For Athlai moreso than most of the rest of us. But yes, watching him belt Starc and Hazlewood all around the park after seeing him meekly surrendering his wicket in increasingly curious ways on last month's tour of India is quite baffling.The discrepancy between Guptill's LO and test records is Bevanesque. Obviously a huge difference with fields and all,but to see a bloke so composed and in control in one form but struggle so much in another leaves me scratching my head. It must be infuriating for Kiwi fans.
Frustrating is definitely one word, it's not unexpected though because he has never, and will never be suited to opening the batting in Test cricket. It would've been ideal if they'd said 3-4 years ago this isn't working, you're a much better #5 at Test level (around the time that Brendon was opening, 2012 or so). If he'd batted there most of his career, I have no doubt he'd be in the mid 30s-high 30s at least, rather than being judged a failure in Test cricket because he hasn't coped with the toughest job in the team. If Ross Taylor, for example, had been forced to open, his record would be similar. He's just never been suited to being an opener with his deficiencies outside off stump. I know other posters have said 'well he's not that good at playing spin either' but in reality, 90% of our Test matches are either played against sub-par spinners or on pitches not conducive to turn. Yet Nathan Astle, who had the luxury of batting 5, averages mid 30s and people remember him for the 222, the destructive middle order innings etc. I reckon Gup is a better player than him, in all formats.The discrepancy between Guptill's LO and test records is Bevanesque. Obviously a huge difference with fields and all,but to see a bloke so composed and in control in one form but struggle so much in another leaves me scratching my head. It must be infuriating for Kiwi fans.
I'd bring Southee in for Ferguson, and presuming that Canberra is dry I'd be playing Astle too. As much as I love him, Colin is wasted at #8 bowling a bit of fiddly stuff if it's a flat deck. Neesham stays in, Nicholls doesn't offer anything more. Neesham's bowling has fallen off a cliff, however - so unbalanced at the crease. Just going to have to hope Southee/Henry/Boult/Santner/Astle gets most of the job done.Neesham/CDG aren't genuine ODI bowling options, Ferguson is only good for 2 overs and Henry was pretty spuddy.
Southee back in for the next one, drop Ferguson. Rest of the squad looks fairly awful too. Tastle? Wtf. Nicholls the only other bat and I don't particularly rate him to make much more of an impact than CDG/Munro/Neesham.
Sounds pretty reasonable. Is it too late for him to fill that role in the test side, or has he done his dash because of what's happened with him opening? He'd be a handy five or six if he came in and batted ODI styleFrustrating is definitely one word, it's not unexpected though because he has never, and will never be suited to opening the batting in Test cricket. It would've been ideal if they'd said 3-4 years ago this isn't working, you're a much better #5 at Test level (around the time that Brendon was opening, 2012 or so). If he'd batted there most of his career, I have no doubt he'd be in the mid 30s-high 30s at least, rather than being judged a failure in Test cricket because he hasn't coped with the toughest job in the team. If Ross Taylor, for example, had been forced to open, his record would be similar. He's just never been suited to being an opener with his deficiencies outside off stump. I know other posters have said 'well he's not that good at playing spin either' but in reality, 90% of our Test matches are either played against sub-par spinners or on pitches not conducive to turn. Yet Nathan Astle, who had the luxury of batting 5, averages mid 30s and people remember him for the 222, the destructive middle order innings etc. I reckon Gup is a better player than him, in all formats.
Yeah the presence of CDG and Tastle in the ODI squad smacks of oh hey you're in the test squad now so we'll chuck you in the ODI team too for no good reason. Both over 30 and have limited ODI upside afaics - CDG's List A record is simply bad, while Astle has performed quite well the last couple of seasons but with Santner around its hard to see him playing, plus we don't need one more batsman down the order who can't find the boundary. Both have at least done the necessary in First Class to half-deserve a Test chance, but shouldn't be playing ODIs.Neesham/CDG aren't genuine ODI bowling options, Ferguson is only good for 2 overs and Henry was pretty spuddy.
Southee back in for the next one, drop Ferguson. Rest of the squad looks fairly awful too. Tastle? Wtf. Nicholls the only other bat and I don't particularly rate him to make much more of an impact than CDG/Munro/Neesham.
It shouldn't be too late, he's so much better than Nicholls or any other candidate it's not worth measuring. But yeah, he probably has does his dash because of the extended run as an opener, plus they might go with someone younger like Will Young over a 30-something year old.Sounds pretty reasonable. Is it too late for him to fill that role in the test side, or has he done his dash because of what's happened with him opening? He'd be a handy five or six if he came in and batted ODI style