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*Official* - Pakistan in New Zealand 2010/2011

Faisal1985

International Vice-Captain

smash84

The Tiger King
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BeeGee

International Captain
How coming into the side at the expense of NcCullum is interesting. Replacing a bowling all-rounder with a top order batsman seems a little strange. :dry:

If they wanted to give How a game, shouldn't he have replaced a top 4 batsman? The balance of the side in the first ODI was excellent, but now it favours the bating at the expense of the bowling. If one or more of the bowlers have a bad day then the options are limited.

Given that NcCullum is likely to be a first choice pick and a key player at the WC, I'd have thought giving him as much game time as possible would be advantageous. I had presumed that NcCullum would be the player to be dropped when Woodcock get's his chance in this series, but who knows, maybe they'll drop a batsman for Woodcock. :blink:

Woodcock is an unfortunate name, though I used to know a guy called Wayne Kerr, so it could be worse. :laugh:

EDIT: They should have dropped Brendon McCullum and played How as keeper to give him some glove time, and made McCullum 12th man. I wonder how McCullum would have taken that? :laugh:
 
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Woodster

International Captain
How coming into the side at the expense of NcCullum is interesting. Replacing a bowling all-rounder with a top order batsman seems a little strange. :dry:

If they wanted to give How a game, shouldn't he have replaced a top 4 batsman? The balance of the side in the first ODI was excellent, but now it favours the bating at the expense of the bowling. If one or more of the bowlers have a bad day then the options are limited.

Given that NcCullum is likely to be a first choice pick and a key player at the WC, I'd have thought giving him as much game time as possible would be advantageous. I had presumed that NcCullum would be the player to be dropped when Woodcock get's his chance in this series, but who knows, maybe they'll drop a batsman for Woodcock. :blink:

Woodcock is an unfortunate name, though I used to know a guy called Wayne Kerr, so it could be worse. :laugh:

EDIT: They should have dropped Brendon McCullum and played How as keeper to give him some glove time, and made McCullum 12th man. I wonder how McCullum would have taken that? :laugh:
Still seems to be enough bowling options though doesn't there ? If you've got Oram, Bennett, Southee, Vettori as your 10-over bankers, then getting ten out of Franklin, Styris, and a couple of part-time options aswell, it doesn't seem too bad.

Think the balance looks a bit better in this second ODI if that's the team they're going to go with.
 
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Woodster

International Captain
Who knows what this next ODI is going to bring, don't suppose you know what the next day brings in Pakistan cricket. They have a side that can be explosive on its day, if Younus fires, Umar shows his early career promise, Kamran blazes away, Razzaq slaps a few meaty blows at the death, and maybe even Shahid connects with a few, a healthy score is a certainty. Throw in the penetrative spells Shoaib's capable of, Gul we know can deliver a threat, the deceit of Ajmal, there is plenty for Pakistan to be positive about, but unfortunately performances at Wellington are equally as likely.

Looking forward to the second ODI getting underway in around an hour and a half, weather permitting.

Any weather updates ?
 

BeeGee

International Captain
Still seems to be enough bowling options though doesn't there ? If you've got Oram, Bennett, Southee, Vettori as your 10-over bankers, then getting ten out of Franklin, Styris, and a couple of part-time options aswell, it doesn't seem too bad.

Think the balance looks a bit better in this second ODI if that's the team they're going to go with.
If the main 4 bowlers bowl well then there's no problem, if they don't the options are limited.
If the pitch suits spin bowling then the options are limited also.

We'll see.

I don't have a problem with rotating players so everyone in the WC squad get's a game, it just seems strange to me to alter the team balance in doing so. Maybe Wright is experimenting by stacking the team with batsmen? Who knows.
 

Woodster

International Captain
If the main 4 bowlers bowl well then there's no problem, if they don't the options are limited.
If the pitch suits spin bowling then the options are limited also.

We'll see.

I don't have a problem with rotating players so everyone in the WC squad get's a game, it just seems strange to me to alter the team balance in doing so. Maybe Wright is experimenting by stacking the team with batsmen? Who knows.
If any side has a situation where the four main bowlers don't bowl well, they're going to struggle. The bowlers should be given the responsibility to get the job done, they seems to me enough options for them in this line-up. In How the batting is also strengthened, so I understand the selection, perhaps in the WC the extra spinner may be a viable option.
 

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
If any side has a situation where the four main bowlers don't bowl well, they're going to struggle. The bowlers should be given the responsibility to get the job done, they seems to me enough options for them in this line-up. In How the batting is also strengthened, so I understand the selection, perhaps in the WC the extra spinner may be a viable option.
There's really no need to shuffle Oram and Vettori down to 8 and 9 though. If you can have five frontline bowlers then you always should IMO and New Zealand have the perfect balance for it.

I'm sure it's just WC preparation anyway - they'll want to have a look at how and they'll want to have a closer look at Franklin's bowling. They won't go with so many batsmen in the WC.
 

BeeGee

International Captain
I'm sure it's just WC preparation anyway - they'll want to have a look at how and they'll want to have a closer look at Franklin's bowling. They won't go with so many batsmen in the WC.
I'm assuming the same thing.
One of the reasons I raise an eyebrow over this selection is Wright's recent comments about wanting to strengthen the middle and lower order batting. I'm wondering if he may be testing a theory/plan for the WC.
 

Woodster

International Captain
There's really no need to shuffle Oram and Vettori down to 8 and 9 though. If you can have five frontline bowlers then you always should IMO and New Zealand have the perfect balance for it.

I'm sure it's just WC preparation anyway - they'll want to have a look at how and they'll want to have a closer look at Franklin's bowling. They won't go with so many batsmen in the WC.
Scoring big runs would be my concern with NZ though in the WC, so imo they can't have enough batting depth, and in Styris, who might be pretty effective in the sub-continent, Franklin, Oram and Vettori, they have players that are good bowling options are can give the necessary batting depth.

Sure they're going to have the extra spin option in the WC.
 

straw man

Hall of Fame Member
Cricket!

Interesting that How is in for N McCullum. Maybe we'll see a bit of Jamie How's special offspin - some more bits to add to the pieces of a role he has in the team at the moment.
 

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