It would be nice but I suspect Franklin just doesn't have the accuracy - even if he starts with a couple of maidens you always know there's a 3-boundary 12-14 just around the corner. And perish the thought that someone decides to attack him.I wish Franklin would complete the transition to being a stock bowler and shorten his run up to 8-10 steps. He knows enough about bowling technique to still get it through at 120kms off that many steps in my opinion. I think it would help our over rates and just be more consistent with his bowling role for NZ.
His new role at this stage of his career should be to get through some inexpensive overs quickly and maybe chip out the odd wicket like peeps like Jesse Ryder do.
I think he has the potential to be a useful bowling asset for NZ - he just needs to accept his roleIt would be nice but I suspect Franklin just doesn't have the accuracy - even if he starts with a couple of maidens you always know there's a 3-boundary 12-14 just around the corner. And perish the thought that someone decides to attack him.
He should worry about getting the job done with the bat first. There's already five bowling options in the side.Didn't Styris make a change. He went from being a quick / medium pacer to bowling cutters.
If I was coach I would ask him to make this change or I would drop him. His bowling is not good enough in its present incarnation.
Like this team and batting order should stay like this; have a feeling Williamson going to hit a big tonMost probably the team will be something like this:
1. Martin Guptill
2. Daniel Flynn
3. Brendon McCullum
4. Ross Taylor (c)
5. Kane Williamson
6. James Franklin
7. BJ Watling+
8. Doug Bracewell
9. Neil Wagner
10. Jeetan Patel
11. Trent Boult
Pretty **** team that. Really missing Ryder.
So you think we'll take enough wickets to get Ashwin to the crease? (Or did you see him in a nightwatchman role coming in at 330-2 late on day 1?....)
didn't he play against the Windies at home?Kohli's first test series in India. He's gonna be sooooooooooooooooo good.
Ya, just one test match.didn't he play against the Windies at home?
This guy knows his stuff.Finally we start picking the right people. About ****ing time.
Personally nah, I don't think Wagner is ahead of Southee. The general feeling around the domestic scene is that finally the rest of the country is going to find out how quick Wagner isn't, and how he's just another OK bowler who got caught up in the hype.Steve, as a paceman of a reasonable standard yourself (I think), where would you rate Wagner for this tour in a pecking order? Ahead of Southee?
Seeing an international try that hard to get it through at 127kph (with a variance of up to 142 in an early spell) seemed really strange. His action has a nice aesthetic but is it really 'all small levers' and inefficient? Does the fact he's throwing so much shoulder into it stuff up his release, etc?
Agree that Wagner has been overhyped to quite a large extent. His strike rate last year was actually pretty good though.Also if you look at the strike rates from last year's Plunket Shield, I would wager Wagner isn't top of the pops, and doesn't stand out from the rest. He bowls a lot of overs for Otago, and benefits from that to an extent. Clearly he's a good bowler, but the hype does not equal the substance
Oh no doubt it's good - but not outstandingly good. There's no doubt the guy can bowl but the general view is he's not as good as the hype, nor the statistics.Agree that Wagner has been overhyped to quite a large extent. His strike rate last year was actually pretty good though.
Of the guys who bowled more than 100 overs only Jarvis (38.2) and Henry (43.3) had better SRs than Wagner (48.1). Boult was the same as Wagner and Gillespie was slightly behind. Wagner did bowl a ridiculous amount of overs though - 369.3
One of the best four quicks in the country though yeah? Especially if Martin is on the way out.Oh no doubt it's good - but not outstandingly good. There's no doubt the guy can bowl but the general view is he's not as good as the hype, nor the statistics.