Fleming to open in SA tests?

[marc71178]

but Dravid isnt attacking, didnt succeed in tests as opener.

But he's never been tried in ODI's, and Fleming has.

Just because Dravid didn't work out, doesn't mean Fleming won't.

 

[Pratters]

But he's never been tried in ODI's, and Fleming has.

Just because Dravid didn't work out, doesn't mean Fleming won't.

Yeah, Fleming may work out. Shastri worked out well for India as an opener. Its not a certainty he would though. Its more about temperament after the skill is not in question as is the case with players like Fleming, Dravid, whoever is a middle order batsman who has ever become an opener candidate. Even Laxman failed miserably as an opener. Its not about being able to open in one dayers or not. Test cricket is totally different :S

 

[meatspx]

Look at Fleming's statistics, home & away:

home 36 1980 192 33.55 2 14
away 43 2946 274* 42.69 4 20

Putting him up the order would be a good idea in NZ's current problems if the pitches were any decent. Fleming opening in England wouldn't be a good idea, the selectors should look to blood a new batsman.

 

[Prince EWS]

Those lineups dont really look that bad, but players like Hitchcock and Mills shouldnt be so high. They are decnt batsmen, but when you have these players in your team, you can dump some of your specialist bowlers and pick specialist batsmen, as Mills, Hitchock, Vettori etc cover the bowling role. Really you should try to pick as many batsmen as possible with still having 5 or 6 full time bowlers (they can be number 4 batsman if you want)... so if that means playign a spcialist batsman at number 9 then so be it. Zimababwe did it with Matsikneyri at 8, and although they arent the best team in the world, they over achiev greatly, and its due to pretty good selection policies.

 

[Mingster]

Those lineups dont really look that bad, but players like Hitchcock and Mills shouldnt be so high. They are decnt batsmen, but when you have these players in your team, you can dump some of your specialist bowlers and pick specialist batsmen, as Mills, Hitchock, Vettori etc cover the bowling role. Really you should try to pick as many batsmen as possible with still having 5 or 6 full time bowlers (they can be number 4 batsman if you want)... so if that means playign a spcialist batsman at number 9 then so be it. Zimababwe did it with Matsikneyri at 8, and although they arent the best team in the world, they over achiev greatly, and its due to pretty good selection policies.

Oh my bad. I was bracketing Canning and Hitchcock together as bowlers,not meaning Hitchcock should bat at 6.

Mills is a great player at 7, he has a first class average of over 40 and has a ton to his name as well.

 

[Prince EWS]

Fine, leave Mills at seven, but then pick a specialist batsman to come in at 8. In one day games, you should generally try to pick as many batsman as possible. You dont need 7 bolwers capable of bowling 10 overs in a match. You need 4 (or 5 depending on the bowling of the others in your team). So of Mills is the seventh best batsman in your squad, pick him at 7. If this is the case (which I doubt), then you are still aallowed to pick a specialist batsman, who is not as good as Mills, at 8.

P.S. Sorry for the bumber of typos that appeared in my last two posts. I had to type them one handed.

 

[Mingster]

The problem with the Auckland side is that we have 6 bowlers of international quality in Mills, Walmsley, Adams, Canning, Hitchcock, Walker. You could always put Vincent with the gloves and play another batsman in McIntosh or Richardson.

 

[marc71178]

The problem with the Auckland side is that we have 6 bowlers of international quality in Mills, Walmsley, Adams, Canning, Hitchcock, Walker.

Interesting take on "International quality" that...

 

[Tim]

Don't be stupid mate, Walmsley & Walker have never done anything at international level to suggest they're of the highest quality.

Adams has been carted for just about the last 6 or 7 ODI's he's played in & Canning is still unproven.

Yeah they're all good FC bowlers, but international quality, maybe 2 out of those 6 names.

 

[Dick Rockett]

Interesting take on "International quality" that...

Agreed. Now that Adams has the yips, only Mills is up to standard, and even then I suspect he'd be a liability in Tests.

 

[Mingster]

Sorry guys not interntional quality.

Supposed to say, "bowlers with international experience..."

Hard Harry, what the hell do you mean MIlls would be a liability in Tests?

 

[Tim]

I'd like to see Mills play a test or two...I think with the way he swings the ball, he could be a good test bowler.

 

[Dick Rockett]

Sorry guys not interntional quality.

Supposed to say, "bowlers with international experience..."

Hard Harry, what the hell do you mean MIlls would be a liability in Tests?

I just don't think he'd be that penetrative. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of the guy, but he doesn't have the control of Tuffey & Oram, or the speed of Bond.