**Official** Pakistan in New Zealand (3 tests)

[Prince EWS]

McIntosh
Guptill
Flynn
Taylor
Fulton (Ryder)
Elliott
McCullum
Vettori
Seamer
O'Brien
Martin

Bolded are the only cemented places long term imo. With that many variables who know what the side will look like. This is assuming my memory correct that the current squad was picked for the first two tests?

I don't know about Martin being cemented tbh. He's had the spot for a while but I don't really see him as being any better or any worse than O'Brien or Tuffey, so if he loses form he could easily get the axe when Bond comes back IMO, particularly if Tuffey plays well while Bond's out.

 

[AaronK]

You predicted correctly that Shane Bond would get injured. Congratulations.

It's between Tuffey and Southee for his spot I think. Arnel an outside chance but doesn't seem to be quite close enough to the squad. They'll leave Boult alone.

i am sorry i hope u didn't take it the wrong way.. i am not happy that he is injured or anyting.. i said on that post that i hope he takes it easy a little bit.. i don't want him to be injured considering the history of his injury..

this is a big blow here.. i hope we can still have a good match just like the first match..

That isn't a prediction.

i thought it was lol..oh ya.. it was more like a warning lol

 

[straw man]

If it's anyone other than Tuffey it's a joke IMO.

I wouldn't put it that strongly myself.

Generally I would rate Tuffey over Southee, but a decent case can be put forward for Southee in this situation. With Martin and O'Brien the other two bowlers and having lost the strike power of Bond, the first thing we need is someone who is incisive with the new ball. With Southee improving, clearly in good form and assuming it's going to swing in Wellington, he could be the most effective of our bowlers to attack the fragile Pakistan top order. Better even than Tuffey and his knack for first-over wickets.

Unless something has changed markedly Southee is still going to struggle to be effective once he's bowled 10-15 overs and the ball is getting older. Tuffey certainly wins there. But in this case bowling a lot of overs through the middle wouldn't be as much Southee's role, seeing as we have Martin, O'Brien & Vettori as toilers in the team.

Tuffey is also fairly same-same with Martin and O'Brien, whereas Southee as primarily a swing bowler provides some variety (though cynics might argue he also provides the sort of variety we don't want with the older ball, or if he has an off-day).

Tuffey's experience and reliability is a huge positive and he probably still is the slightly better choice, but it's by no means clear-cut.

 

[straw man]

I don't know about Martin being cemented tbh. He's had the spot for a while but I don't really see him as being any better or any worse than O'Brien or Tuffey, so if he loses form he could easily get the axe when Bond comes back IMO, particularly if Tuffey plays well while Bond's out.

Agree - I kind of imagine that if Martin picks up an injury or his form drops away considerably he'll take that as the trigger to retire rather than being pushed out by someone else.

 

[Flem274*]

Play both imo. Elevate Vettori to six. Yes it means we're light on batting, but the top five sould score the runs and it won't matter where Vettori bats, the guys above him are just as likely to get out.

Besides, it will put the spotlight on some batsmen that need runs pretty much now.

Five bowlers will also cover O'Briens finger and Vettori's shoulder, along with giving us more weapons.

 

[Flem274*]

I don't know about Martin being cemented tbh. He's had the spot for a while but I don't really see him as being any better or any worse than O'Brien or Tuffey, so if he loses form he could easily get the axe when Bond comes back IMO, particularly if Tuffey plays well while Bond's out.

The selectors, Vettori, and the public back him. He's also the seamer with the most tests behind him. He's safe.

 

[Flem274*]

i am sorry i hope u didn't take it the wrong way.. i am not happy that he is injured or anyting.. i said on that post that i hope he takes it easy a little bit.. i don't want him to be injured considering the history of his injury..

this is a big blow here.. i hope we can still have a good match just like the first match..



i thought it was lol..oh ya.. it was more like a warning lol

No offence taken. I found it funny.

 

[Flem274*]

So...the team that I would pick for Welly is:

Guptill
McIntosh
Flynn
Taylor
Fulton
Vettori
McCullum
Southee
Tuffey
O'Brien
Martin

 

[James]

Play both imo. Elevate Vettori to six. Yes it means we're light on batting, but the top five sould score the runs and it won't matter where Vettori bats, the guys above him are just as likely to get out.

Besides, it will put the spotlight on some batsmen that need runs pretty much now.

Five bowlers will also cover O'Briens finger and Vettori's shoulder, along with giving us more weapons.

