Athlai
Not Terrible
I reiterate that he does what is asked of him. Moles wants him to bat slowly and possibly so does Vettori. Today McCullum and Vettori thought that he should try his luck.
-
Welcome to the Cricket Web forums, one of the biggest forums in the world dedicated to cricket.
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join the Cricket Web community today!
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.
*Official* Group B Discussion - South Africa, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, England
- Thread starter James
- Start date
Athlai
Not Terrible
Yeah but it isn't about McCullum, its about the team around him. As a senior batsman he has been made to change his natural game to stick around. Reckon after Guptill and Ryder establish themselves, Moles and co. may allow him to swing his arms again.
I'm pretty impressed by McCullum's tenacity and willngness to bat in a way that he clearly finds more difficult. He hasn't been a total failure in it either, just gets out in the 40s too much.
I'm pretty impressed by McCullum's tenacity and willngness to bat in a way that he clearly finds more difficult. He hasn't been a total failure in it either, just gets out in the 40s too much.
Athlai
Not Terrible
McCullum is a player who should average around 35 in ODI cricket IMO. There is plenty of merit in the tactic in that it allows the other batsman to establish themselves and build partnerships. Though I doubt I can sway you on this point as you seem to favor striking out in ODI cricket.
Flem274*
123/5
Replacing him with who?
I'm quite happy to persist with Guptill in tests. Its not like he's outclassed like others were, he gets himself out half the time.
Uppercut
Request Your Custom Title Now!
Indeed. I think partnerships are much easier to build when someone is striking out because it means you can take time to play yourself in. Malik and Yousuf against India, for example, scored nothing at all when they arrived at the crease, because bright batting from Nazir and Akmal meant they were on top of the run-rate, and once they were in they could start scoring quickly and build a big partnership. Obviously getting out for 20 isn't ideal, but it was a lot easier for Malik and Yousuf that they got out for 20 (15) as opposed to 20 (30). Which is, realistically, the choice McCullum is faced with.
When McCullum gets an innings off to a slow start, the batsman at the other end (and indeed every batsman to follow) is always thinking "need to get a move on here...". I'm a big fan of the hitting role, if you've got appropriate players. McCullum's shown himself repeatedly to be an excellent hitter.
Last edited:
Howsie
International Captain
Some of McCullum's strokes looked like shot's he played a couple of years back, good to see.
Howsie
International Captain
I would much rather Guptill play one or two more seasons of FC cricket before playing tests.
As for replacements, well there's not too many. I'd probably go back to Redmond myself but hey.
Athlai
Not Terrible
No they played very well in that match. If we were ten runs too short it was because of Broom-Cumming-Fulton's failures.
It was a total we should well have defended.
Uppercut
Request Your Custom Title Now!
That's the point though! McCullum and Guptill put New Zealand in a position where the only way they were getting a good total was if Broom/Cumming/Fulton strode to the crease and scored and a strike rate of 100+ from the moment they arrived. That's what I mean by putting pressure on the other batsmen. Taylor, incredibly, managed to do it to some extent.
244 was nowhere near enough either, for me.