Your New Zealand World Cup Squad if selected today...

[SteveNZ]

I've said this before, but Millsy has been 'collared' for over seven ONCE in the last five years. That's an outrageous number in the modern game with flat pitches, short boundaries, T20 mindsets etc. He just doesn't get pumped. Bearing in mind a lot of that would've been bowling in powerplays and at the death as well.

So if we score 300, Millsy is exactly the guy you want in your side along with Vettori, and NcCullum on the right ground/pitch too. If we score 200, you don't deserve to win and Millsy probably isn't your guy. But of course Joe KnowsFA will blame him, so be it.

It's actually disrespectful all the 'old man' stuff I've read and heard about Vettori and Mill. Two of NZ's finest who are still contributing, yet this modern day 'we want the newest thing, the biggest hype, and we want it now' BS means they're out of fashion.

This is what you get from Mill when you post 300 : 5th ODI: New Zealand v India at Wellington, Jan 31, 2014 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo
This is what you get when you don't and he has to go searching: 1st ODI: New Zealand v South Africa at Mount Maunganui, Oct 21, 2014 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[hendrix]

Boult will be fine. I actually hope he surpasses McCleneghan and Mills.

 

[Kippax]

Boult will be fine. I actually hope he surpasses McCleneghan and Mills.

Went back and dug out Boult's personal best in List A cricket. As I thought, getting him onto a surface that wasn't one of ND's three-spinner specials was key. Yes that is Milne gloriously hooking his bouncer for six itbt, but the footage is from two years ago.

 

[Blocky]

Pretty much beat everyone for pace early in his spell - won't do that in the world cup.

My thoughts on Boult is that what makes him great in test cricket, that line and length - makes him predictable and hittable in ODI cricket.

 

[hendrix]

My thoughts on Boult is that what makes him great in test cricket, that line and length - makes him predictable and hittable in ODI cricket.

Yeah that's not an uncommon thought and it's not necessarily wrong, but he's being picked as a strike bowler.

He wasn't predictable or hittable when he played SA.

 

[Blocky]

Yeah that's not an uncommon thought and it's not necessarily wrong, but he's being picked as a strike bowler.

He wasn't predictable or hittable when he played SA.

In one match. While relatively still unknown.

I hope he goes well, obviously I want NZ to win the world cup. But it's a risky selection compared to someone who has proven themselves to be a strike bowler in ODI cricket.

 

[hendrix]

I think he's in the bowling form of his life, his pace is up, his rhythm is great, the white ball is almost guaranteed to swing, and he's a tremendous fielder.

Henry has done very well in his short career but it's not long enough of a career to call him the incumbent.

 

[Flem274*]

I think he's in the bowling form of his life, his pace is up, his rhythm is great, the white ball is almost guaranteed to swing, and he's a tremendous fielder.

Henry has done very well in his short career but it's not long enough of a career to call him the incumbent.

What?

Henry who has done very well in a short career isn't the incumbent ahead of the guy who has even less good performances behind him in a short career?

Boult is basically 2007 Jimmy Franklin but 5ks quicker. It's swing or bust. He's too one dimensional to be trusted in ODIs right now. In four years I'll be sad if he isn't good enough to be in the team, but right now he is the sixth best pace bowler we have with the white ball.

If reverse swing was still a thing in ODIs then I would be more optimistic, but right now after your opening spell you need to be really hard to hit and skiddy 135-140kph with no movement or variations on an aggressive length will get smashed. Franklin had the same problems back when he was a good test bowler.

He's a wonderful test bowler but he's too raw for ODIs. Even a still developing Milne has a few variations, and unlike Boult, if he's under the pump he always has the "hit 150kph at your face/ribs/stumps out of the park if you can" card to fall back on which accounts for average players and dirty sloggers.

 

[Howsie]

but right now after your opening spell.

So it's okay for Mills to bowl seven or eight upfront and perhaps call it a day, but not Boult?

On Henry I'm still pissed he's missed out on selection, it's nothing but a farce IMO. Just looking at the 2014 bowling stats he's miles ahead of the rest. 19 wickets @ 15, economy just a tad over 5. As opposed to Mills whose bowling average is close to 50, McClenaghan 40, Milne 46 (although I understand why he was selected and don't have a problem with it). I don't care what you did five years ago, it's about now, 2015 and Matt Henry should've been at least the third pacer picked after Southee and Boult.

