New Zealand 30 man squad

[Tim]

Just been announced, I'm sure James will have a CW article up soon.

Squad: Andre Adams, Nathan Astle, Shane Bond, Stephen Fleming, James Franklin, Peter Fulton, Mark Gillespie, Chris Harris, Gareth Hopkins, Jamie How, Hamish Marshall, James Marshall, Chris Martin, Michael Mason, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Peter McGlashan, Warren McSkimming, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Mark Orchard, Michael Papps, Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder, Bradley Scott, Mathew Sinclair, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Lou Vincent, Daniel Vettori

Daryl Tuffey & Ian Butler unavailable due to injury. Craig McMillan left out on fitness grounds, he is really the only notable omission.

I'm expecting Ryder and Gillespie to be the two bolters in the squad when it is trimmed.

 

[James]

That I have

 

[aussie]

What are the chances of Harris making a return for the world cup?, plus what up with Jeff Wilson i know the bloke was smashed around by Australia last year, but hey whick Kiwi bowler wasn't that series, he seemed like a decent all-rounder.

 

[Sir Redman]

Fairly predictable squad, though I expected McMillan to at least make the 30.

In other news, I saw Chris Martin at uni today while waiting to go into a lecture theatre. Was going to go up to him and show him how to bowl an outswinger, but I resisted.

 

[_Ed_]

At uni? How bizarre. Wonder why he was there.

 

[Sir Redman]

At uni? How bizarre. Wonder why he was there.

Well, he sat down for a while and then went into a lecture theatre, so I suppose he's doing a course here (probably business or something similar, all sportsmen seem to do business courses). I think most of our guys take uni courses during the off season. They've got to have something to do I guess, otherwise they'd be sitting around for 6 months (or 2 years in Martin's case, since he only plays tests) doing nothing. Or - shock horror - they'd have to work somewhere.

Either that, or it was his evil identical twin.

 

[Tim]

Jeff Wilson continues to struggle with injuries. It's very difficult to see him getting back to international level, he gave it a go..but I just don't think it's going to happen for him now.

 

[Tim]

Chris Martin lives round the corner from me in Mission Bay. I see him walking his dog a few times a week.

 

[Tim]

What's the number they have to cut the squad down to? 14? 15?
im guessing 14. Here are the 14 i'd take: (presuming Bond, Oram and Vettori are all fit)

Fleming
Astle
Taylor
Vincent
Fulton
Styris
Oram
Bond
Patel
Mills
Gillespie
Ryder
H.Marshall / Michael Mason
B.McCullum

I left Vettori out as I feel he is an automatic choice for the ODI squad and he could do with the extra rest. Bond I think will be picked anyway. I think the final spot will be contested by Hamish Marshall and Michael Mason. Ryder's form will be too good to pass up.
thoughts?

 

[James]

Jeff Wilson continues to struggle with injuries. It's very difficult to see him getting back to international level, he gave it a go..but I just don't think it's going to happen for him now.

Wilson has retired Tim. He's only working full-time for Otago Rugby I believe.

I like the look of your 14 players Tim. Good all-round depth there, although I think Franklin will be selected.

 

[Smudge]

Wilson is a technical advisor with the Otago RFU. It seems his harness racing training career must be over as well...

 

[donaldduck]

Pick your team

I was thinking it might be fun for us to select our NZ champions trophy squads.

1 Fleming (c)
2 Vettori (vc)
3 McCullum (wk)
4 Astle
5 Vincent
6 Fulton
7 H Marshall
8 Styris
9 Oram
10 Franklin
11 Bond
12 Mills
13 Patel
14 Mason

Selection Points
* It appears Hamish Marshall is well liked by the coach. This point combined with his recent amount of runs (even though they have been four day runs) I believe he will get the nod as the extra batsman. Unlucky here is Jamie How. However it is a middle order batsman needed, not another opener. I think he will be a main stay once Astle retires. NOT unlucky here i believe is Ross Taylor. He needed to score big runs for 'A' side in Australia. He did not do this and for me will miss selection and told to go and score more domestic runs.
* I have included injured players ie Bond, Vettori, Oram and Mason.
* Michael Mason for me will be the extra bowler. Either him or Andre Adams. I can't see them making any surprise selections here. Wellington bowler Mark Gillespie must be close and someone I would pick but I am not Mr Bracewell. NZ sides always have a very similar look about them. It is just the batting order that changes!!!!
* First team line-up 1,Vincent. 2,Fleming. 3,Astle. 4,Fulton. 5,Styris. 6,Oram. 7,McCullum. 8,Vettori. 9,Franklin. 10,Mills. 11,Bond.

