I posted this somewhere else but i guess it works here
1. Rob Nicol/BJ Watling/SJ Murdoch
2.
3. Daniel Flynn
4. Dean Brownlie
5. Neil Broom
6. Anaru Kitchen/Tim Weston
7. Derek De Border+
8. Todd Astle
9. Neil Wagner
10. Ben Wheeler
11. Trent Boult
12th Man: MJ Henry
Beat that team Flem
A team with some youth mainly below 28 years old and most with potential. I would also like to see Adam Milne in an A squad sometime in the next year or so if he ever recovers from injury and starts performing again. There is probably some other players worth noting as well so the floor is now open.
I actually think the same old names like Fulton, Hopkins etc will be in there.
Good team for your criteria. My general take on NZ A is treat it like a second eleven and when we need a new player, look to the A side first unless someone is going absolutely bonkers domestically. I like dudes to earn their call ups rather than firing out places every other game.
I also like the idea of sending along an older domestic stalwart who isn't neccessarily a test player in waiting but who will contribute quite a bit at the A level. I believe in teaching our national teams to win ASAP and sending along someone like Sinclair provides almost certain runs.
Assuming the test side still looks something like this;
McCullum
Guptill
Williamson
Taylor
Ryder
Franklin
Young
Vettori
Southee
Arnel
Martin
My A side would be;
Tim McIntosh
One of the very few openers to actually do something at test level, even if he is extremely inconsistent. Better than most domestically, he's a banker for the opening spot.
Peter Ingram/Daniel Flynn/Rob Nicol/Jamie How
Are all better than BJ Watling, especially if the bowler rotates the ball using this foreign magical art called "spin" (apologies to Australians who may have forgotten what this actually is).
Matthew Sinclair
Bank. Money. Well spent. Still the second best number three in the country as well.
Neil Broom
Can't ask for much more from him. Was sold short in ODIs but also looked like he had things to work on. Too good for domestic cricket but A cricket should prepare him for the next level.
Tim Weston
Yes, he's notorious for cashing in on the traditionally flatter tracks around, but he's strong off the back foot and has a tidy technique. He has good wood to work with.
Sam Wells
Tbh, I've never seen him play, and it is very frustrating. Everything I've heard about him is excellent. An ex opener with outstanding footwork and able to accelerate the scoring at will, he's apparently a good bowler and his run of wickets a couple of years ago backs this up. He's also rescued Otago from embarrasment on numerous occassions and is a really good poker player.
Kruger van Wyk
Solid, and he's not Hopkins. Derek de Boorder was close, but I'd like him to put on another big season with the bat first.
Todd Astle
Possibly our most promising spinner since that nerdy guy TH really hates. Building himself an excellent record since he converted to being a full time spinner and he deserves a go in foreign conditions. Quite possibly the closest player in the A side to receiving a test cap.
Ben Wheeler
Had quite the first full season, and has apparently turned a few heads.
Trent Boult
He's finally staying on the park and has the results to show for it. I've loved watching him bowl ever since I first saw him play. One of the few Northern Districts players who isn't an overrated hack.
Andy McKay
He was on track to catching up to Wagner and ran out of games (played like 5), nuff said.