 

[Flem274*]

CW ate my post.

Boult bowling most of his overs early is a good plan. His skiddy pace on an aggressive length is still going to take more tap than Mills' bounce and length between the wicket balls though. Both are weapons with a new rock but Mills provides wickets and economy. 2014 was Mills' first poor year since 2003 btw so stop exaggerating. Southee also had a rubbish 2014 averaging 38. Should we drop him?

Henry should be there, Boult shouldn't. I hope Boult justifies his place though because it sounds like the brains trust have it in their heads he's our second best ODI bowler and he's not. I love him but he's no where near #2.

We all know Mills and Boult will be used at the death though like they always are so heaven save us.

 

[Howsie]

Exaggerating what? He was bad last year, he's 35, barely played any cricket in the last six months, and coming off an injury. Why should I believe he'll improve?

 

[Flem274*]

Why should I believe Boult will go from mediocre to world class overnight?

Mills has years of consistent performance behind him and deserves the Sri Lankan ODIs to prove his fitness and form or he's on the bench. Boult also has this chance.

If they really wanted Boult they should have done what SL have done with Malinga and put an asterix next to Mills' name with the words "fitness dependent" next to it. That way you can sneakily use the SL ODIs as extra trials.

Or be really brave and leave out Nathan McCullum, backing Vettori to make it through the tournament. We're not going to play two spinners at once.

 

[Howsie]

Why should I believe Boult will go from mediocre to world class overnight?

He's barely played, so to call him mediocre is a tad harsh. He's been picked on potential to get the job done.

As for Mills I've always found not just cricketers but any athlete who is in his mid 30's, and whose performance starts to slip as the beginning of the end. He's done IMO. If is name was Joe Blogs he wouldn't be anywhere near this team, he's been picked on rep and not ability.

 

[Athlai]

He's barely played, so to call him mediocre is a tad harsh. He's been picked on potential to get the job done.

As for Mills I've always found not just cricketers but any athlete who is in his mid 30's, and whose performance starts to slip as the beginning of the end. He's done IMO. If is name was Joe Blogs he wouldn't be anywhere near this team, he's been picked on rep and not ability.

The ends beginning but he's not done yet.

 

[cnerd123]

Boult looked good in CLT20.

He can field, add a bit with the bat, and if he gives you 6 good overs with the new ball...no issue IMO.

Or maybe 4 overs then comes back and bowls 4 more when the ball is around 10-15 overs old (so the 20-30 over stage).

Top order wickets will be key in this WC and it seems like NZ have gone for 3 bowlers (Mills, Southee, Boult) who they know can provide them with that. Seems like a smart selection IMO.

 

[hendrix]

Or be really brave and leave out Nathan McCullum, backing Vettori to make it through the tournament. We're not going to play two spinners at once.

This isn't brave at all. If Vettori is injured we can bring NcCullum in.

The only logical reason for 2 spinners to be in the squad is that the selectors think we may need to play 2 spinners against the Aussies or Saffers or English at some point.

 

[BeeGee]

This isn't brave at all. If Vettori is injured we can bring NcCullum in.

If you do that Vettori can never come back into the squad. What if Vettori has a minor problem that would prevent him playing one or two games?

 

[Prince EWS]

This isn't brave at all. If Vettori is injured we can bring NcCullum in.

The only logical reason for 2 spinners to be in the squad is that the selectors think we may need to play 2 spinners against the Aussies or Saffers or English at some point.

Nah disagree. As I've said many times, the threat of a Vettori injury isn't just that he'll be properly injured and miss the whole tournament; it's that he'll have a niggle and struggle to play two games close together. It's far more likely that Vettori will miss 1-2 games somewhere in the middle of the tournament than it is you're going to need the sixth specialist fast bowler.

 

[James]

Henry interviewed well by Radio Sport earlier today:
Matt Henry: Black Caps squad

 

[hendrix]

Henry interviewed well by Radio Sport earlier today:
Matt Henry: Black Caps squad

Champion.

Good chance of him playing anyway.