*Official* New Zealand in England 2015

[Dan]

1. Latham
2. Guptill
3. Williamson
4. Taylor
5. Watling
6. McCullum
7. Ronchi +
8. Craig
9. Henry
10. Southee
11. Boult

I wouldn't mind Wagner in there, actually, but NZ had no real issues taking 20 wickets at Lord's basically sans-Anderson so I don't understand why some are suggesting Bracewell to bat at #7, but anyway.

If Watling plays as a batsman only, he has to bat ahead of McCullum IMO. Is it confirmed he can't 'keep but can bat this Test?

 

[Dan]

Actually, Santner in for Craig pls

 

[wellAlbidarned]

not sure about daybooing santa against so many lefties

 

[Goughy]

Actually, Santner in for Craig pls

I now dont feel so bad about knowing nothing about him - a FC batting average of under 30, a bowling average of over 55, no bio on Cricinfo, and as many Facebook like as Calum Haggett (exactly!)

 

[Prince EWS]

I now dont feel so bad about knowing nothing about him - a FC batting average of under 30, a bowling average of over 55, no bio on Cricinfo, and as many Facebook like as Calum Haggett (exactly!)

I don't even think he's officially in the squad. They brought him over for experience because the IPL guys were going to miss the warmups.

He's a good one day cricketer but I think he's a fair way off being a useful Test option at this point.

 

[straw man]

Feeling more up for this match than the last one when I was sick. Sadly England are going to be full of confidence too.

Need to harness the power of the new NZ flag to show England who is boss.

 

[Zinzan]

Wheeler in for craig.

Southee, Boult, Henry, Wheeler. The mirror image attack.

Actually, Santner in for Craig pls

Rightly or wrongly, this from Hesson suggests to me they'll retain Craig;

"Mark didn't have his best Test, that's fair, but he's played nine Tests and won us three so he's a very important member of our squad and he'll be better off after this," he said. "I also felt he got better as the game went on. Tim bowled some great spells and I think he suffered as we were a bowler light and had to bowl a heck of a lot more overs."

 

[RxGM]

Rightly or wrongly, this from Hesson suggests to me they'll retain Craig;

"Mark didn't have his best Test, that's fair, but he's played nine Tests and won us three so he's a very important member of our squad and he'll be better off after this," he said. "I also felt he got better as the game went on. Tim bowled some great spells and I think he suffered as we were a bowler light and had to bowl a heck of a lot more overs."

I think the know they made a mistake last time at headingly going in without a spinner, unlikely they will do it again. Even if the spinner is not much good.
The last part of his quote it just a bare faced lie Timmeh bowled 20,5,9,20 & 5 overs on each day respectively. Really not an excessive load. and from memory he tends to fluctuate about the 18-20 overs a day. Just indicates that the guy wasn't fit .

 

[straw man]

Mmm no way Craig doesn't play this match imo. Especially with Williamson not doing much bowling these days.

Looking for something big from Henry this match. So much excitement leading into his selection for the first test and by having a debut that was creditable and promising (that Bell wicket...) but not overly destructive, he's largely escaped comment since then. Is certainly more effective against right handers and I badly want to see him nick Joe Root out a couple of times.

 

[Kippax]

They bought him over for experience.

Bought in, brung on, done good.

If you can keep that incorrect use of bought to your rugby league forums, that'd be great.

 

[Kippax]

 

[Kippax]

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Rightly or wrongly, this from Hesson suggests to me they'll retain Craig;

"Mark didn't have his best Test, that's fair, but he's played nine Tests and won us three so he's a very important member of our squad and he'll be better off after this," he said. "I also felt he got better as the game went on. Tim bowled some great spells and I think he suffered as we were a bowler light and had to bowl a heck of a lot more overs."

Oh yeah I definitely don't think they'll drop craig. If there's one thing we've learned from McHesson it's that they pretty much never drop players mid series without a very obvious reason. That's just my dream fapworthy nz bowling attack

 

[Hurricane]

i am promoting lord kippax to his eminence kippax after his admonishment of said pewsian one.

 

[Athlai]

Kippax needs to post in tour threads more.

 

[Hurricane]

Kippax needs to post in tour threads more.

Kippax is all things sugar and spice.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Nah Kippax is like 50 year old Scotch - good in small doses but you don't want to go diluting it with coke and drinking it every week.*

*also tastes kinda weird

 

[Antihippy]

I gotta say, the hoodies the new zealand team has now is pretty fetching. Like that space grey with the yellow trim.

 

[harsh.ag]

Scotch and Coke - The official drink of The Beatles' Apple headquarters (given it wasn't 50 year old Scotch).

 

[CaptainGrumpy]

I gotta say, the hoodies the new zealand team has now is pretty fetching. Like that space grey with the yellow trim.

I'd be happier if they bat more time on the pitch and less time on the cat walk.