***Official*** Australia in New Zealand 2016

[straw man]

Wagner, who played in the 2-0 series win over Sri Lanka in December, missed out as McCullum confirmed Doug Bracewell as third seamer, Mark Craig's return as the spinner and allrounder Corey Anderson batting at six.

Canterbury left-hander Henry Nicholls will make his test debut at No 4, between Kane Williamson and McCullum who plays his 100th consecutive test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.

"It's tough on Wags because he's done such a great job for us, but losing [Mitchell] Santner to injury we have to go in with a spinner. You've got to pick a team for five days and Mark Craig came back into calculations. Otherwise the team picked itself," McCullum said.

Just feel that Bracewell/Craig/Anderson after the opening pair lacks incisiveness.

 

[Crazy Sam]

Match officials for the series:

1st Test: Kettleborough/Illingworth; TV: Martinesz ; Referee: Broad
2nd Test: Martinesz/Kettleborough; TV: Illingworth ; Referee: Broad

 

[Dan]

Bracewell bowled pretty well in Adelaide, tbf.

 

[hendrix]

If they were to pick on strike power Henry should've made it and if they wanted a genuine 3rd seamer Wagner would be the better bet..

Pretty much.

 

[Dan]

In hindsight, how dumb does the selection of both Craig and Santner look in that Adelaide Test? Bin off Craig and pick either of Milne or Henry for h4x on a greentop.

 

[Moss]

Just feel that Bracewell/Craig/Anderson after the opening pair lacks incisiveness.

Not to mention the opening pair themselves haven't been at their incisive best.

The interesting thing from the McCullum quote was that Wagner pretty much had a spot nailed until Craig was brought in, so Henry was never really a chance of playing. Bit hard to swallow that they'd pick Nicholls on ODI performances but not Henry..oh well.

 

[Bahnz]

In hindsight, how dumb does the selection of both Craig and Santner look in that Adelaide Test? Bin off Craig and pick either of Milne or Henry for h4x on a greentop.

Tbf, Craig did dismiss Smith in the first innings when he was looking well set. It was a troll dismissal, but I doubt Smith would've got out in such a manner to Henry or Wags.

 

[Prince EWS]

Bracewell's selection - given that he's seen as the green pitch specialist - means we've trolled ourselves with the pitch.

It's very McCullum and a great way for him to bow out.

 

[hendrix]

I wanted to make it more cryptic like a proper Kippax post but I just can't help explaining myself.

 

[Dan]

Tbf, Craig did dismiss Smith in the first innings when he was looking well set. It was a troll dismissal, but I doubt Smith would've got out in such a manner to Henry or Wags.

Something something something lateral movement [/kiwiviktor]

Also yeah, nobody had a ****ing clue whether Santner would be up to it or not, so it certainly made some degree of sense at the time. Knowing what we do now, though, I think quite a few people would be comfortable with Rodent as the sole spinner for that match.

 

[straw man]

Not to mention the opening pair themselves haven't been at their incisive best.

The interesting thing from the McCullum quote was that Wagner pretty much had a spot nailed until Craig was brought in, so Henry was never really a chance of playing. Bit hard to swallow that they'd pick Nicholls on ODI performances but not Henry..oh well.

Yeah surprising. I guess we shouldn't complain too much about consistency of selection; it's clear they think Bracewell has established himself as a slight preference over Wagner, who is then slightly ahead of Henry. However we also want to win the game and Bracewell's probably not our best chance there unless the pitch turns out to be quite a seamer.

 

[Prince EWS]

I wanted to make it more cryptic like a proper Kippax post but I just can't help explaining myself.

I can only bring myself to Kippax when I'm actually talking to Kippax, because I know he'll understand anyway.

Your post was gold regardless. Sigged.

 

[hendrix]

Baz needs to talk to DJ Khaled obviously.

They Don't Want You To Win

 

[SteveNZ]

Not to mention the opening pair themselves haven't been at their incisive best.

The interesting thing from the McCullum quote was that Wagner pretty much had a spot nailed until Craig was brought in, so Henry was never really a chance of playing. Bit hard to swallow that they'd pick Nicholls on ODI performances but not Henry..oh well.

They haven't picked Nicholls on his ODI performances. That's flippant. He averages 105 in 5 FC knocks this year, including two centuries against a touring A Side. Other people - Young, Smith etc - haven't put themselves in the forefront in the selectors' minds. Nicholls did, as I said against a touring side for NZ A which carries extra weight, and looked at home at international level and for the Thunder. So he was picked. Deservedly. I can't think of a case to mount for anyone else.

 

[Moss]

They haven't picked Nicholls on his ODI performances. That's flippant. He averages 105 in 5 FC knocks this year, including two centuries against a touring A Side. Other people - Young, Smith etc - haven't put themselves in the forefront in the selectors' minds. Nicholls did, as I said against a touring side for NZ A which carries extra weight, and looked at home at international level and for the Thunder. So he was picked. Deservedly. I can't think of a case to mount for anyone else.

Righto. I forgot completely about the SL A tour and assumed there were hardly any FC performances to go by. So yeah, I take that back. Don't agree with the selection but can't find fault in the reasoning.

 

[Athlai]

Not to mention the opening pair themselves haven't been at their incisive best.

The interesting thing from the McCullum quote was that Wagner pretty much had a spot nailed until Craig was brought in, so Henry was never really a chance of playing. Bit hard to swallow that they'd pick Nicholls on ODI performances but not Henry..oh well.

Not really, Henry is seen as a new ball bowler and he wouldn't be touching it till the 12th over with a fit Southee and Boult in the team. Nicholls is seen as a middle order bat and there was an opening. Apples and oranges.

I knew this would be the XI we'd go for. I wish we'd just went YOLO and left Craig out for Henry though.

 

[Prince EWS]

I really don't like the idea of four seamers when Anderson's at six. It just seems like a waste.

 

[hendrix]

Not really, Henry is seen as a new ball bowler and he wouldn't be touching it till the 12th over with a fit Southee and Boult in the team. Nicholls is seen as a middle order bat and there was an opening. Apples and oranges.

I knew this would be the XI we'd go for. I wish we'd just went YOLO and left Craig out for Henry though.

The Craig selection is the YOLO selection though.

It also fits in with the paradoxically conservative ideals McHesson holds. "Need a spinner for the 5th day" etc even though spinners die in NZ. "Show faith in players" even if they've just been destroyed by the same opposition in the most recent tour. I don't necessarily have a problem with either of these ideals, but there's no way Craig would be left out when you consider that he not only fits into the cheerleader's "be aggressive" chant as well as the Georgie Pie loyalty stamp program.

He's a gun slip fielder though.

 

[hendrix]

It should also be noted that Anderson was bowling quite Wagner-esque the other day.

 

[Athlai]

I really don't like the idea of four seamers when Anderson's at six. It just seems like a waste.

So is Mark Craig. It's the Basin, if king Jeets can only average 34.82 there in the Plunket Shield against total spuds, then what is Craig going to do?

(This message has been paid for by The Coalition of Craig Doubters)