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

[wellAlbidarned]

Only has two stages IMO -
1. Good bowler who could bat a bit
2. Being ****

 

[Mike5181]

Well he actually started out as #4 in youth cricket; his batting was always rated higher.

He was always Sinclair-like when he came out to bat. Everyone knew he had potential and it was like come on Franklin score some runs this time. Hits it in the air to Ponting*
**** ****ING ****!!!

 

[SteveNZ]

btw, it ****s me off when sections of the media claims Wells is unknown. Maybe to you lot, but to radio commentators and listeners he's known.

Even if we go by the logic of "but no one cares about domestic cricket so he's unknown" then that means everyone in domestic cricket is unknown, making the term a tad redundant.

For what it's worth, I totally agree. It ****s me as well. To people who really follow our domestic game and know what they're talking about, he's been on the radar for quite some time. So really they're outing themselves as clueless.

 

[straw man]

Given the lack of dibbly dobbly bowlers in our batting line-up at present, I wouldn't be shocked if Wells actually plays on Thursday. I suspect the selectors are very nervous about exposing a lower order of Vettori at 6, unproven keeper, and four bowlers (including Martin) to the South Africans later in the summer. Bracewell and Southee have potential, to be good enough to contribute at 8 or 9, but at present they are both one place too high.

They will be nervous, though I can't see them dropping one of our four pacemen for Wells at this point. However if either Southee or Boult give the selectors an excuse by bowling poorly, do agree Wells could come in as fourth seamer perhaps second SA test.

Mainly though I think Wells, Van Wyk, Nethula are around as they're likely to be in the fifteen man squad for the Windies in a few months.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

So it looks like the XI is set

Guptill
McCullum
Williamson
Taylor (c)
Brownlie
Vettori
Watling (wk)
Bracewell
Southee
Boult
Martin


So much for Kruger van Wyk opening the batting........

 

[Days of Grace]

Big pressure on the top 4 to actually score some ****ing centuries.

 

[BeeGee]

Big pressure on the top 4 to actually score some ****ing centuries.

Indeed.

I'd like to see NZ take a step up in performance level in Test cricket. I think the personnel we have now have more raw talent than we've seen for a long, long time. It's time to put some quality performances out on the field.

 

[Zinzan]

On Watling's selection as a WK...I actually speculating this might happen about 12 mths ago when Hopkin's was dropped (and Young came in). I was keen on the idea at the time, but watching Watling's batting in the last 12mths has put me off a little. He seems to have a few technical problems to iron out. Hopefully they are minor things because I liked the look of him on his debut a couple of years back.

 

[Nigel Benjamin]

I hear Ray Price and Crystal Meth are out of the Test with injuries.

Meth's injury gives Shingi Masakadza the Test spot and Cremer should come in for Pricey.

This leaves a very inexperienced attack with Vitori, Jarvis, Masakadza SW, Cremer and Chigumbura.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

That'd be gutting. Especially if Price is out.

Cricinfo confirms:

Shingi Masakadza is line to make his debut, taking the third seamer's spot after Meth was struck with a ball during training and is on crutches. Legspinner Graeme Cremer will also play after veteran Ray Price was ruled out with a groin injury.

Meth needs to learn to avoid the ball, methinks.

 

[Days of Grace]

Just really hoping that New Zealand, after beating Australia, really just deal to Zimbabwe good and proper like they should do.

No scrathing around to 311 all out FFS if the pitch is good. Deal to the ****s.

Just not sold at all on the Watling selection. He is not a natural keeper so it just ****s me that once again we are trying to make a wicketkeeper out of a batsmen and whilst one of the openers is a natural keeper. Yes, I know McCullum will never keep in tests again but it just looks ridiculous.

 

[Mike5181]

I hope we bat first and put up an Australian-like total.

 

[Zinzan]

Just not sold at all on the Watling selection. He is not a natural keeper so it just ****s me that once again we are trying to make a wicketkeeper out of a batsmen and whilst one of the openers is a natural keeper. Yes, I know McCullum will never keep in tests again but it just looks ridiculous.

I'm marginally skeptical about Watling's glove-work as well, but was interested to learn he was first selected at FC level as a wicket-keeper. Happy to reserve judgement until I actually see him keep in a Test though, as should you.

 

[Prince EWS]

The Watling thing is interesting. I think KVW has proven more with the gloves and even with the bat but I do wonder if Watling is being looked at as someone who could potentially both open and keep at once (not in this Test obviously). It's a tough ask for anyone, let alone someone as unproven in general as Watling, but if he could do it then it'd really balance the side a lot better if/when Ryder returned, even if he only averaged high 20s with the bat but got consistent starts and kept tidily.

 

[Mike5181]

It's most likely a stretch too far for an inexperienced keeper to open and keep in tests. Wright has only ever said the keeper he selected would fill the number 7 slot.

 

[Days of Grace]

It's most likely a stretch too far for an inexperienced keeper to open and keep in tests. Wright has only ever said the keeper he selected would fill the number 7 slot.

Stretch too far for almost any keeper in the history of game, itbt.

Could only expect him to average early 30s at most if you expect him to back up straight after keeping.

 

[Mike5181]

Stretch too far for almost any keeper in the history of game, itbt.

Could only expect him to average early 30s at most if you expect him to back up straight after keeping.

Yeah, it's not even so much about the amount of runs he would score because lets be honest Martin Guptill scores sweet **** all runs anyway. It's what effect the extra fatigue has on his keeping.

It'll be interesting to see what happens when/if Ryder does come back though. You'd expect our opinions on some of these players to change if South Africa gives us a hiding.

 

[Prince EWS]

Stretch too far for almost any keeper in the history of game, itbt.

Could only expect him to average early 30s at most if you expect him to back up straight after keeping.

I don't expect him (or Guptill for that matter) to average any more than that anyway tbh.

If he could average high 20s with regular starts and keep well while opening, I'd have him opening when Ryder was available again. Of course that's just a big if in general.

 

[Jarquis]

Cremer (Y)

 

[BeeGee]

i hope we bat first and put up an australian-like total.

47?