**Official** New Zealand in West Indies

[Howsie]

Cricket: Southee joins test squad - Sport - NZ Herald News

All you Tim Southee fans jump for joy.

 

[NasserFan207]

I missed the big 'collapse', but caught the start of the WI innings and Boult/Southee both looked very impressive. Encouraging signs for NZ

Reckon WI will still take the next games though

 

[straw man]

I was thinking about who should replace Gillespie in the squad, whether it should be Southee or we're straying into uncharted territory with someone like Henry or McClenaghan. Or back to Mills/Arnel . Southee has certainly been bowling well but we've seen ODI form not translate into test form before.

As long as Southee is behind Boult and Wagner then I think it's fine - it's the logical choice in fact.

 

[Prince EWS]

Southee and Arnel were the only genuine options IMO and New Zealand made the right call there. He shouldn't end up playing unless there are more injuries though.

 

[straw man]

Disappointed with how Flynn got out, anyone with half a brain could see what Bravo was trying to do, should've shown just a ounce of patience. That's three innings now with a highest score of 28 while still averaging over 20 with a SR just a tad under 100. If he decides not to throw his wicket away for once there should be no reason why he can't make substantial in the last couple of one dayers, although he'll probably move back down the order with McCullum coming back into the team.

For the tests he will (or should) put away the flashing square drive and hopefully translate what looks like good form into runs. Not sure how he will go against Narine but there's doubts over most of our batsmen with that. In next ODI would try fit Flynn in at 4 with McCullum back. We don't really have anyone to bat 6 with Watling out - will be Latham/Brownlie I guess.

Must be disappointing for Watling - looking competent against Narine would have pushed his test place to near certainty. I haven't seen confirmation that he's out for that long yet though. Some of these injuries in last 6 months just seem like bad luck (Taylor broken forearm, Hira finger), however continuing muscle strains for lots of different players are a bit unusual. Not quite enough preparation?

Edit: They're only talking about Watling as a maybe for the fifth ODI so I assume he will be ok for the tests... though keeping for five days with a recovering quadricep would be difficult.

 

[Howsie]

Flynn back to five in the one day team, jeez, that isn't going to be pretty.

 

[BackFootPunch]

Flynn back to five in the one day team, jeez, that isn't going to be pretty.

Agreed. McCullum should bat 5. He's seen more of Narine than anyone else in the team so should be far better equipped to rotate the strike in the middle overs.

 

[SteveNZ]

Looks like Southee won't play - Martin/Bracewell/Wagner might be the trio, with the latter in with his ability to reverse swing it. Do we play Nethula? We know Vettori isn't a genuine wicket taker anymore, and by all reports it should turn over there.

 

[BackFootPunch]

Guptill
Flynn
McCullum
Taylor
Williamson
Brownlie/Watling
van Wyk
Vettori
Bracewell
Wagner
Martin

I guess if it's a bunsen we play Nethula over Wagner.

 

[Mike5181]

Guptill
Flynn
McCullum
Taylor
Williamson
Brownlie/Watling
van Wyk
Vettori
Bracewell
Wagner
Martin

I guess if it's a bunsen we play Nethula over Wagner.

Brownlie should have a decent run in the test team.

 

[BackFootPunch]

Brownlie should have a decent run in the test team.

Agreed. Maybe Watling over van Wyk then? Depending on the quad.

 

[Mike5181]

Agreed. Maybe Watling over van Wyk then? Depending on the quad.

Yeah, It'd be a tough ask to have him keep in a test match, but if they really want him in the team I'd be more inclined to have him replace Van Wyk than Brownlie. For now anyway. If he's not 100% then he probably shouldn't be considered for selection. Brownlie and Van Wyk are good enough players to keep a semi-injured Watling out of the starting line up. I've liked the look of Watling in this ODI series though.

 

[straw man]

Brownlie should have a decent run in the test team.

I agree too - providing we don't want Vettori at 6 that is. We shouldn't let the fact that Brownlie has failed in ODIs and missed a couple of tests due to broken finger influence whether he's selected in tests or not.

A few tough decisions for the first test.

Watling vs Van Wyk very dependent on Watling's fitness.

To play three seamers or just two, and whether Boult or Wagner would be the third seamer. Boult seems to keep getting a raw deal but suspect that SteveNZ is right that Wagner, being better suited to bowling with the old ball rather than new, might just be a better option. I wouldn't complain if they went with Boult though.

Nethula surely should play if the pitches will be anything like West Indies test pitches a few months ago. Fitting him in is really hard though. Could omit the third seamer, or could drop the sixth batsman (Brownlie I guess), or could do the unthinkable and drop Vettori. I know some Vettori-haters will be gagging for the third option but if we take the usual stance that West Indies batsmen like to attack but can be ill-disciplined, then Vettori should be successful against them.

 

[Prince EWS]

I wonder how long it'll take before someone uses the term "point of difference" in a post. I can smell it coming.

(this post doesn't count, ftr )

 

[Mike5181]

Vettori's been terrible against non-minnows in the last two years.

Batting average: 25.93
Bowling average: 43.60

Down the road at some point I would like to see us play a series without Vettori.

 

[BackFootPunch]

I wonder how long it'll take before someone uses the term "point of difference" in a post. I can smell it coming.

(this post doesn't count, ftr )

Just until Mark Richardson or Simon Doull make a post. Might be tough for Rigor to find the time though, what with his hectic schedule hosting The Block.

 

[Howsie]

If the pitches look likely to take serious turn I'd only play the four bowlers tbh. Nethula and Vettori + two quicks. No point playing three seamers if one of them is only likely to bowl 5-10 overs a day. Anything less than that and Nethula doesn't play, go in with three quicks IMO.

To play three seamers or just two, and whether Boult or Wagner would be the third seamer. Boult seems to keep getting a raw deal but suspect that SteveNZ is right that Wagner, being better suited to bowling with the old ball rather than new, might just be a better option. I wouldn't complain if they went with Boult though.

Hmmm, Boult can reverse the old ball too tbf. Not as well as Wagner but it's a pretty decent skill of his.

 

[Mike5181]

If the pitches look likely to take serious turn I'd only play the four bowlers tbh. Nethula and Vettori + two quicks. No point playing three seamers if one of them is only likely to bowl 5-10 overs a day. Anything less than that and Nethula doesn't play, go in with three quicks IMO.

Yeah, that'd make sense.

 

[BackFootPunch]

Whoa, just realised how appropriate it is for him to be hosting a show with that title. Outstanding.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

If the pitches look likely to take serious turn I'd only play the four bowlers tbh. Nethula and Vettori + two quicks. No point playing three seamers if one of them is only likely to bowl 5-10 overs a day. Anything less than that and Nethula doesn't play, go in with three quicks IMO.

Despite my five-bowler fetish, this makes a lot of sense. Two spinners can just bowl and bowl once the shine's gone.