Is New Zealand's best Spinner Vettori or Jeetan Patel?

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

No, we can't rely on Vettori with the bat. I mean, he's batted well in the last few years but thats been as a bonus. There have been times when we've asked him to do more (like him batting up the order at around 5 in ODI's) but he's failed to deliver. He's much better as a bowler who can bat for us, rather than a pure all rounder of sorts. Having him at 6 would leave us dangerously exposed and weakened. The best attack for us is 3 bowlers plus Oram and Vettori.

He's still a better bet to score runs than Jeetan Patel IMO, so he adds depth to the team that Patel wouldn't. This is me considering Patel to be an inferior bowler.

 

[Richard]

Lost me.

'Twas an FIAB, completely, but I suddenly wondered whether "52" was just a random number or, like "79", was derivative of the year this particular Matt was born in.

And if this Matt was indeed born in 1952, he'd be 56 sometime this year.

 

[NZTailender]

He's still a better bet to score runs than Jeetan Patel IMO, so he adds depth to the team that Patel wouldn't. This is me considering Patel to be an inferior bowler.

Naturally. I wasn't saying Patel is better with the bat, I was saying that we can't afford to play Vettori so high and have so many bowlers in the side.

 

[Perm]

Something that I've just noticed is that Bruce Martin has better career figures for Northern Districts than Vettori does. An average of 29, economy rate of 3.73 compared to Vettori's 34 and 3.83. ITSTL. Both out-perform Jeetan Patel incredibly. His outings for New Zealand A have been mostly unimpressive though.

What I can't understand is why Patel is being perseved with, despite being very poor at international level. Even if we don't have better bowlers, there are definitely those who have put in better List A performances and deserve the chance to prove whether they can be successful at international level. Nathan McCullum has had a fairly similar career, although more economical, and offers more with the bat than Patel does. Was disappointed that he didn't get a game in the Twenty20 World Cup, likewise for Bradley Scott.

 

[Flem274*]

Patel>>> than McCullum. Patel has been impressive when he's been given the opportunity. Aus have taken to him a bit but they hit everyone out of the park. McCullum will never be greater than Patel. You're starting to sound like TH with your hatred of NZ spinners. Only Martin and McCullum left to get hated now eh Perm.

 

[Perm]

Patel>>> than McCullum.

He is, based on what? His inferior performances in domestic cricket?

Patel has been impressive when he's been given the opportunity.

An average of 35 and economy rate of more than five is impressive? His aveage is almost 40 against ODI class teams, and his economy rate is 5.25. Simply it's not just acceptable. Patel impressed when he first played, and was superb throughout 2006. His performances leave a lot to be desired, where he has performed well in two games out of 13 against ODI standard sides.

McCullum will never be greater than Patel.

We'll never know if he's not given the chance he deserves more than Patel.

 

[Matt52]

'Twas an FIAB, completely, but I suddenly wondered whether "52" was just a random number or, like "79", was derivative of the year this particular Matt was born in.

And if this Matt was indeed born in 1952, he'd be 56 sometime this year.

Random............ should change that actually,

 

[Richard]

Patel>>> than McCullum. Patel has been impressive when he's been given the opportunity. Aus have taken to him a bit but they hit everyone out of the park.

Really, they're not the only ones to. Patel's record against the other ODI-class teams is far from impressive either, in 18 games he has an economy-rate of 4.89-an-over and an average of 35.66. Add Australia and it becomes 5.25 at 39.11.

Really, I always saw Patel as someone who circumstances conspired a little in favour of early in his ODI career, and when they eventually stopped doing so he was exposed as really not very good. He's not a patch on Vettori in ODIs. I've not seen him bowl extensively in the longer game and agree with Rob's assessment of him

If the pitch isn't turning a lot, he's pretty much useless, I'm sad to say. He doesn't vary his pace a lot and he doesn't seem to beat many batsmen in flight. He does, however, give it a good rip and is pretty accurate - hence, if the pitch is turning, he's a very dangerous bowler. I'd never pick him ahead of Vettori though; I'd just pick two spinners when the conditions dictated. Especially since Vettori would be a much better allrounder in said conditions than Oram, even if Patel was deemed a better bowler in them.

from what I have.

But I don't see Patel having much of a ODI career and if Bruce Martin's record is as good as it is he should most certainly have been picked before him. I hope he's given a chance ahead of Patel soon.