*Official* - Pakistan in New Zealand 2010/2011

[Athlai]

The university oval looks quite nice. Hope some more games get played there in future. Also think Mt Maunganui could get a game sometime too.

I do like the University Oval, had such a gun Test to open it. Probably my favourite ever.

 

[NZTailender]

I do like the University Oval, had such a gun Test to open it. Probably my favourite ever.

Was there

 

[Howsie]

Williamson should be good for an over or two. But I really think its 50/50 between him and Franklin at this stage. Franklin will get the nod if it's a greentop.

Disappointing if that's the case.

 

[Prince EWS]

Haha there's no way in the world Williamson should be dropped for Franklin. I'm a Franklin fan but that would absolutely ridiculous.

Does anyone really think Franklin is a better number six than Williamson?
Does anyone really think Guptill is a better number three than Williamson?

Should be one of the first names on the sheet.

 

[Hurricane]

Will Ryder do any bowling, do you think?

I have a feeling we will need a 5th bowler at some stage to give the aging Martin and Southee a rest. Arnel gives me the impression he could bowl all day.

Williamson should be good for an over or two. But I really think its 50/50 between him and Franklin at this stage. Franklin will get the nod if it's a greentop.

Williamson must play.

 

[Athlai]

Who are the six best first class players in the country right now?
Ryder
Taylor
McCullum
Williamson
---------?
---------?

Franklin, Broom, Vettori, Guptill, McIntosh all probably have an argument.

 

[Prince EWS]

Who are the six best first class players in the country right now?
Ryder
Taylor
McCullum
Williamson
---------?
---------?

Franklin, Broom, Vettori, Guptill, McIntosh all probably have an argument.

If you're just talking about batting (which I assume you are?) then it's Vettori and Sinclair in those spots, IMO. McIntosh obviously plays over Sinclair though because Sinclair's not an opener and has done his lot in Tests anyway. Vettori's going to bat seven which means we have to come up with another player, and I'd say Franklin.

 

[Athlai]

Yeah I was considering having Sinclair in that list but couldn't bring myself to give that Central Dag any credit.

 

[NZTailender]

Best batsmen:
Ryder
Taylor
McCullum
Williamson
Sinclair
Broom
Vettori

 

[Prince EWS]

Yeah I was considering having Sinclair in that list but couldn't bring myself to give that Central Dag any credit.

Well if you said 'best potential Test batsmen' or 'best Test options' or something it'd be different but being a NZ "First Class player" takes in the ability to bat in the Plunket Shield so I'd definitely have Sinclair in the top six.

 

[Hurricane]

Does anyone really think Guptill is a better number three than Williamson?
QUOTE]

Can't deal with the concept of Williamson batting at 3 at this stage - so don't want to compare him to anybody in that position.

We have someone who could end up making a NZ all time XI if handled right. Why take any risks with him.

 

[Athlai]

Can't deal with the concept of Williamson batting at 3 at this stage - so don't want to compare him to anybody in that position.

We have someone who could end up making a NZ all time XI if handled right. Why take any risks with him.

Haha why? It's where he has batted a good chunk of his first class career, unlike #6 where he hasn't batted outside of Tests.

 

[Prince EWS]

Can't deal with the concept of Williamson batting at 3 at this stage - so don't want to compare him to anybody in that position.

We have someone who could end up making a NZ all time XI if handled right. Why take any risks with him.

So you'd rather see him out of the team than bat in the top order, despite the fact that he's a top order batsman and Guptill isn't fit to oil his bat?

I can definitely see the logic in batting him a bit lower down at first but some of the members here are a bit obsessive about it IMO.

 

[Athlai]

Yeah giving him an easier introduction to the team is good but surrounding him with 4 decent batsman (McIntosh, McCullum, Taylor and Ryder) is a better introduction than any of those guys ever got. Well besides McCullum who probably had a few quality bats in the team when he debuted, but he doesn't count.

 

[Flem274*]

So you'd rather see him out of the team than bat in the top order, despite the fact that he's a top order batsman and Guptill isn't fit to oil his bat?

I can definitely see the logic in batting him a bit lower down at first but some of the members here are a bit obsessive about it IMO.

NZ fans have an ingrained fear of failure after four to five years of watching exactly that.

 

[Mike5181]

So you'd rather see him out of the team than bat in the top order, despite the fact that he's a top order batsman and Guptill isn't fit to oil his bat?

I can definitely see the logic in batting him a bit lower down at first but some of the members here are a bit obsessive about it IMO.

Khuwaja debuted at number 3 as well as Darren Bravo

 

[Flem274*]

If you're just talking about batting (which I assume you are?) then it's Vettori and Sinclair in those spots, IMO. McIntosh obviously plays over Sinclair though because Sinclair's not an opener and has done his lot in Tests anyway. Vettori's going to bat seven which means we have to come up with another player, and I'd say Franklin.

AWTA. If we were playing a FC match then I would take a few different batsmen than if it was a test match.

 

[Athlai]

Williamson has also debuted and scored a Test ton and a fifty. Welcome to Test cricket son, now get to work.

 

[Hurricane]

So you'd rather see him out of the team than bat in the top order, despite the fact that he's a top order batsman and Guptill isn't fit to oil his bat?

I can definitely see the logic in batting him a bit lower down at first but some of the members here are a bit obsessive about it IMO.

I hope it never comes to play him at 3 or don't play him at all. If NZ cricket isn't sensible enough to make a position for him at 6 for the next 18 months then we don't deserve him in the side. We will be a foolish test match nation who preferred to play 5 bowlers rather than give Williamson a go. We will deserve to be 8th or even lower in the rankings for being unable to select a test match team with the future in mind.

 

[Flem274*]

I hope it never comes to play him at 3 or don't play him at all. If NZ cricket isn't sensible enough to make a position for him at 6 for the next 18 months then we don't deserve him in the side. We will be a foolish test match nation who preferred to play 5 bowlers rather than give Williamson a go. We will deserve to be 8th or even lower in the rankings for being unable to select a test match team with the future in mind.

All this angst over one player.

I reckon the most likely thing to kill Williamson is the crazy amount of expectation people are putting on his shoulders. I wouldn't want it. Reckon expectation and hype didn't help Sinclair, McMillan or Vincent either.

EDIT:

We will deserve to be 8th or even lower in the rankings for being unable to select a test match team with the future in mind.

The best thing we can do for the future is win a test ASAP. I'm not including Williamson in this argument, I'm making a general point here. Selecting teams for The Future (TM) often means you're in for some pain as these dudes find their feet.

The future theory is a red herring, because the best thing NZ can do is select their best side and try win some tests, rather than selecting some young guys who might be the best players in the future.