**Official** South Africa in New Zealand

[hendrix]

The question is whether Brownlie can handle spin. He's looked as useless against it as Guptill does against Philander.

 

[hendrix]

....so basically he's our best option? lol

Well that's what I'm guessing. But he hasn't been tested yet is all I'm saying. It's the same as saying Henry is our best Test 3rd seamer. We don't actually know.

 

[straw man]

Why not these two as openers? Both of them have/will be doing it at domestic.

They should be doing it in tests already imo, starting from the time Fulton was dropped after the first test of the recent series against WI.

There is an argument that with two new balls in ODIs now that a test-style 'proper' opening batsman is also valuable in ODIs. If the pitches are going to be really flat though, that will mean we miss out on the chance of a really quick start. So in some ways it comes down to the pitches. In the meantime, one accumulator and one hitter is a bob-each-way approach.

 

[hendrix]

Latham isn't just an accumulator.

 

[Mike5181]

Disagree, Neesham has shown he can be consistent with the bat and also at a decent scoring rate in test cricket. He's actually shown a hell of a lot more aptitude than most of the prospects we've tried in the batting unit for ODI. But he can't do it if someone at the other end robs all momentum in the innings.

It's too early, I think. He's got the talent, I just don't think he's ready to take up a role like opening. Definitely wouldn't mind being proven wrong.

Guptill is a bit of a worry though...He's the sort of player that can really let this sort of thing get to his head, and it'll only get worse.

 

[Blocky]

They should be doing it in tests already imo, starting from the time Fulton was dropped after the first test of the recent series against WI.

There is an argument that with two new balls in ODIs now that a test-style 'proper' opening batsman is also valuable in ODIs. If the pitches are going to be really flat though, that will mean we miss out on the chance of a really quick start. So in some ways it comes down to the pitches. In the meantime, one accumulator and one hitter is a bob-each-way approach.

The way I see it is you either need an opener like Amla who can play versatile knocks and more often than not build an innings for his side that others can get in and play around him with - failing that, you go with powerful opening batsmen and have a couple of middle order players who can do the Amla innings.

Reality is, with Taylor and Williamson - we've got the middle order who can bat 30-40 overs at a decent clip and do it regularly. We need powerful openers who don't get bogged down or we shift Williamson up to opener in the ODI format, put Taylor at 3 and start hitters at 4.

 

[Mike5181]

Why not these two as openers? Both of them have/will be doing it at domestic.

Wouldn't mind Brownlie opening in tests. Not so much in ODI cricket.

 

[hendrix]

The way I see it is you either need an opener like Amla who can play versatile knocks and more often than not build an innings for his side that others can get in and play around him with - failing that, you go with powerful opening batsmen and have a couple of middle order players who can do the Amla innings.

Reality is, with Taylor and Williamson - we've got the middle order who can bat 30-40 overs at a decent clip and do it regularly. We need powerful openers who don't get bogged down or we shift Williamson up to opener in the ODI format, put Taylor at 3 and start hitters at 4.

yeah I agree with this.

Without picking pure t20 hacks like Devcich, we do need impetus at the top. Aggressive batsmen.

 

[Spikey]

all hail ab

 

[ohnoitsyou]

Dear lord

 

[hendrix]

****.

 

[ohnoitsyou]

Thats such a latham way to get out

 

[Quaggas]

all hail ab

Action look OK, or is he from the Hash School?

 

[BeeGee]

This batting is pathetic. It really is.

 

[_Ed_]

I have no words.

 

[Athlai]

So who got on that Vettori tip? Kippax?

 

[BeeGee]

The way I see it is you either need an opener like Amla who can play versatile knocks and more often than not build an innings for his side that others can get in and play around him with - failing that, you go with powerful opening batsmen and have a couple of middle order players who can do the Amla innings.

Reality is, with Taylor and Williamson - we've got the middle order who can bat 30-40 overs at a decent clip and do it regularly. We need powerful openers who don't get bogged down or we shift Williamson up to opener in the ODI format, put Taylor at 3 and start hitters at 4.

That's my choice.

 

[_Ed_]

 

[kiwiviktor81]

SA deal the Black Caps a crushing psychological blow by getting Latham out to a pisstake bowler.

On the plus side, Southee-McClenaghan-Boult-Vettori is about as dangerous a bowling unit as anyone can field imo.

 

[BeeGee]

What do Brownlie's and Neesham's wickets have in common? Zero foot movement. Both feet stayed rooted to the spot and they swung the bat away from their body. There's no more basic batting error.