Not worth it with us being 1-0 up IMO.

Speaking about Bond, I'd rather he gives up Test cricket and just plays ODIs and Twenty20. His body obviously can't handle the amount of overs he's required to bowl in Tests, and I hope if he just played ODIs and T20 he could make it through to the 2011 WC.

 

[Bahnz]

I would say that Martin would have a pretty much permanent spot, given the consistency of his performances over the last 3 years, if it weren't for the fact that he turns 35 in a weeks time. Realistically I think the phantom will probably only hang on until he hits his target of 200 test wickets (just 30 to go!). If he has a cracking summer, he might even call it quits this season.

 

[Flem274*]

Not worth it with us being 1-0 up IMO.

Speaking about Bond, I'd rather he gives up Test cricket and just plays ODIs and Twenty20. His body obviously can't handle the amount of overs he's required to bowl in Tests, and I hope if he just played ODIs and T20 he could make it through to the 2011 WC.

One last blast against Aussie imo.

Hmm, we were one nil up against England and still lost, even though we got to bat at Napier.

Unless we start picking lots of debutants, without Ryder the batting relies on Taylor, Vettori, McCullum with Guptill and Flynn being project batsmen, Elliott an attempt at finding a Oram/Franklin replacement, and Fulton and McIntosh being technically poor. The batting is going to struggle and having Elliott there (the dropped player) is unlikely to change that going on his record so far.

I'd rather the extra attack bowler than a guy who's top score is twenty odd and is not a threatening bowler.

 

[Flem274*]

I would say that Martin would have a pretty much permanent spot, given the consistency of his performances over the last 3 years, if it weren't for the fact that he turns 35 in a weeks time. Realistically I think the phantom will probably only hang on until he hits his target of 200 test wickets (just 30 to go!). If he has a cracking summer, he might even call it quits this season.

He has a lot of home tests, and he's always better home than away. He'll need to turn it on against Pakistan and bully Bangladesh, because we do have Ricky Ponting and co. coming.

He's not the strike bowler he was though, so I think he'll build towards those wickets rather than get there in a fireball.

 

[Howsie]

No worries, bring Southee in for Bond and problem solved.

1.McIntosh Watling
2.Guptill
3.Flynn Broom
4.Taylor
5.Fulton Ryder
6.Eliott ?
7.McCullum
8.Vettori
9.Southee
10.O'Brien
11.Martin Bond

Bolded Aussie XI hopefully.

 

[Flem274*]

No worries, bring Southee in for Bond and problem solved.

1.McIntosh Watling
2.Guptill
3.Flynn Broom
4.Taylor
5.Fulton Ryder
6.Eliott ?
7.McCullum
8.Vettori
9.Southee
10.O'Brien
11.Martin Bond

Bolded Aussie XI hopefully.

You're replacing a project batsman and a domestic journeyman with a project batsman and a decent 4-5 who will be expected to bat at three.

 

[DIRK-NANNES]

1.McIntosh Watling

*snip*

Bolded Aussie XI hopefully.

Is Watling good enough to be the next Test opener?
He has a decidedly average FC record and hasn't even had a glutton season.
Even with a load of talent, blooding him soon may cause more damage than good.

As for the search for a Oram/Frankie replacement, Colin de Grandhomme could be a possibility in the near future.
I dunno why he hasn't played this season, but 566 runs @ 51.45 and 21 wickets @ 24.57 last season is awesome and if he could get similar returns next time he plays, I'd have him on the top of the shortlist.

 

[GGG]

Tuffey would score more runs that Elliot.

 

[Zinzan]

i predicted his injury long time ago.. here is the prove of that lol

Must also plead guilty to suggesting this to a mate on Saturday after the victory, so you can part some of the blame on me too

 

[Zinzan]

yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssssssssssssssss

You're relieved, imagine how relieved Pakistan's top order are.

Without him, you'd also expect Pakistan's bowlers will try & bully us more in the next 2 tests, because it was easy to see Gull & co were reluctant to bowl him too many short-ones in Dunedin, knowing what they'd get in return. Obviously they don't have to be so intimidated by NZ now.

 

[Flem274*]

Gul's the only quick one, though Aamer hit pace at times. I'm more worried about their normal lengths and yorkers..

 

[Zinzan]

Gul's the only quick one, though Aamer hit pace at times. I'm more worried about their normal lengths and yorkers..

Nah, from what I saw, Aamer was marginally quicker than Gul