**Official** New Zealand in West Indies

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Thinking analytically, could it be due to a lack of variety in NZ pitches? Someone like Papps who has a fantastic NZ record was woeful against aggressive short bowling. He's a standout, but by no means the only Kiwi batsman deficient in this area over the past decade. Flynn has shown himself to be prone to short stuff, as has Tim McIntosh. Simply put, they don't come up against the combination of pitches and bowlers to adequately prepare themselves for it. The most talented players can succeed despite these shortcomings, but maybe the Flynns and Brrroooms of this world need more experience in other conditions.

This is why I think in many ways the selection of Guptill has been a good one. He's been backed to eventually come good. If Flynn was given a similar opportunity, I'd back Flynn to eventually make the most of it. It's also why I think that our players need to spend time in County Cricket or even the Big Bash League in Australia.

It's a similar thing with proficiency against Spin bowling I suspect. We don't have the combination of bowling ability and pitches to really pose spin-based questions on the batsman's technique. Hence, when they come up against the sort of top quality spin bowling you can get in International cricket; or even inadequate quality on a spinning deck - the less talented can look clueless.

 

[straw man]

Well that definitely has to be part of it. We are certainly vulnerable to fast bounce, raw pace and spin, all of which are lacking in NZ.

Like you I've been in favour of giving these next-rung-down batsmen like Guptill a really long extended run in the side in the hope that they eventually come right (almost the Vettori/McCullum path to batting success - takes years and years). Chopping and changing batsmen every few series has been proven to not work at all, and the cupboard is so bare anyway. We do really need to start seeing results though, especially from Guptill - I was predicting his break-through season would be 2010/11 FFS! (that's 0 from 2 as last season my prediction was a break-through season for Southee. Sigh. Not making any more predictions)

 

[Hurricane]

Odds on Guptil making double digits in the first inning?

 

[Prince EWS]

Odds on Guptil making double digits in the first inning?

I reckon he'll hit 30 odd and then get caught behind.

 

[SteveNZ]

Dukes ball=more swing. Roach and Best=quick. Guptill= less than 15.

 

[Hurricane]

I actually think for these two sides you can add a 100 runs to the total in terms of how competitive it will be. Does that make sense? For example if NZ put up 250 that would be worth a score of 350 against Australia because Windies will score less. I see this series as being lower scoring.

Therefore if Guptil can make a fighting 35 like PEWS says this would be worth a 50 in a normal game.

35 is well above his career average against minnows btw.

 

[Hurricane]

Dukes ball=more swing. Roach and Best=quick. Guptill= less than 15.

I think if he can get to twenty and through the first hour of play he will have done a partial job for NZ. That's all Trevor Franklin used to do. Score 17 and be out first over after lunch. But people were happy with him because he saw off the new ball.

 

[SteveNZ]

I don't think any of us are happy enough with that. If he gets to 20 and thrugh the first hour of play, the hardest work is done. Him, and the rest of them, need to kick on - as they did not do in the ODIs

 

[Hurricane]

I did say a "partial" job and not a complete job. If we bat first and Guptil lasts 90 minutes before getting out I won't call it a success either but I won't call it a failure.

I only hold this view for NZ openers. If anyone else in the middle order got out for 25 after 90 minutes of play I would be dissapointed.

It just really screws us up when our number 3 has to walk into a bat with 7 runs on the board. OR alternatively having Taylor walk into bat with 13 runs on the board. No wonder Fleming retired in his early thirties. Doing repair jobs is ultra draining.

I predict this - if both openers make 20 runs NZ will make 250 runs minimum and be in the test match. If they get some crass score like 7 or 8 we will be in tough to make 200 and we will lose the 1st test.

 

[SteveNZ]

I hear your point, but we're not going to win Tests if these guys don't kick on - be it openers or anyone. And I include Kruger 'battling 30' van Wyk in that.

 

[straw man]

Confirmation (more or less) that the side is going to be:

Guptill
Flynn
McCullum
Taylor
Williamson
Brownlie
Vettori
Van Wyk
Bracewell
Wagner
Martin

 

[SteveNZ]

I wouldn't take too much out of what Bidwell says..he's the new Millmow. A shocker.

But yeah that's probably going to be the XI. Flynn and Brownlie have to consider themselves very lucky, and they need runs.

 

[straw man]

Yeah I was going to add the Stuff.co.nz caveat, but they did directly quote McCullum saying Nethula would miss out and Taylor saying it was very likely that Wagner would debut.

Although I'm bracing myself for a massive underperformance, really looking forward to this test series. Should be three tests of course.

 

[Flem274*]

Dominion Post saying Wagner will take the new ball with Martin. Bracewell first change.

GAGF

 

[Hurricane]

Both Martin and Wagner move it the same direction. Bracewell should open.

Martin has to open out of R E S P E C T.

 

[SteveNZ]

Both Martin and Wagner move it the same direction. Bracewell should open.

Martin has to open out of R E S P E C T.

Completely different bowlers from completely different angles. I can see why Wagner and Martin would open and not out of respect (thanks for getting Aretha stuck in my head..). Bracewell is our best first change bowler. Hits the deck a lot harder than the other two.

Having worked in the media before, I know you can only take any story that doesn't have direct quotes with a grain of salt. Stuff is leading the charge now where you guess first, and bury if you get it wrong. They did it with John Wright, claiming he was going to re-sign until 2015. Unfortunately they would've looked better if they'd left the hyphen out and put 'resign'.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Both Martin and Wagner move it the same direction. Bracewell should open.

Martin has to open out of R E S P E C T.

If there's a massive cross-breeze then yeah. Otherwise Bracewell as first change is fine, he's one of those bowlers who gets it to nibble about even once the shine is gone.

 

[Howsie]

I wouldn't take too much out of what Bidwell says..he's the new Millmow. A shocker.

But yeah that's probably going to be the XI. Flynn and Brownlie have to consider themselves very lucky, and they need runs.

Wait, what. Surely Brownlie's brought himself 6-12 months at least in the test team with his first class record and the start he's had to test cricket? Flynn too, you can't pick a guy and drop him one test later. Especailly after converting him into a makeshift opener.

 

[Mike5181]

Wait, what. Surely Brownlie's brought himself 6-12 months at least in the test team with his first class record and the start he's had to test cricket? Flynn too, you can't pick a guy and drop him one test later. Especailly after converting him into a makeshift opener.

Yeah, in my mind Brownlie and Flynn get both these tests + most of the Indian test series to prove themselves. Guptill's on his last chance.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Brownlie just doesn't look suited to the shorter forms; he seemed very organised in Australia, and I thnk needs to bat in his own little bubble without worrying about the pace he needs to go at to be able to play at international level.