Take a point in time, say the entry of Williamson into the team - compare the statistics of all NZ batsmen in that time period and the positions they've batted. If you still believe McCullum hasn't pulled his weight initially as a keeper batsman and then specialist batsman, you seemingly think NZ grow a tonne of people on trees that can average 35 in test cricket.Specialist captains FTW
Would be awesome if Guptill acquired Nicol's bowling ability than we could play 4 seamers + corey to our hearts content.guptill took 3/34 or something once against pakistan. ross taylor has a couple of wickets somewhere.
just sayin'
I was thinking more in terms of the tie up an end spinner, Ryder's ability to bowl is always going to be fitness dependent, and his place in the side McHesson dependent.We already have Ryder who can bowl and who's an exponentially better batsman than Guptill.
I doubt very much that Vettori will play much for ND any more, particularly not First Class matches. Hopefully as part of the national setup, or through ND, or just personally, Sodhi is able to call on Vettori's expertise regardless. Being part of the national setup hopefully allows him to call on other resources as well e.g. the session with Warne.Given that his home ground is the most helpful pitch for spinners in the country, and one of his team mates happens to be the country's greatest ever spin bowler, I do think he could grow quite a lot in the ND setting. I do think that will be more helpful for him than getting an occassional 5 over spell against the tail in test cricket.
He's got a window of about two years before he'll be dwarfed by either better batsman who bowl equally as well (Mitchell Santner), or a better bowler who bats equally as well (Josef Walker) or an out and out spin bowler (Elliott Santner) - Mitch knows he has a few years to get himself established as a batting all rounder otherwise he'll watch his kid brother forge a much more successful career than he could dream to.I doubt very much that Vettori will play much for ND any more, particularly not First Class matches. Hopefully as part of the national setup, or through ND, or just personally, Sodhi is able to call on Vettori's expertise regardless. Being part of the national setup hopefully allows him to call on other resources as well e.g. the session with Warne.
Sodhi will doubtless be dropped at some point, perhaps prior to the next home season and when he's had a reasonable chance to show what he's got (for mine if you're going to select a player it should always be for at least 6-8 tests unless they're an absolute mistake like Nicol). Then he can go back to ND with a stack of things to work on and try to take FC wickets at 30 to genuinely prove himself.
If these blokes are as good as you say, why did Bradburn pick up Ish last year, as Jono Boult could have held down the spinners spot until the Santners/Walker arrived.He's got a window of about two years before he'll be dwarfed by either better batsman who bowl equally as well (Mitchell Santner), or a better bowler who bats equally as well (Josef Walker) or an out and out spin bowler (Elliott Santner) - Mitch knows he has a few years to get himself established as a batting all rounder otherwise he'll watch his kid brother forge a much more successful career than he could dream to.
Personally I think Josef has the stuff to be as good, if not better than Vettori, he's got an amazing brain for cricket and has pretty much captained every team he's played for outside of ND despite his young young age.
I had him listed to bat at 8. That's specialist captaincy right there, when you're a specialist bat who doesn't make the top 7 (or you're playing for Bangladesh). Went with that order, ftr, because McCullum cbf opening, and Anderson needs to be in the top 6 for his development. Not to mention Baz could go nuts with the tail with (hopefully) runs on the board by that stage.Take a point in time, say the entry of Williamson into the team - compare the statistics of all NZ batsmen in that time period and the positions they've batted. If you still believe McCullum hasn't pulled his weight initially as a keeper batsman and then specialist batsman, you seemingly think NZ grow a tonne of people on trees that can average 35 in test cricket.
His returns are perceived bad, solely because we look at his talent when he's on form and can't imagine why he's not in Taylor's league as a player, but as an NZ cricketer, he puts himself well ahead of the standard crap available. Our 3,4,5 and,7 are probably as strong as they've ever been in tests.
Mitchell had a hip injury throughout the season and wasn't able to get through his action so played as a batsman only, Josef Walker only just turned 21 and Elliott isn't out of high school yet. Sodhi didn't get picked up by Bradburn, he couldn't get past Bucko Martin in Auckland (and Hira in the shorter forms) so moved to ND, at which point there are strong indications that NZ cricket asked ND to accommodate Sodhi. Sodhi has been a long term prospect for NZ since age group and we all know how ******** they get over leg spinners (ask CD and their experiences with Nethula after he shifted provinces too)If these blokes are as good as you say, why did Bradburn pick up Ish last year, as Jono Boult could have held down the spinners spot until the Santners/Walker arrived.
Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Kane Williamson aren't Hamilton cricketers, nor is Josef Walker once he leaves HBHS (he was a boarding school student) so nice try, but shown wanting as usual.i just think it's cute some ND fans think they have all these test class cricketers hiding away in hamilton club cricket just waiting to get their chance ahead of the big mean nasty imports and world class first teamers.
ever since they had the good fortune to produce KW and the two world class swing bowlers they've been strutting around thinking they are what new south wales have been to australian cricket, or canterbury used to be to new zealand cricket.
they try so earnestly.
Twenty years old and his first game for ND - compared to Sodhi having 20 matches and still not getting his average markedly under 50? Go review their form in A level cricket and also youth level, Sodhi's statistics are horrible in comparison.Late March 2012 vs. CD is the game in the vault you want for Walker.
I'd certainly back him to polish off a doughnut and a steak 'n cheese pie faster than Vettori.