*Official* New Zealand in Sri Lanka 2012

[Flem274*]

With his actual batting or the fact that he's willing to do anything to get into the team?

I still don't have high hopes for him as a test match opener, he's still a massive fiddler. But if his keeping is up to standard then he'll be a real asset for NZ down the order.

Well both really - his attitude is obviously great, but I was talking about his batting improvements there. I don't think he'll ever be a Test opener either but I think he'd a really good number seven if he took the gloves and comfortably your best non-Ryder bet for #6 currently even if he didn't.

Ryder isn't coming back for SA is he? Watling must be a dead cert to play at 6 or 7, even if someone else takes the gloves.

 

[Zinzan]

Yeah, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I agree, and frankly if he's not going to keep he should be in the side anyway. I've been really impressed with him in the last 18 months or so.

Yup, Watling's batting has improved; and with Guptill so badly out of nick & Ryder on the sidelines, he should be there or thereabouts in the batting line-up.

 

[Kippax]

Kruger van Wyk the Kiwi | Sport24

“When I left I was not just looking for more opportunities in cricket, I was looking to broaden my horizons as a person and New Zealand has given me those, but also to my family and the quality of life we have,” Van Wyk said on Monday.

Any thought of bitterness or rancour towards his former homeland - such as were expressed by Kevin Pietersen when he went to England - were dismissed out of hand by the diminutive Van Wyk.

“Not at all, not at all. Life is too short to be sour about anything and, if I’m brutally honest, I wasn’t consistent enough to make the South African side. Mark Boucher has been a top performer for 15 years and that speaks for itself. But I also knew that if I kept working hard at my game then, somewhere along the line, opportunities would come, and I’m grateful and thankful that they have with New Zealand.”

 

[Prince EWS]

Also, Kruger never represented South Africa at senior level. Even if it was because he wasn't good enough, he still did not cross that line. Ronchi put on the Australian cap and it should be for life.

I find this argument absolutely ****ing absurd, frankly. You're just punishing Ronchi for being a better player than van Wyk. It's ridiculous. If he got picked for SA he would've played. Whether he actually did or not doesn't matter. He's far, far worse than the Ronchi situation.

 

[Flem274*]

I find this argument absolutely ****ing absurd, frankly. You're just punishing Ronchi for being a better player than van Wyk. It's ridiculous. If he got picked for SA he would've played. Whether he actually did or not doesn't matter. He's far, far worse than the Ronchi situation.

Too bad. He played for Australia. That's the line. It's ridiculous he can play for NZ. Can you imagine the reaction if he was half English and turned up in an Ashes series for England? That's how I feel about him.

If he plays we should get Tamim Iqbal on the phone.

 

[Kippax]

No I tend to agree with Phlegm. Ronchi has actually been quoted as saying if McCullum was still keeping he probably wouldn't be here.

 

[Bahnz]

i find this argument absolutely ****ing absurd, frankly. You're just punishing ronchi for being a better player than van wyk. It's ridiculous. If he got picked for sa he would've played. Whether he actually did or not doesn't matter. He's far, far worse than the ronchi situation.

awta

 

[Zinzan]

These are really handy runs after that mini-collapse....38 unbeaten the partnership now.

 

[Flem274*]

haha, on first look i thought he middled that. disappointed he didnt. i always love the is-the-umpire-awake appeal.

 

[Bahnz]

That's out. Still, evens thinks out for Jeets shout against Sam yesterday.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Avoiding debates on players (An English fan sticking his nose nose in is a bit pot and kettle) nationalities, but is Ronchi a better player than any of the current keepers?

Also regarding the game, how many overs have they been losing each day? Will surely come into Taylor's thinking as he will need long enough to bowl them out.

 

[Hurricane]

No I tend to agree with Phlegm. Ronchi has actually been quoted as saying if McCullum was still keeping he probably wouldn't be here.

If what Flem says is true that Ronchi is planning on moving back to Australia after his career is over here then I give Kruger the nod.

 

[hendrix]

I find this argument absolutely ****ing absurd, frankly. You're just punishing Ronchi for being a better player than van Wyk. It's ridiculous. If he got picked for SA he would've played. Whether he actually did or not doesn't matter. He's far, far worse than the Ronchi situation.

+`1.

Kruger's was still definitely a tactical decision.

He made the tactical decision to play in a country where he could definitely get into a FC side.

He probably wouldn't have made any Aus first class teams.

I don't really care though, what frustrates me is how the hell he gets picked here. I thought Young was a far better gloveman. Hell, even Hopkins or McGlashan are better choices.

 

[Flem274*]

Avoiding debates on players (An English fan sticking his nose nose in is a bit pot and kettle) nationalities, but is Ronchi a better player than any of the current keepers?

I dunno, thats one the selectors will be able to judge more than me. Watling and de Boorder are generally accepted to be good players though.

 

[hendrix]

Ronchi looks a very tidy keeper from what I saw in the t20s. Moves well. The type of keeper that makes difficult catches look routine by using good footwork.

 

[Bahnz]

I don't like how high Astle's backlift is. Looks real vulnerable to lbw/bowled through the gate.

 

[Flem274*]

how old is this particular ball? I've lost track with all the changes.

 

[hendrix]

re: the balls

I really hope that Kookaburra refunds them. It seems like the type of administrative budgetary thing that could just get written off by SLC or something, but really, that level of QC is unacceptable.

 

[otagoman]

I really like how Taylor is playing, he's rotating the strike and not looking to hit boundaries

 

[jcas0167]

+`1.

Kruger's was still definitely a tactical decision.

He made the tactical decision to play in a country where he could definitely get into a FC side.

He probably wouldn't have made any Aus first class teams.

I don't really care though, what frustrates me is how the hell he gets picked here. I thought Young was a far better gloveman. Hell, even Hopkins or McGlashan are better choices.

Didn't he have the top batting average last season in FC cricket? He earned his selection through weight of runs. Also, Wright probably liked his attitude and thought he'd be a fighter. Which proved to be the case in the SA series IIRC.

Doesn't appear to have the game against spin, but I suspect he'd do reasonably well in SA on their pitches and less skilful spin bowlers.