New Zealand 30 man World Cup Squad.

[Prince EWS]

Lots of Nicol love for someone who has played zero ODIs; debutants in a World Cup are pretty big calls. You'd think he'd have been given a game by now if he was in the frame.

1. Brendon McCullum
2. Martin Guptill
3. Jesse Ryder
4. Ross Taylor
5. Scott Styris
6. James Franklin
7. Jacob Oram
8. Daniel Vettori
9. Kyle Mills
10. Nathan McCullum
11. Tim Southee

Allrounders from 5 down, haha. Didn't realise that when I was doing it tbh.

12. Kane Williamson
13. Grant Elliott
14. Peter McGlashan
15. Daryl Tuffey

That's probably one too many batsmen and not enough bowlers, but I don't really trust any of the other bowlers anyway - in fact I don't even trust Tuffey as it is. If two bowlers got injured I'd rather play McGlashan as a specialist lower order hitter and bowl Styris more than play someone like McKay or Bennett anyway.

For a bolter I'll throw Woodcock into the mix. Hasn't played an ODI but acquited himself well in the T20I he played and could be a reliable backup for Vettori and Nato. If he'd actually played a bit of ODI cricket I'd probably have him in Elliott's place.

Good to see most people agree on the first choice eleven though, even if not on the order. Settled side always bodes well.

 

[Somerset]

1. Brendon McCullum
2. Martin Guptill
3. Jesse Ryder
4. Ross Taylor
5. Scott Styris
6. James Franklin
7. Jacob Oram
8. Daniel Vettori
9. Kyle Mills
10. Nathan McCullum
11. Tim Southee

Allrounders from 5 down, haha. Didn't realise that when I was doing it tbh,

12. Kane Williamson
13. Grant Elliott
14. Peter McGlashan
15. Daryl Tuffey

Thats an identical 15 man squad to the one I'd select. I can't imagine a bolter like Nicol or Woodcock being included, although then again India picked Piyush Chawla... In saying that, I have a feeling Tuffey might be left out - personally I'd include him over the likes of Bennett or McKay though.

 

[Chewie]

Nicol was sent to the T20 WC without any international experience As was Bradley Scott for that matter. But then the 50 over WC is a completely different story

 

[NZTailender]

Nicol should've debuted already IMO.

 

[Flem274*]

Lots of Nicol love for someone who has played zero ODIs; debutants in a World Cup are pretty big calls. You'd think he'd have been given a game by now if he was in the frame.

1. Brendon McCullum
2. Martin Guptill
3. Jesse Ryder
4. Ross Taylor
5. Scott Styris
6. James Franklin
7. Jacob Oram
8. Daniel Vettori
9. Kyle Mills
10. Nathan McCullum
11. Tim Southee

Allrounders from 5 down, haha. Didn't realise that when I was doing it tbh.

12. Kane Williamson
13. Grant Elliott
14. Peter McGlashan
15. Daryl Tuffey

That's probably one too many batsmen and not enough bowlers, but I don't really trust any of the other bowlers anyway - in fact I don't even trust Tuffey as it is. If two bowlers got injured I'd rather play McGlashan as a specialist lower order hitter and bowl Styris more than play someone like McKay or Bennett anyway.

For a bolter I'll throw Woodcock into the mix. Hasn't played an ODI but acquited himself well in the T20I he played and could be a reliable backup for Vettori and Nato. If he'd actually played a bit of ODI cricket I'd probably have him in Elliott's place.

Good to see most people agree on the first choice eleven though, even if not on the order. Settled side always bodes well.

Damn it, I wanted to post this post.

Only thing I would change is I'd consider sending Woodcock as spin bowling back up ahead of Williamson. I don't think Williamson is a very good limited overs batsman yet.

I'd also flirt with sending Bennett just to add something different. Tuffey is declining fast, and I don't think he'd be much more economical than Bennett atm.

But with any luck, there will be no injuries.

 

[Prince EWS]

Nicol should've debuted already IMO.

Maybe; maybe not. But he hasn't.

I have far more faith in Williamson and Elliott at this point - they haven't been consistent in ODIs so far but they've shown they have the class required to play quality innings at times. Nicol may or may not be better but when you're looking at someone as a backup batsman I think it's better to know what you're going to get.

 

[Prince EWS]

Damn it, I wanted to post this post.

Only thing I would change is I'd consider sending Woodcock as spin bowling back up ahead of Williamson. I don't think Williamson is a very good limited overs batsman yet.

