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NZ Top Order Woes
- Thread starter Kimbo
- Start date
I think after Fleming's recent knocks as Opener there is now buckly's chance of him not staying there for the WC.........
Astle
Fleming
Sinclair
Styris / McMillan
Cairns
Vincent
McCullum
Oram / Adams
Vettori / Mills / Harris
Bond
Tuffey
I have revised my opinion of Styris as a bat, and have him as my starting No4 ahead of McMillan on current form.
I realise that McCullum hasn't actually been 'hot / cold', just that he has not posted a decent score as of yet & appears to be trying too hard & his shot selection has seemed a bit agricultural for one of his credentials.
I would not move him to Opener until he has had a chance to settle into the team and make some scores, after his debut & failures in that position. He has the credentials (as does Oram) to score well, but needs to convert this potential b4 being mucked about like Vincent & a few others have been - a situation of enough talent to become abused into a 'jack of all trades' role & mastering none!!!!!
I would love to start Adams, but I'm not sure who to leave out!!! Tuffey & Oram have been the form bowlers of the Touras a whole, while Adams has been the man in the ODI series for NZ & Bond is the real 'strike' bowler for the team. Styris warrants selection for his batting now and I'm loath to leave Vettori out as the all pace attack becomes too similar.
Of the NZ players I think all of them seem to have at least got a 'start' with the bat, apart from McCullum, McMillan, Tuffey & Harris. I don't count Vettori in this as he hasn't had much of a chance re selections.
Astle
Fleming
Sinclair
Styris / McMillan
Cairns
Vincent
McCullum
Oram / Adams
Vettori / Mills / Harris
Bond
Tuffey
I have revised my opinion of Styris as a bat, and have him as my starting No4 ahead of McMillan on current form.
I realise that McCullum hasn't actually been 'hot / cold', just that he has not posted a decent score as of yet & appears to be trying too hard & his shot selection has seemed a bit agricultural for one of his credentials.
I would not move him to Opener until he has had a chance to settle into the team and make some scores, after his debut & failures in that position. He has the credentials (as does Oram) to score well, but needs to convert this potential b4 being mucked about like Vincent & a few others have been - a situation of enough talent to become abused into a 'jack of all trades' role & mastering none!!!!!
I would love to start Adams, but I'm not sure who to leave out!!! Tuffey & Oram have been the form bowlers of the Touras a whole, while Adams has been the man in the ODI series for NZ & Bond is the real 'strike' bowler for the team. Styris warrants selection for his batting now and I'm loath to leave Vettori out as the all pace attack becomes too similar.
Of the NZ players I think all of them seem to have at least got a 'start' with the bat, apart from McCullum, McMillan, Tuffey & Harris. I don't count Vettori in this as he hasn't had much of a chance re selections.
Here are my thoughts:
The 12 players in a batting order
Astle
Papps/ J. Marshall.
Fleming
Macca
Cairns
Vincent
McCullam
Oram
Adams
Vettori
Bond
Tuffey
Oram or Adams would not play if Cairns was fit to bowl but while he plays as a batter only there is no room for Vincent or Macca.
I have dropped Sinclair and Styris. For the world cup Papps/Marshall are not there so Fleming will have to open.
The 12 players in a batting order
Astle
Papps/ J. Marshall.
Fleming
Macca
Cairns
Vincent
McCullam
Oram
Adams
Vettori
Bond
Tuffey
Oram or Adams would not play if Cairns was fit to bowl but while he plays as a batter only there is no room for Vincent or Macca.
I have dropped Sinclair and Styris. For the world cup Papps/Marshall are not there so Fleming will have to open.
Mr Mxyzptlk
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IMO, Styris has done nothing to be dropped. He's scored more runs than more than half the team and he's picked up some cheap wickets,
Also, I think Hitch**** is one of the better ODI bowlers in NZ.
Also, I think Hitch**** is one of the better ODI bowlers in NZ.
Mr Mxyzptlk
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Also, I haven't yet seen McCullum in action. How is he with the gloves? He hasn't appeared to have commanded a place in the team on batting performance.
Tim
Cricketer Of The Year
McCullum is a very good keeper, he took something like 17 or 18 dismissals in the series which is good for a keeper.
However its his batting which really got him into the team which of course hasn't really worked for him yet.
He really got his name when he played for the NZ U19's against S.A U19's and averaged 145 with 1 century, a double century & a 70 odd.
And late last year playing in Darwin club cricket he hit 250 off 115 balls although that really is only club cricket but still not a bad effort.
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NZ are starting to gain a stack of good fast bowlers, obviously Hitch**** & Butler were left out but there's still Shayne O'Connor & even Michael Mason who is good.
I think for the batting NZ should consider for tests anyway, Papps, McIntosh & Nicol.
However its his batting which really got him into the team which of course hasn't really worked for him yet.
He really got his name when he played for the NZ U19's against S.A U19's and averaged 145 with 1 century, a double century & a 70 odd.
And late last year playing in Darwin club cricket he hit 250 off 115 balls although that really is only club cricket but still not a bad effort.
----------
NZ are starting to gain a stack of good fast bowlers, obviously Hitch**** & Butler were left out but there's still Shayne O'Connor & even Michael Mason who is good.
I think for the batting NZ should consider for tests anyway, Papps, McIntosh & Nicol.
Tim
Cricketer Of The Year
IMO Oram is developing his batting into such a style that he could probably bat up the order instead of someone like McMillan or Sinclair if he's scoring more runs than them at the World Cup.
He seems to have matured alot & his first class average is now up around 35 which is good.
I'd definately want to have Adams in the team pretty much because he's a game breaker at whatever he's doing.
I hope Oram doesn't get stuck in the mold of playing too defensively now because he has the biggest frame in World Cricket & if he can allow himself to play some big shots also he'll be an excellent all-rounder.
He seems to have matured alot & his first class average is now up around 35 which is good.
I'd definately want to have Adams in the team pretty much because he's a game breaker at whatever he's doing.
I hope Oram doesn't get stuck in the mold of playing too defensively now because he has the biggest frame in World Cricket & if he can allow himself to play some big shots also he'll be an excellent all-rounder.
Bazza
International 12th Man
Looking purely at results (haven't had a chance to see him in action yet) McCullum appears to be an outstanding wicketkeeper but a liability of a batsman (in an era where wk's are expected to be specialist bats as well). I guess in reality he's somewhere inbetween those two extremes for both qualities.
If the selectors are not happy with McCullam after the world cup, they could look at the option of having Michael Papps take the Gloves and that would also fill in the problam opening batting spot.
Papps keeps for Canterbury in the State Sheild but not in the 4 day games. He is very tidy behind the stumps as well.
Papps keeps for Canterbury in the State Sheild but not in the 4 day games. He is very tidy behind the stumps as well.
Tim
Cricketer Of The Year
I really dislike the idea of having an opening batsman take wicket-keeping duties in a test match however in ODI's it might be ok.
However the only wicket-keeper/opener in World Cricket to be successful at it is Gilchrist and he averages around 34 which is pretty good. I think the next best was Kaluwitharana but he's hardly in the Sri Lankan team these days & only averaged around 22.
However the only wicket-keeper/opener in World Cricket to be successful at it is Gilchrist and he averages around 34 which is pretty good. I think the next best was Kaluwitharana but he's hardly in the Sri Lankan team these days & only averaged around 22.