McCullum is in ugly form and I do not want him to see opening innings again.Christ, McCullum's been dire for a while now.
He's probably next in line and would be a good shout for 6, his 376 runs @ 41.77 was scored at almost a run a ball (SR 99.20).Shannon Stewart would be a very good 6-7 for New Zealand. He really killed it last season, I remember him scoring a 50 odd ball 80 not out against the Lions.
vs Kent being the operative point - Not an InternationalFranklin vs. Kent
5/30
and currently 25* (31) in a 4 day match
Batting slowly because he has been asked to?McCullum is certainly doing this because he has been asked to.
I think as desperate as we are - based on Kane's average showing for the A side recently I don't think he is ready for this level yet and it will damage his confidence to play too soon.Go on, just say it... you want to see saviour of NZ cricket Kane Williamson in there
I do believe that Moles said his strategy was for his guys to be something like 170/1-2 at the 35/40th over and launch. McCullum was told to build an innings.Batting slowly because he has been asked to?
If this is true then I am furious with Moles.
Unfortunately, he is not the right guy to do that...I do believe that Moles said his strategy was for his guys to be something like 170/1-2 at the 35/40th over and launch. McCullum was told to build an innings.
Unlike some, I do think there's some merit in that strategy if you have the right batsmen to do it and a good bowling attack, but it's completely senseless to come up with that gameplan and then open the batting with McCullum and Ryder.I do believe that Moles said his strategy was for his guys to be something like 170/1-2 at the 35/40th over and launch. McCullum was told to build an innings.
I too get the impression something along these lines is happening. The captain and coach don't get the squad they want and so when they're on tour they won't play certain guys, or if they are absolutely forced to by injury then they don't give that guy any responsibility. Result: No-one wins and the team is weakened.Regarding Diamanti not getting picked last night. I think it must have been a situation of Daniel not rating Diamanti's batting ability. Diamanti was obviously picked by the selectors but Dan is sending a signal that he wouldn't have picked Diamanti for this tour had he been in charge. Perhaps Dan will bring back Styris who knows for future series.
I don't think our batting line up or batting order matches this strategy.I do believe that Moles said his strategy was for his guys to be something like 170/1-2 at the 35/40th over and launch. McCullum was told to build an innings.
I looked it up and on August 23rd it was announced that Dan was going to be a selector - and on the same day Aug 23 they announced the final CT trophy with the addition of Diamanti and Tuffey. So it is unclear if he got say over those decisions.Can't remember if Vettori and Moles were on the selection panel when this CT squad was picked - anyone else?
It's a bit of an antiquated plan for me, still present only because the people coaching the game now are the people who were playing the game when that was how ODI cricket was played. The continued use of it by Scotland when teams like UAE, Afghanistan and Canada were successfully attacking early on was the single biggest contributor to their failure to qualify for the 2011 World Cup, almost losing ODI status completely in the process.Unlike some, I do think there's some merit in that strategy if you have the right batsmen to do it and a good bowling attack, but it's completely senseless to come up with that gameplan and then open the batting with McCullum and Ryder.
You sound like a Cricinfo bulletinFranklin, who will fly to South Africa tonight, retires on 104 not out in Gloucestershire’s overnight 439 for five, in reply to Kent’s 264 all out in which he took 5-30.