**Official** Pakistan v New Zealand in the UAE 2014

[Athlai]

Because you answer questions with questions

Good point actually.

 

[straw man]

Black Caps allrounders under the microscope | Stuff.co.nz

Incumbent New Zealand test No 6 Jimmy Neesham and the former first choice allrounder, Corey Anderson, are duelling for one spot in Sunday's first test against Pakistan in a selection poser that will likely stretch into the World Cup.

Meanwhile, opener Hamish Rutherford (fractured finger) is expected to partner Tom Latham after sitting out the drawn three-dayer against Pakistan A as a precaution, while skipper Brendon McCullum got the all clear after being laid low by a 24-hour bug.

Medical staff expect a fully fit squad to choose from in the desert, with Ross Taylor seemingly over his calf strain.

That leaves the bowling balance as the head-scratcher, with Neesham or Anderson the fifth option for McCullum and a two-spin duo of Ish Sodhi and Mark Craig looking likely.

Neesham should get first crack, given his game-changing knocks of 78 and 51 in New Zealand's series-clinching win in Barbados in June.

With Rutherford recovering (sigh) it doesn't seem there's much doubt on our XI, unless Anderson's warmup runs sway things his way.

What's more, Neesh is a true buffet bowler at this level and Anderson isn't much better.

Anderson was superb with the ball against the Windies. His bowling is a level aboves Neesham's right now.

Anderson was generally pretty accurate and reliable with the ball in his first few tests vs Bangladesh and WI (aside from a few memorable rank deliveries that somehow got wickets), but he completely lost his radar against India and at times could barely land the ball on the cut strip - no idea what happened those days but it'd be good if it didn't happen again. Neesham is indeed buffet though I'm still hanging my hat on that bowling clicking sometime... in the next 2 years.

 

[kiwiviktor81]

I reckon Anderson's the man to become the new Dave Warner and smack it around from the top of the innings.

 

[NZTailender]

I guess on bowling alone you'd probably have to go Anderson but it's a bit rough to leave out Neesham given he's scored more runs than Anderson in less tests, with 2 50s and 2 100s in 4 matches.

 

[hendrix]

argh, it's so frustrating.

The gamble of Rutherford's selection is exactly the same as with Fulton's selection in the Caribbean. There are no winners.

 

[kiwiviktor81]

It's clear to me that the search for a traditional opener is a failure. We might as well go for a stand-and-deliver hitter at the top, at least we'd be scoring a few runs then. What do our openers average over the past three years? Can't be much more than 20.

 

[Kippax]

 

[Athlai]

It's clear to me that the search for a traditional opener is a failure. We might as well go for a stand-and-deliver hitter at the top, at least we'd be scoring a few runs then. What do our openers average over the past three years? Can't be much more than 20.

27.13 since Jan 2011

 

[Bahnz]

27.13 since Jan 2011

25.57 if you cut out Zimbang and just 23.35 if you further remove the West Indies.

 

[Prince EWS]

It's clear to me that the search for a traditional opener is a failure. We might as well go for a stand-and-deliver hitter at the top, at least we'd be scoring a few runs then. What do our openers average over the past three years? Can't be much more than 20.

Or go the other way -- Tastle!

 

[Kippax]

Its $11 for most runs scored in the series. Its still good value, but not as good value as say $6 for highest run scorer in a match.

Giving you $11 for the first innings anyway.

 

[Kippax]

Man if Hafeez gets up, I'm going to be livid.

 

[Athlai]

$11 whatadeal

 

[Kippax]

Will Watling handle Zulfi's slider though? Fair to say left-handers have it significantly easier against this spin duo, or not?

 

[Athlai]

Will Watling handle Zulfi's slider though? Fair to say left-handers have it significantly easier against this spin duo, or not?

Fair to say our left handers aren't as good as our right handers.

 

[Kippax]

Anderson can monster spin coming back into him, at times. When he gets up to $9/$10 the price becomes appealing, according to Cribbage.

 

[Kippax]

I'm going to be a watered-down coward, lock Watling in for a plucky Kiwi silver or bronze.

 

[Athlai]

Thats not too bad at all. Didn't even know that was an option ITBT.

 

[kiwiviktor81]

The TAB appears to believe that Williamson is a better batsman than Taylor by a similar or greater margin to Taylor over McCullum.

 

[Dan]

Or go the other way -- Tastle!

9/10 Dan impersonation, IMO. The '--' is a really accurate touch.