**Official** New Zealand in Australia 2015

[Dan]

Santner's nickname is Rodent, apparently.

 

[Flem274*]

One injury away from wicketkeeper spam

 

[straw man]

Santner's nickname is Rodent, apparently.

Ok I can see it

edit: erg why can't I get this image resize tag to work?

 

[hendrix]

I'm sorry, but Santner is really not a good option at this stage. Hell, we could've even given Grant Elliott the call up.

 

[Athlai]

Santner would be a case of dropping Craig and playing Dougeh right?

 

[Dan]

Yeah, Santner's there as an option if Neesham fails/breaks and Craig is average, so they decide to play 4 genuine quicks.

 

[hendrix]

It's a terrible option though because Craig is probably just as good of a test batsman as Santner, a much better bowler and (most importantly IMO) has made himself an absolutely integral slips fielder.

 

[hendrix]

i.e. if you wanted to do that you're better off just playing another batsman + 4 pacers.

 

[Dan]

Yeah you're probably right, but I have little issue with Santner going for experience/"oh **** Craig broke a finger and Adelaide is magically a dustbowl" cover

 

[Athlai]

It's a terrible option though because Craig is probably just as good of a test batsman as Santner, a much better bowler and (most importantly IMO) has made himself an absolutely integral slips fielder.

I think you're being a bit harsh on Santner. He is being picked on potential and is definitely being eyed as a long term option.

Since his horrid first year when he was still a teenager, he has actually been fairly decent with the bat.

 

[hendrix]

In which case why not Todd Astle? Or Sodhi?
Or take Munro in the squad. Or Wagner if you want a bowler.
I know they've been developing Santner but I can't see the point in his selection yet. He's nowhere close to being good enough with either bat or ball.

May as well pick Milne if you're going to throw a hail mary.

 

[Athlai]

Because all of those blokes suck more than Santner. The guy scored a solid 90 in the top order when we toured England. Sure in a tour game but he didn't exactly spoil his chances at being in the wider squad there did he?

No one thinks he should be starting, but there is some logic to him being brought in to the team to cover an allrounder role.

 

[hendrix]

Maybe I'm being harsh.

I certainly understand the desire to get him around the squad - a batsman who can bowl left arm spin would be a bloody nice addition to the team when we tour the SC.
I just feel that right now he hasn't developed enough and is a no-rounder. Harsh yes, but it's really hard for me to envisage him scoring runs or taking wickets on this tour.

 

[Athlai]

Santner actually scored the 3rd most runs for ND last season.

545 @ 32.05 isn't terrible.

 

[hendrix]

Santner actually scored the 3rd most runs for ND last season.

545 @ 32.05 isn't terrible.

in that case I'll take the guy who scored the most runs. Who was it?

 

[straw man]

Main question for me is, if Neesham gets injured, will they send Brownlie over to bat 6? He's the clear best option for Australian conditions and had success there last time, but is now 90% of the way to transforming himself into an opener. Not enough of an opener to replace Rutherford but too much of an opener to bat at 6? That would be unfortunate tstl.

 

[Howsie]

Santner is the best young batsman in the country, only natural he'd be the pick.

 

[Bahnz]

 

[SteveNZ]

Santner is the best young batsman in the country, only natural he'd be the pick.

Interested to hear the rationale for Santner over Will Young, to see if it extends past his place of birth.

Santner isn't near the next best batsman or spinner. So we've canned the Sodhi experiment and now are running with the Santner experiment.

 

[Moss]

Strange pick for mine. Santner nowhere near ready as batsman or bowler IMO, and even otherwise Australia would be the last place to blood him. I suppose McHesson consider him the closest as a like-for-like replacement but still, better options in all departments:

Allrounder: Munro or maybe even Elliott
Spinner: Sodhi or Astle as has been said
Batsman: Brownlie, but the only way I see him being added to the squad is if one of the openers get injured. Should any of the top 6 get injured, their order of preference would likely be 1) Ronchi takes the gloves, Watling moves up, 2) Fit Rutherford in there and perhaps move Gupill down 3) Santner if Neesham is injured