I'd also flirt with sending Bennett just to add something different. Tuffey is declining fast, and I don't think he'd be much more economical than Bennett atm.

But with any luck, there will be no injuries.

I don't mind Bennett in the Test frame but he really shouldn't be anywhere near the ODI side IMO. I'd sooner recall the Mug.

 

[Flem274*]

He's not in the 30 though.

 

[Mike5181]

We all pretty much named the same sides with only really the reserves slightly different. I think that team is pretty competitive and as PEWS said we have something like six all-rounders in the team. Hopefully we can massacre Kenya and get some confidence back.

 

[Howsie]

I don't think Williamson is a very good limited overs batsman yet.

Williamson hasn't exactly had the best start to his ODI career but let's not forget this is the same guy who after two and a half years of one day cricket averaged close to 60 for Northern Districts. He's one of the best if not best players of spin in the country, he's a must for the world cup imo, not necessarily a first teamer but he should be the first reserve.

 

[Howsie]

Jamie How WTF? Back up keeper apparently haha.

 

[_Ed_]

Lack of wicketkeeping cover and bowling depth concerns me.

Jamie How over Rob Nicol is completely inexplicable, for mine.

 

[NZ Guy]

Lack of wicketkeeping cover and bowling depth concerns me.

Jamie How over Rob Nicol is completely inexplicable, for mine.

How so? What has Rob Nicol done in international cricket?

 

[_Ed_]

Well, Nicol hasn't been to the subcontinent and failed miserably, which How has. His confidence must have suffered from that. And Nicol has been in very good form domestically and offers something with the ball as well.

Bizarre that Greatbatch said How is the back-up keeper. When has he kept before? McGlashan unlucky to miss out.

 

[NZ Guy]

Yeah well at least How will have experience in the subcontinent, albeit not a good one whereas Nicol would have no idea.

EDIT: Im not saying that Jamie How is a good pick btw I just feel there's noway you can say that Nicol was miles ahead when he hasn't played a game. Keeper could be an issue, but really will only be for one game if it does happen and I feel McCullum is the kind of guy who would play through a lot of pain for a WC.

 

[Chewie]

The Home of CricketArchive

He's kept once before. Still find it incredibly bizarre though

 

[Prince EWS]

Well, Nicol hasn't been to the subcontinent and failed miserably, which How has. His confidence must have suffered from that. And Nicol has been in very good form domestically and offers something with the ball as well.

Given the only two functions of ODIs these days seem to be making money and preparing for the World Cup, I don't see why you should have to pick two uncapped players in your fifteen man squad. You've had four years to give Nicol a go in ODIs in preparation for this day and it didn't happen. I like Nicol but that a batsman with 0 ODIs to his name and a List A average of 32 didn't make the squad is hardly a disgrace.

That How has been picked as a wicket keeper and that Bennett has been picked in one day cricket are two much greater causes for concern than the absence of Rob Nicol.

 

[_Ed_]

Yeah well at least How will have experience in the subcontinent, albeit not a good one whereas Nicol would have no idea.

EDIT: Im not saying that Jamie How is a good pick btw I just feel there's noway you can say that Nicol was miles ahead when he hasn't played a game. Keeper could be an issue, but really will only be for one game if it does happen and I feel McCullum is the kind of guy who would play through a lot of pain for a WC.

That's fair enough.

I just think domestic performances should be taken into account.

In this season's one-day comp:

Nicol: 265 runs @ 66.25
How: 81 @ 20.25

 

[_Ed_]

Given the only two functions of ODIs these days seem to be making money and preparing for the World Cup, I don't see why you should have to pick two uncapped players in your fifteen man squad. You've had four years to give Nicol a go in ODIs in preparation for this day and it didn't happen. I like Nicol but that a batsman with 0 ODIs to his name and a List A average of 32 didn't make the squad is hardly a disgrace.

That How has been picked as a wicket keeper and that Bennett has been picked in one day cricket are two much greater causes for concern than the absence of Rob Nicol.

That's a fair point.

I probably would have gone for McGlashan ahead of Woodcock and Nicol ahead of How, leaving Nicol as the only uncapped member of the squad. And then he could have been given a run in the Pakistan ODIs (which, bizarrely, Woodcock isn't going to be at this stage).

 

[James]

That World Cup squad is down right shocking and really shows our lack of depth at the moment in that we pick someone who hasn't even played an ODI before ahead of so many other better options.