*Official* Australia in New Zealand

[James]

"Crowe said the humiliation that he and Ken Rutherford felt a that age when they failed stayed with them for a long time."

The aussie bowling line up of that era (Lillee and Thompson) and the windies for Rutherford (Holding, Marshall, Gardner) are light years ahead of this aussie bowling line up.

Agree, and in the modern age, if you're good enough, you're old enough.

He's probably had heaps more coaching, etc than Crowe and Rutherford had at a similar age.

Pick him!

 

[Riggins]

My avatar is of McIntosh leaving the ball and getting bowled middle stump. However I was so impressed by his knock of 80 that if he can post another 50 in the next test I will put up a more complimentary avatar devoted to him.

What a legend!

 

[Bahnz]

His average of 35 is not quite good enough to be a specialist bat in the top six if that is his goal. He is not Kumar Sangakara
Also if he gives up keeping his replacement hopkins will average like 20 most likely.
So we will lose a batsman from the side like Guptil or Ingram to make way for McCullum in the top 6. Who could both average maybe 30-35 (Ingram is a maybe here) and gain a wicketkeeper who will average 20.
I see this as a net loss.

The only argument you can make for this - is if you believe that Hopkins will average more than Ingram.

I think he is welcome to have high hopes of being a batsman. But lets keep him with the gloves.

Well, first there's the argument that if he was able to focus specifically on his batting his average would improve, and there might be something to that. Afterall, Sangakkara averaged only about 44 until he gave up the gloves.

Secondly, as I said, McCullum would need to bat top 3 to make it worthwhile. If he was able to continue his record at the top of the order that would make him vastly more successful than any top 3 bat we've had since Fleming retired. They've pretty much all averaged around the 20-25 mark, save McIntosh who's seemed to have adjusted. More ability (if not stability) at the top of the order would be really valuable. It just puts so much pressure on the rest of the team when you're constantly 50/3 at the end of the first session. And I really wouldn't be too surprised if Hopkins managed to be a passable keeper with an average in the high 20's. He handled the aussie quick bowlers surprisingly well in the ODI's.

It would also provide a position in the middle order for Williamson to mature into international cricket, before eventually taking over the number 3 roll in 3 or 4 years time.

Having said all that, I still prefer things as they are.

 

[Howsie]

Kane Williamson has been named in the 13 man squad

 

[Polo23]

Sorry explain to me -

What part of a 21 year olds career to date (Test average of over 50, 2 Test centuries and 4 scores past 50 in total from 12 completed innings PLUS a First class batting average just shy of 60 in an openly accepted tough first class comp) makes people say he's not up to it?

National pride aside why any kiwi thinks this guy isnt up to it just dumbfounds me. We would kill for a Phillip Hughes!!!!

As for the comparison with Williamson. How can you? Granted this kid is only 19 and hopefully a future star. But he averages 49 in another openly accepted Weak competition and has not even played at the international level.

Some peoples attitude towards Williamson on these boards are making me hate this kid and its none of his doing. I hope he turns out to be a genuine superstar but the way people go ga ga over him when all he's done is play well against mediocre bowlers is annoying. As i say i hope he is a genius but what happens if he fails at the Test Match level in his first few tests? What will you all say then?

My opinion is that Williamson will turn out to be a better test bat than Hughes, going on what I have seen from both players.

I'm wondering how much you have actually seen of Williamson (or Hughes)? Aren't you in the UK? Williamson is so far technically ahead of anyone else in NZ it's embarassing. Sure, technique can only take you so far but he's got the talent to back it up.

And i'd hardly call an off the cuff post of 'Williamson > Hughes' as 'ga ga'.

 

[Polo23]

Kane Williamson has been named in the 13 man squad

Bye bye Ingram.

McIntosh
Watling
Sinclair
Taylor
Guptill
Williamson
McCullum
Vettori
Arnel
Martin
Southee

That batting lineup is so much stronger. The 38th coming of Sinclair!

 

[Bahnz]

Really don't think Williamson is going to be selected, especially with Martin Crowe involved as a batting coach. It'll be the same waste of time as when Boult was brought into the squad for the Aussie ODI's last year.

McIntosh
Watling
Ingram/Sinclair
Taylor
Guptill
Vettori/Williamson
McCullum/Vettori
Patel/McCullum
Southee
Arnel
Martin

Disappointed that there's no Nathan McCullum, but when you get out bowled by your 20 year old team mate it isn't a good look.

