**Official** 2004 Natwest Series (Eng, NZL, WI)

[Mingster]

NZ were at this stage a few years ago...the selectors were obsessed with picking a team of all-rounders..but really they were bowlers who could bat or batsmen who could bowl at international level.

Fortunately since the start of this year we've started selecting 5 or 6 specialist batsmen, then a couple of all-rounders, the keeper & the bowlers.

And the "allrounders" in the side could get into the XI with either bat or ball.

ie. Oram - specialist bowler if need be.

 

[Mingster]

Styris is our 6th bowler - he bowls regardless whether Tuffey, Franklin and co bowl well or not.

 

[Neil Pickup]

New Zealand now only really have one who's not worthy of the place on a single area - Chris Harris - and his ODI bowling record makes what I just said highly debatable. Oram, Styris and Cairns are worthy of their places for one department alone - while ours definitely aren't.

We're sorely in need of middle order bats, and I have no idea at all why Bell isn't in the squad.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

We're sorely in need of middle order bats, and I have no idea at all why Bell isn't in the squad.

The fact that the selectors and media have both said that they use the One day team to blood future test stars makes it even more baffling as to why Bell isnt there as i'd have thought the selectors would have half an eye on him playing Test cricket sooner rather than later, certainly more likely than McGrath is anyway.

 

[Legglancer]

I have only one solution ..... That is to bring back "the venerable" Thorp at least for another year ...... the rookies can learn their craft by batting around him and his prescence will no doubt help thier cofidence and grooming.

 

[roseboy64]

The West Indies team is full of allrounders.Lara,Jacobs and Lawson are the only ones really who are specialist.Gayle,Powell,Bravo,Sarwan,Bradshaw and Smith could be considered all rounders.Chanderpaul can bowl a bit and Rampaul is a useful bat.(these two are more specialist than all rounders really)

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

The West Indies team is full of allrounders.Lara,Jacobs and Lawson are the only ones really who are specialist.Gayle,Powell,Bravo,Sarwan,Bradshaw and Smith could be considered all rounders.Chanderpaul can bowl a bit and Rampaul is a useful bat.(these two are more specialist than all rounders really)

- Lara thinks Powell is an allrounder in that he can actually bowl. I beg to differ. He has potential, but he's not capable enough in ODI cricket anyway. That said, he was impressive in the domestic competition a year or two ago.

- Gayle is a genuine allrounder and Sarwan has potential to be one, but only in Tests IMO. I don't think Sarwan will get enough ODI overs to develop into allrounder status.

- Bravo and Smith are genuine allrounders IMO, but Bradshaw is almost totally unproven with the bat.

- Don't even mention Chanderpaul's bowling.

- Rampaul is a useful bat with much potential IMO.

 

[roseboy64]

Powell and Chanderpaul just need a bit more practice.I was surprised when Sky listed him as an allrounder.Based purely on the fact that the West Indies never really picked spinners so he had to do a bit more bowling.Seems to have lost it though.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Powell and Chanderpaul just need a bit more practice.I was surprised when Sky listed him as an allrounder.Based purely on the fact that the West Indies never really picked spinners so he had to do a bit more bowling.Seems to have lost it though.

Chanderpaul needs a lot more than a bit.

 

[roseboy64]

Guess so.He's not really needed though.Only in desperate situations.Powell however should try harder along with Smith when their batting usually fails.

 

[Jack9187]

Do you guys know much about Darren Sammy? Do you think he has any chance of playing in this series?

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Guess so.He's not really needed though.Only in desperate situations.Powell however should try harder along with Smith when their batting usually fails.

I don't think Powell is needed in the bowling department.

1/ Bradshaw
2/ Lawson/Edwards/Best/a specialist seamer
3/ Rampaul
4/ Bravo
5/ Gayle/DwSmith/Sarwan

Frankly I just don't trust Powell's bowling to do anything but be belted for sixes and fours, taking the occasional wicket with a catch on the boundary.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Do you guys know much about Darren Sammy? Do you think he has any chance of playing in this series?

Darren Sammy is a bit of a Dwayne Bravo (ie genuine allrounder), but he's not as good a batsman or bowler as Dwayne Bravo (as yet anyway).

IMO he'll play only if the West Indies secure their final spot with a game to spare. Other than that, a bowler will have to be injured.

 

[Mingster]

New Zealand now only really have one who's not worthy of the place on a single area - Chris Harris - and his ODI bowling record makes what I just said highly debatable. Oram, Styris and Cairns are worthy of their places for one department alone - while ours definitely aren't.

Harris ODI bowling record not good? Having a RPO of under 4.2 is pretty decent considering he can also offer something with the bat. I'll take him infront of McGrath, Blackwell and Clarke.

 

[Tim]

You're forgetting that in the last 2 or 3 years, Harris has been relatively un-affective with the ball..but since the South African series he's come back fired up & playing with passion, so he could still be useful yet.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Exactly what I meant...

 

[marc71178]

News travels slow in Essex...

The cars have all been nicked by Halsey...

 

[marc71178]

Wash your mouth out boyo...

PY's Welsh?!!!

 

[Jack9187]

According to Sky Sports News, Chris Harris will be starting in place of Tuffey in the next match. Any idea why?

 

[marc71178]

Which M Powell is it? There are about four and they all look the same...And they all bat right handed don't they?

Shouldn't be the Warwickshire one, he only plays for us against lower ranked sides when Knight's injured!