NZ Test Opener

[Tim]

Debuting Papps (with a handful of tests), How & Fulton all at once would be extremely risky...

It's got to be a maximum of 2 IMO...so would it be 2 openers or 1 of Papps & How with Fulton?

 

[Ming]

Where did I say I wanted to play all three of How, Fulton and Papps....

 

[Tim]

When did i direct the question at you? I was just making a general suggestion.

 

[Ming]

My bad.

Andre Adams took 6-25 today, he's got to be more consistent than just producing a single decent performance.

 

[Tim]

We really needed that 'A' tour this season so that we could get a better idea of where some players were at in terms of development.

NZ 'A' is meant to be going to Sri Lanka aren't they? but that could be unlikely now.

 

[Fiery]

We really needed that 'A' tour this season so that we could get a better idea of where some players were at in terms of development.

NZ 'A' is meant to be going to Sri Lanka aren't they? but that could be unlikely now.

Our one-day cricket is definitely looking in good health if we can manage to get all the back injuries sorted out. The only concern I have there is we lack an opening strike bowler. Having players like Adams, Mills and Canning waiting in the wings is healthy but maybe we have too many "jack of all trades, masters of none".
The main problem is settling on a test top order to take us into the future and to sort out our test ranking. That might take a bit of experimenting and an Australian series is not the best time to be doing that. Stick with the experienced players for the Aussie tests for now I reckon which is why I think they should open with Astle just for this series then bring in a young specialist to have a go against the Sri Lankans.

 

[Ming]

If I could select an 'A' first-class team to test some players out, it would consist of the following....

1 Jamie How
2 Michael Papps
3 Craig Cumming
4 Peter Fulton
5 Lou Vincent
6 Craig McMillan
7 Gareth Hopkins+
8 James Franklin
9 Kyle Mills
10 Jeff Wilson
11 Tama Canning
12 Paul Wiseman
13 Andre Adams

 

[Tim]

Yeah, i'd agree with that team.

Thankfully Matt Bell has shown no signs of showing any progress this season after playing for NZ 'A'.

I might be tempted to throw in a Ryder or a Taylor into that team...but do they really deserve to be there? at this stage..No.

 

[Fiery]

Yeah, i'd agree with that team.

Thankfully Matt Bell has shown no signs of showing any progress this season after playing for NZ 'A'.

I might be tempted to throw in a Ryder or a Taylor into that team...but do they really deserve to be there? at this stage..No.

True. Ryder sounds like he has an attitude problem that needs to be sorted out. I have one too but don't ever expect to be named in any NZ sides and he's not the only cricketer to ever be guilty of that though. If someone can knock some professionalism into him he's got a big future. Same goes for Ross Taylor. I hope we can forget about Matthew Bell though. Great at domestic level but wasn't able to make the step up.

 

[Ming]

Would interesting to see how Ryder will go in the SS, seeing he has found some form in the SC for Wellington. Taylor has been injured, but now he's fit again, and hopefully he can regather the impressive form that he showed last season.

 

[Ming]

True. Ryder sounds like he has an attitude problem that needs to be sorted out. I have one too but don't ever expect to be named in any NZ sides and he's not the only cricketer to ever be guilty of that though. If someone can knock some professionalism into him he's got a big future. Same goes for Ross Taylor. I hope we can forget about Matthew Bell though. Great at domestic level but wasn't able to make the step up.

Why does the same apply for Taylor? Last time I heard he didn't have an attitude problem...

 

[Fiery]

Would interesting to see how Ryder will go in the SS, seeing he has found some form in the SC for Wellington. Taylor has been injured, but now he's fit again, and hopefully he can regather the impressive form that he showed last season.

Yep, the SS be will be interesting. Zimbabwe in September (if Zimbabwe are still allowed to play) will be an ideal tour to take guys like them, How and Fulton and maybe a few young bowlers like Sherlock.

 

[Ming]

No point in taking a young bowler for the Black Caps ahead of performing bowlers like Franklin and co.

 

[Fiery]

No point in taking a young bowler for the Black Caps ahead of performing bowlers like Franklin and co.

We're a bit thin behind Franklin though aren't we? Especially if Bond doesn't come right. Martin's probably getting a bit long in the tooth and Butler doesn't sound like he'll be getting a Christmas card from the Bracewell family.
I might have been a bit harsh on Ross Taylor but I remember hearing or reading about him getting in trouble for something but who doesn't at that age.

 

[Black Thunder]

How close is James Marshall to the team?

Has a pretty modest FC record, but it is still slightly better than his brother Hamish and he has done pretty well since getting he's chance at the top level. Hamish's success could be the best thing for James.

 

[Ming]

Martin getting old? He's only 29/30. Look at Kasper, he's well into his 30s and he's going very well. I don't think age is a factor for Martin.

There's been quite a few SC bowling performers this season, Franklin is one, while Mills, Wilson, Adams and others are also in form.

 

[Fiery]

How close is James Marshall to the team?

Has a pretty modest FC record, but it is still slightly better than his brother Hamish and he has done pretty well since getting he's chance at the top level. Hamish's success could be the best thing for James.

Yeah, I've often wondered why they dont bring him in as well but I guess it could be that they see them as being too similar (and I don't mean to look at but with the bat and what they offer the team). Would be good to have another Marshall in the field though.

 

[Fiery]

Martin getting old? He's only 29/30. Look at Kasper, he's well into his 30s and he's going very well. I don't think age is a factor for Martin.

There's been quite a few SC bowling performers this season, Franklin is one, while Mills, Wilson, Adams and others are also in form.

You like a good argument don't you Ming. You have a habit of starting every post with a question. It's my opinion...that because he's 30 and never going to set the world on fire I think we should be looking at younger guys to build a team for the future.

 

[bryce]

How close is James Marshall to the team?

Has a pretty modest FC record, but it is still slightly better than his brother Hamish and he has done pretty well since getting he's chance at the top level. Hamish's success could be the best thing for James.

quite a distance away, he plays as an opener but IMO has always been a middle order batsman - he may start batting there again with some solid young openers putting in good performances for ND which would be great for him IMO, he is a rather slow scoring batsman and he has been quite inconsistent - but he is only young and hopefully he starts batting in the middle order again and who knows where he'll end up

 

[Ming]

It's my opinion...that because he's 30 and never going to set the world on fire I think we should be looking at younger guys to build a team for the future.

Well funny that. One year ago he took a 10-for against South Africa and was the/one of the fastest NZ players to reach 50 Test wickets....

I'm sick of hearing we need to build a team around younger players. When has that plan work? Sure it sounds cool to say it, but it means rubbish. Pick players regardless of their age, just like how they have done with Wilson. I guess you were against the selection of Wilson then since he is 31?