 

[vandem]

Kane Williamson in Black Caps test squad | Stuff.co.nz

Tuffey not replaced by another seam bowler.

Don't think NZ would go with only 2 seamers, so final XI selection options appear to be Ingram vs Sinclair at #3, Patel (2nd spinner) vs Williamson (batting at #8, part time spinner). I like the option of Williamson at #8, good way to ease the young man into the test scene, otherwise tail of Patel-Southee-Arnel-Martin is a little shaky ...

... but based on Paddy's comments earlier this week, Williamson is there to soak up the atmosphere, and perhaps get a run in the winter tours to the sub-continent.

 

[Polo23]

Dunno...reckon they might want someone who can bat and bowl a bit to strengthen the batting. Tuffey offered so much with the bat last test that i'm hoping it's convinced the spinners that we need someone who can bat at number 8. I'd back Williamson to do a better job with his offies against Aus than Patel anyway.

 

[Bahnz]

Dunno...reckon they might want someone who can bat and bowl a bit to strengthen the batting. Tuffey offered so much with the bat last test that i'm hoping it's convinced the spinners that we need someone who can bat at number 8. I'd back Williamson to do a better job with his offies against Aus than Patel anyway.

I dunno about that, with the exception of that one game where he picked up 4/40 odd on the last day, Williamson's offies have taken a real pounding this season. He's probably a fair way ahead of Guptill, but he'd still be very part time at international level from the look of things.

 

[Blakey]

Hamilton is likely to take some turn so Dave is a given ahead of Kane. Asking the young guy to come in and bat against these guys, some say is a big ask. Ask him to play as a part-time spinner if Dave doesn't play - then that's a step too far. They are hardly likely to play both.

Paddy says it's a good time to expose him to the team environment - hardly a hint that he will make the 11.

 

[Howsie]

I dunno about that, with the exception of that one game where he picked up 4/40 odd on the last day, Williamson's offies have taken a real pounding this season. He's probably a fair way ahead of Guptill, but he'd still be very part time at international level from the look of things.

Oh easily, but like you said he'd still easily be part-time at the international level. He'd be a better off-spinner then North I'd say just because he can give it a real rip.

 

[Howsie]

Radio Sport - Just Sport - New Zealand's Sports Network - Listen Live

Talking to Grant Bradburn right now.

 

[Bahnz]

Well...apparently he's got twice as many balls as anyone else in the Northern team...ermmm is that a good thing?

 

[Flem274*]

Well...apparently he's got twice as many balls as anyone else in the Northern team...ermmm is that a good thing?

I has more testicles than u!

Radiosport whining about fast bowlers again. You'd think they'd have gotten bored of this after years and years of it now.

 

[Halfpast_Yellow]

I dunno about that, with the exception of that one game where he picked up 4/40 odd on the last day, Williamson's offies have taken a real pounding this season. He's probably a fair way ahead of Guptill, but he'd still be very part time at international level from the look of things.

As a 5th Bowling option we could carry him if it turns to crap though? Remember Vettori is at 6 but is a full time bowler. Also, it's his home ground which should help.

Better to bat Williamson (and Sinclair for Ingram) in the top 6 though and Vettori 8 I think.

 

[Polo23]

I dunno about that, with the exception of that one game where he picked up 4/40 odd on the last day, Williamson's offies have taken a real pounding this season. He's probably a fair way ahead of Guptill, but he'd still be very part time at international level from the look of things.

I agree with you, but what will Jeets be after he's taken a pounding from Ponting and Watson? He'll become a part time option for the rest of the test anyway.

 

[Flem274*]

Radio Sport - Just Sport - New Zealand's Sports Network - Listen Live

Talking to Grant Bradburn right now.

Haha, Bradburn bragging about NDs supply of fast bowling potential.

The response:

"Why aren't you playing them?"

 

[Bahnz]

Bradburn apparently thinks he'll get in the side. Not sure I exactly trust his assessment.

 

[Howsie]

Haha, Bradburn bragging about NDs supply of fast bowling potential.

The response:

"Why aren't you playing them?"

Because they're currently injured Pretty sure he would of been talking about Andrew Matheison as one of the kids that is up and around 145K, but he's be injured for parts of the season so hasn't been able to crack the team.