTA, although I'd wipe O'Brien's name off the ODI options list.

ODIs:

Bond
Mills
Butler/Tuffey
Vettori
McCullum/Oram/both

Tests:

O'Brien
Tuffey/Franklin (maybe Patel instead if it's a real turner.. but maybe not)
Martin
Vettori
Oram/Franklin/pick six batsmen and bowl Ryder

 

[Zinzan]

I think the NZ fans need to calm down a little - it's one loss in a situation where the odds were stacked against you when you lost the toss.

Last thing you want to do is move McCullum back down the order, his record opening (but not facing the 1st ball) is just what you need.

On the money there

 

[Athlai]

Boom Boom Broom Broom yawn yawn. I keep hearing this, the reality is that had he played most games in recent times the same posters would probably be suggesting he be dropped.

I'll ask it again, what has he actually done at International Level?

In ODI's he's played 8 innings, twice not out & has the glorious batting average of 17, an exceedingly average strike-rate of 74 (for someone in the middle order) & a high score of just 29. Not to mention his T20 average of 15 from 4 games played.

Sure Oram's not striking the ball the way he was a couple of years ago, but to replace him with a player (who can't bowl for one) with the above stats at International level seems ludicrous to me.

What am I missing with Broom? The few times I have seen him bat, all I can remember is he looks decidedly shaky when he first comes to the wicket, (which ironically has been the main criticism of Oram of late), likes to play across the line & in the one innings he has played of note (when we won chasing against Oz last year), 2 of his 3 boundaries were edgy miscues.

Because Oram is only going to get worse. I know Broom isn't a better batsman but we can't afford to have both in the team.

 

[Zinzan]

Because Oram is only going to get worse. I know Broom isn't a better batsman but we can't afford to have both in the team.

That sentence really isn't helpful to your argument

 

[Polo23]

Broom is quality.

 

[Athlai]

That sentence really isn't helpful to your argument

My argument is to play Broom at 6 instead of Oram. A batsman who could develop vs. a batsman who is getting progressively worse and offers very very little with the ball in limited overs.

A good fielder vs a player who only looks as if he is going to hurt himself again when he catches a ball.

In a perfect world we'd still have McMillan to sort out this problem but we don't so we're going to have to stick with these guys into Broom gets better, or Williamson or some other talent emerges to take their place.

Fact is if the match comes down to needing big runs from our number 6 we've lost already. So I'll take the guy who can rotate the strike from the first ball rather than Oram who can't seem to find a single ever. Neither are big hitters from the word go which is what would be ideal for a number 6 but we can't have it all.

Just want us to play our best attack.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Did I see Big Jake take a catch without breaking a finger yesterday? Oh yes I did. Wonders never cease.

Athers - you're looking for a young chap who can bat at 6 and hit the ball hard? Why not play Luke Vivian?

 

[Athlai]

Did I see Big Jake take a catch without breaking a finger yesterday? Oh yes I did. Wonders never cease.

Athers - you're looking for a young chap who can bat at 6 and hit the ball hard? Why not play Luke Vivian?

Doesn't need to be young if he can actually bat. Kitchen sink could be worth a go if he plays well this season.

This domestic season will be important in seeing where the middle order of our ODI team ends up as well as the top order of our Test team.

 

[Polo23]

Athers - you're looking for a young chap who can bat at 6 and hit the ball hard? Why not play Luke Vivian?

That's a great call. We need more Howick & Pak blood in the BlackCaps, Mills just doesnt cut it.

 

[Raghav]

Bring back Fulton... missing his towering sixes!!!

 

[Hurricane]

Did I see Big Jake take a catch without breaking a finger yesterday? Oh yes I did. Wonders never cease.

Athers - you're looking for a young chap who can bat at 6 and hit the ball hard? Why not play Luke Vivian?

I have only seen one game with Luke Vivian on TV he took about 3 overs to see himself in and then hit 4 sixes including a 130 metre monster. Then the bowlers figured him out and bowled him yorkers to which he had no answer and he got out in the end.

He is an intimidating presence physically.

 

[Flem274*]

Bring back Fulton... missing his towering sixes!!!

Fulton at six? Last time that happened, that was the start of him going crap.

Broom ain't a one dimensional hitter and in fact he's not great at List A at all. Really going by his records he should be a test reserve batsman and kept well away from ODIs, or at worst bat him in the top five. I think like big Jake, because Broom is capable of smashing the ball people assume thats what he'll do and thats all he'll do from ball one. Both players like to play themselves in then hit the ball only when its in their zone, otherwise they just play like normal batsmen. Yes Oram got that 101* but he was in the form of his life and the Australians kept putting it in his big six zones, so they got what was coming to them.

What we need is a list of the number sixes in the country. Putting the third best number four or someone will just epic fail, as Flynn and Broom have shown us. Whoever it is can bat at seven behind Oram (seriously, Oram at seven won't help his form at all: "Hey Jake, you're not seeing the ball very well, why don't you got out in over 45 and have a slog, btw, we need a run rate of six per over so no pressure."

The only number sixes/sevens I can think of atm are Anaru Kitchen and Tim Weston. I can't recall where McGlashan batted for ND but he'd be a decent choice. Franklin was a number five in List A wasn't he? (He'd also love Colombo under lights when bowling)

 

[Polo23]

Broom ain't a one dimensional hitter and in fact he's not great at List A at all. Really going by his records he should be a test reserve batsman and kept well away from ODIs

In that case we better get rid of Jesse Ryder too.