Current NZL batting potential

[Athlai]

Honestbharani's side is not bad, however there's no way we can push vettori back to six unless we find a wicketkeeper and bowler genuinely good enough to bat seven and eight.

Franklin isn't good enough?

 

[Prince EWS]

Based on Merit we would persist with Sinclair at number 3. Is this what you are advocating.

Well it's well-known that I'm a massive Sinclair fan. I didn't mention names though because people would rightly dismiss my post as biased crap if I started going on about Sinclair.

Take him out of the equation though and I still stand by my point. Craig Cumming for example has improved immeasurably as a batsman since he was last in the Test team - if Sinclair's blacklisted then get Cumming in. Realistically I think we sort of have to face that whoever bats in the top order at the moment isn't going to be genuinely Test standard. Instead of ruining a young bloke's career and picking someone completely undeserved, the best performers should be out there.

 

[Prince EWS]

Franklin isn't good enough?

He'd be fine assuming he's remembered how to bowl.

 

[Flem274*]

Based on Merit we would persist with Sinclair at number 3. Is this what you are advocating.

He's better than Watling and Guptill.

Honestbharani's side is not bad, however there's no way we can push vettori back to six unless we find a wicketkeeper and bowler genuinely good enough to bat seven and eight.

WELLS

Well it's well-known that I'm a massive Sinclair fan. I didn't mention names though because people would rightly dismiss my post as biased crap if I started going on about Sinclair.

Take him out of the equation though and I still stand by my point. Craig Cumming for example has improved immeasurably as a batsman since he was last in the Test team - if Sinclair's blacklisted then get Cumming in. Realistically I think we sort of have to face that whoever bats in the top order at the moment isn't going to be genuinely Test standard. Instead of ruining a young bloke's career and picking someone completely undeserved, the best performers should be out there.

AWTA.

 

[Athlai]

Well it's well-known that I'm a massive Sinclair fan. I didn't mention names though because people would rightly dismiss my post as biased crap if I started going on about Sinclair.

Take him out of the equation though and I still stand by my point. Craig Cumming for example has improved immeasurably as a batsman since he was last in the Test team - if Sinclair's blacklisted then get Cumming in. Realistically I think we sort of have to face that whoever bats in the top order at the moment isn't going to be genuinely Test standard. Instead of ruining a young bloke's career and picking someone completely undeserved, the best performers should be out there.

Best post!

Cumming

 

[straw man]

Franklin isn't good enough?

What pews said. That and I'd want some indication that franklin's ability to handle international cricket has improved - ie by scoring runs in a pressure situation.

 

[Athlai]

What pews said. That and I'd want some indication that franklin's ability to handle international cricket has improved - ie by scoring runs in a pressure situation.

Match saving knock vs. India?!?

 

[Hurricane]

He's better than Watling and Guptill.

Since 2006 his (Sinclairs) average including games against Bangers is 19 and change.

Watling and Guptil have done better.

I think if Sinclair could play to his Test match average of 32 all would be fine with the theory of playing of him until someone more qualified comes along.

Trying a merry go round of players who are domestic bullies but fail internationally seems to be as bad an answer as picking on talent alone. That said if Cumming deserves another go then fair enough. Wasn't he batting well when Steyn hit him in the helmet?

What is the go with this Weston fellow that Flem has mentioned he averages 40 - I guess he only has one century to his name though which makes it hard to pick him. Need people who can convert.

 

[morgieb]

Some good posts by Flem earlier in this thread - and some justified early skepticism on Flynn.

The only thing about talent vs merit - is that if you have tried all the merit based selections and they failed you are left with picking people on talent.

@Athlai - you might as well replace one of those question marks with McCullum - he might fail as an opener but he will stay in the team as a batting resource at least at number 7.

Pity we lost myburgh

What happened to Myburgh anyway?

 

[Athlai]

What happened to Myburgh anyway?

Buggered off.

 

[Zinzan]

Why not have Taylor at 3 and Ryder at 4? Your best 2 SHOULD bat in these positions AFAIC.. How abt this line up?


McCullum
Guptill/<random opener>
Taylor
Ryder
Williamson
Vettori
Franklin/<other allrounder>
<keeper>
Southee
Mills
Martin/<3rd seamer>


Sounds like an awesome side for mine.. Depth and balance. Should be competitive if everyone plays well in most places.

Nah, Ross Taylor's criminally high at 3. He's a stroke-maker & is ideally suited to 4 (or even 5) for mine.

I wouldn't mine seeing How given another opportunity at the top with McCullum, especially on South African or Australian tracks considering he's a fine back-foot player. Also, not sure why everyone suddenly appears to have gone off Andy McKay, a 140+ left armer who's been given squat opportunities at Test level, certainly strikes me as someone more likely to penetrate in Tests than Kyle Mills.

 

[straw man]

Match saving knock vs. India?!?

Really? I must have missed that one.

 

[Athlai]

Really? I must have missed that one.

In Welly, it was rough as heck but was match saving.

 

[Spikey]

McCullum
Vettori
?
Taylor
Ryder
Williamson
?
?
?
?
?

more like

 

[straw man]

Trying a merry go round of players who are domestic bullies but fail internationally seems to be as bad an answer as picking on talent alone. That said if Cumming deserves another go then fair enough. Wasn't he batting well when Steyn hit him in the helmet?

Cumming is one of those guys like Sinclair and Fulton who have arguably been treated badly by selectors, but who it's probably too late for now anyway. IMO

 

[NZTailender]

Nah, get on the Cumming wagon.

 

[Flem274*]

Since 2006 his (Sinclairs) average including games against Bangers is 19 and change.

Watling and Guptil have done better.

I think if Sinclair could play to his Test match average of 32 all would be fine with the theory of playing of him until someone more qualified comes along.

Trying a merry go round of players who are domestic bullies but fail internationally seems to be as bad an answer as picking on talent alone. That said if Cumming deserves another go then fair enough. Wasn't he batting well when Steyn hit him in the helmet?

What is the go with this Weston fellow that Flem has mentioned he averages 40 - I guess he only has one century to his name though which makes it hard to pick him. Need people who can convert.

Tim Weston is another one of my biases. He's a decent batsman, with a tidy technique, good off the backfoot, and nudges the ball around.

But iirc he hasn't scored many runs away from the traditionally flatter domestic pitches, has many fifties but just one century, and he's not the top order player we need. He's very much a test match five or six, and those positions are taken.

 

[honestbharani]

Fulton was pretty good, I thought. What happened to him?

 

[Athlai]

Couldn't ever get his feet to move at Test level and seemed a bit of a mental wreck at the crease.

Though strangely enough has went alright in ODIs when he can just swing away. Hasn't scored any runs in years.

 

[honestbharani]

Couldn't ever get his feet to move at Test level and seemed a bit of a mental wreck at the crease.

Though strangely enough has went alright in ODIs when he can just swing away. Hasn't scored any runs in years.

Worth the punt I feel.. Looked a pretty talented player and it does not seem like there are much better options around.