***Official*** Zimbabwe in New Zealand 2012

[Prince EWS]

I was thinking Hamilton would move up to open.

Yeah I think that's likely. I'd try not to move Taylor from 4 or Taibu from 5 is possible so it may may Forster bats 3 though.

 

[Prince EWS]

Thoughts on the New Zealand XI?

Name an A team imo, or something close to it. Maybe let Ryder and a few of the bowlers battle it out. Perhaps even play a few keepers and have them swap the gloves around.

Or alternatively we could play the test team to get them back in FC mode after the HRV cup.

Ryder's out injured isn't he?

The match is in Napier, which is a road at Test level - reckon that pretty means the team will be:

Guptill
McCullum
Williamson
Taylor
Brownlie
Vettori
Keeper TBA
Bracewell
Southee
Boult
Martin

 

[Flem274*]

Ryder's out injured isn't he?

The match is in Napier, which is a road at Test level - reckon that pretty means the team will be:

Guptill
McCullum
Williamson
Taylor
Brownlie
Vettori
Keeper TBA
Bracewell
Southee
Boult
Martin

Nah I meant the team for the warm up.

 

[Flem274*]

If it's at Napier I reckon it's likely that New Zealand will take two spinners into the game, which they usually tend to do, regardless of how lifeless the pitch is. Will be interesting to see who they lump for if that's the way they go. Can't see Patel getting another chance.

New Zealand to win both T20's, go 2-1 in the ODI's and steamroll Zim in the test.

They might try Nethula. No one else is really doing much atm apart from him, and he's taking lots of wickets, is a leggie etc so the magical lawn bowls pie might choose him.

 

[Prince EWS]

Nah I meant the team for the warm up.

Oh right; I see.

 

[Flem274*]

My team for the warm up

Murdoch
Watling
Flynn (fitness pending)
Broom
Someone who isn't Franklin
Someone who isn't Woodcock
Whichever keeper they want in the test
Wagner
Nethula
Boult
Henry

Sort of just picked some people who are doing okay/have done okay in FC in the past really.

 

[Flem274*]

The batting cupboard is a bit bare atm. Broom not scoring runs this season and Flynn's injury mean it's the openers, Sinclair, Franklin etc who are doing all the run scoring, and you would imagine they've all just about exhausted their test chances.

Apart from Murdoch I can't think of an untried batsman who has put up some runs this season. It is 2am though so I've probably missed someone obvious.

 

[Mike5181]

1.Murdoch
2.Watling
3.Flynn
4.Sinclair (c)
5.Broom
6.De Boorder+
7.Wagner
8.Nethula
9.Henry
10.Mckay
11.Milne

We actually have **** all batsmen.

 

[kiwiviktor81]

When does Wagner become eligible for the BC's?

And why can't we steal a few batsmen from the Republic? We have over 50,000 South African immigrants here, surely a few can bat?

edit: just learned that BJ Watling was born in SA.

 

[SteveNZ]

Wagner is available after the home SA series, so he can tour WI/India in the winter.

Nethula has a lot to gain out of the NZ A game, I'd wager. If he goes there and bowls well, they'll be very tempted to pick him in Napier which has been his home ground for the past couple of seasons.

My NZ A side:

How
Murdoch
Flynn
Broom
Watling
de Grandhomme
Young
Nethula
Wagner
McKay
Milne

 

[Daemon]

Didn't Sibanda play well against NZ in the last test? Why has he been dropped?

 

[Flametree]

Didn't Sibanda play well against NZ in the last test? Why has he been dropped?

Sibanda has chosen to play in Australian grade cricket rather than whatever cricket is taking place in Zimbabwe at present. The board decided to select from those players at home or those with permission to play abroad like Brendan Taylor. For whatever reason, Sibanda didn't have permission.

All a bit sad. Given Zimbabwe are missing a few players - Ervine (S), Ireland, Ballance, possibly Qerl, and even arguably Goodwin - because those players would rather make a living elsewhere, they can hardly afford to ignore a player like him who's been in reasonable form lately.

 

[Flametree]

Not sure about the make-up of the bowling attack for the Napier test. Too often in the past they'd see a "flat" wicket and assume they should play two spinners. But the Napier pitch never breaks up and plays just as well on day 5 as on day 2. Tough for bowlers of all types.

Having said all that, a leg-spinner who really flights it and gets a bit of bounce might be as good as any other option. Is that Nethula?

 

[_Ed_]

I've seen quite a bit of speculation (in a recent NZ Herald article, for example) that Watling may be in the frame as a keeper. I'm not sure how credible that is.

 

[Spikey]

Kruger van Wyk picked

 

[_Ed_]

And Watling too.

New Zealand news: Reece Young dropped for Zimbabwe Test | Cricket News | New Zealand v Zimbabwe | ESPN Cricinfo

Watling will keep in the warm-up game.

 

[Prince EWS]

Kruger van Wyk picked

Called it.

 

[Flem274*]

And Watling too.

New Zealand news: Reece Young dropped for Zimbabwe Test | Cricket News | New Zealand v Zimbabwe | ESPN Cricinfo

Watling will keep in the warm-up game.

I don't get the Watling love. Sure, there's a bit there to work with but he hasn't been given enough time since his dropping to work on and show improvement in his batting and he's only recently retaken the gloves in high level cricket.

 

[_Ed_]

Yeah, I'm not at all convinced. I hope van Wyk gets the nod for the Test.

 

[Flem274*]

"BJ will get a chance to prove himself with the gloves in the three-day game and Kruger will open the batting. A decision on who will take the gloves in the Test will be made closer to the start of the match."

WTF

Leaving aside he's never opened before, he specialises in rescuing innings from the brink down at six or seven.

I can't possibly think of a side that often needs rescuing from the brink in tests..