So there is my team. We can all live in a fantasy world and pick who we think should make it. But we have no say. Lets all choose who we think WILL make the 14 man squad.

 

[Tim]

Mason is apparently progressing slower than expected with his injury. I reckon they'll take a punt on Gillespie. Who knows, he could perhaps turn out to do what Bond did...he's rated as a mid 140's bowler but that's what we all thought with Bond until he actually got under a speed gun and clocked 150.

 

[_Ed_]

Handy with the bat too, I'd like to see him given a chance.

 

[Sir Redman]

There's been a fair bit of speculation in the papers over the last few days about the make up of our 14 man squad. Gillespie's name is being bandied around a fair bit, and no-one's sure of the exact extent of Styris' injury but it looks as though he'll still be named in the squad. The only thing I'm surprised about it this - why is Oram written about as a certain starter? He's got a woeful batting record in ODIs, his bowling has been poo since he started having trouble with his back, and to top it off he hasn't played a game for about a year.

This is the squad I'd like to see:

1) Fleming (c)
2) Vettori (vc)
3) Bond
4) Astle
5) McCullum
6) Vincent
7) Styris
8) Fulton
9) Taylor
10) Mills
11) Marshall
12) Adams
13) Patel
14) Gillespie

My starting XI would be:

1) Fleming
2) Astle
3) Taylor
4) Fulton
5) Marshall
6) Styris
7) McCullum
8) Vettori
9) Mills
10) Bond
11) Gillespie

Looks pretty strong IMO.

 

[Smudge]

Squad named:

BLACKCAPS coach John Bracewell today announced the BLACKCAPS squad for the ICC Champions Trophy in India in October.

The squad is:

Stephen Fleming (captain)
Nathan Astle
Shane Bond
James Franklin
Peter Fulton
Mark Gillespie
Brendon McCullum
Hamish Marshall
Kyle Mills
Jacob Oram
Jeetan Patel
Scott Styris
Daniel Vettori
Lou Vincent

Michael Mason was unavailable for selection due to injury.

“This is the strongest side that we can put together for what is a major tournament at the start of an intensive one-day season,” Bracewell said.

“Mark Gillespie was the domestic season’s outstanding pace bowler and performed well during the Top End Series. He thoroughly deserves his place in the squad and his skills as a specialist death bowler will extend our depth in this area.

“Scott Styris missed his last match for Middlesex due to a back injury. The advice we have from Middlesex is that Scott should be able to return to cricket next week. We will take a wait and see approach before considering whether he can tour and have no need to consider a replacement at this stage.

“Hamish Marshall has performed extremely well in his county season for Gloucestershire having scored five First Class centuries and we look forward to seeing this return to form continue with the BLACKCAPS.

“Lou Vincent has averaged over 63 in one-day matches for Worcestershire and also seems to be in very good form.”

 

[NZTailender]

Had to read that twice to realise that Taylor wasn't in the squad.

Anyway, great to see Mark Gillespie included. I'll probably jinx him and ruin his career but he looks like a great long term prospect for NZ.

Anyway, the starting XI for the first game...I'd like to see...

1. N Astle
2. L Vincent
3. P Fulton/S Fleming
4. S Fleming/P Fulton
5. H Marshall
6. B McCullum (wk)
7. D Vettori
8. K Mills
9. J Patel
10. S Bond
11. M Gillespie

12th: S Styris


Undecided about the middle order...

 

[James]

You're kidding me aren't you? That's too weak batting wise for me, and we must play Oram. My team would be:

Fleming
Vincent
Astle
Fulton
Styris
Oram
Marshall
McCullum
Vettori
Mills
Bond

I’d back Astle and Styris to bowl at least 10 between them.

 

[Sir Redman]

Again, I'm not sure on Oram being a starter given his ODI record and lack of match practice. Marshall's not a number 7 for me either James.

My preferred XI

1) Vincent
2) Astle
3) Fleming
4) Fulton
5) Marshall
6) Styris
7) McCullum
8) Vettori
9) Mills
10) Bond
11) Gillespie

I would really have liked to see Taylor or Ryder in there though. I wonder what this says about their prospects for our World Cup squad.

 

[James]

The reason I like Marshall at number seven is that when he was in good form he formed a good understanding with McCullum in finishing off an ODI innings.