*Official* New Zealand 'A' v Sri Lanka 'A'

[anzac]

Mason has done well in this year's State Championship, check again mate. I think he also has an average around the high 10's. Pretty good going.

Mills, Mason, Franklin are all around the same pace, mid 130s who just try and bowl line-and-length with a pace that's just 'fast' enough.

Martin is the fastest of the lot, and that spell in the SOO game probably sealed his inclusion. He bowled pretty quick that day.

Franklin did not deserver another shot at International Cricket before this season, because simply he hadn't put the numbers on the board. But now I am convinced.

Mills is definitely not a Test option before Mason, Martin or Franklin for me.

yep found it - I stand corrected (again) - cursed night shift brain fade???? 11 @ 24 for Mason in the Championship.......

I'd still prefer Franklin ahead of any of them, then probably Martin & Mason on form ahead of Mills...........

 

[Craig]

Matt Bell has brushed aside critism over his selection with 92 and Jamie How also contributed with 92. Lou Vincent made a ton.

Either the pitches are flat or this Sri Lankan bowling outfit is pitfill.

 

[Tim]

Well if the pitches are flat, then this S.L 'A' batting lineup must be extremely poor because they haven't even cracked 300 in 3 innings, whereas NZ have gone over 500 in their 2 only innings.

No doubt this S.L 'A' side is missing some players because they probably kept 5 or 6 players back in Sri Lanka just incase they needed them for the Aus test series, but this lot are a joke & it doesn't bode well for Sri Lankan cricket in the future.

 

[Tim]

Yeah, Matt Bell has played well but I still don't think he's got the ability to be a good international player.

Jamie How has once again shown that when he get's to bat on pitches that are of international standard, he's a far better player & I'd like to see him as the backup opener if NZ want to take one to England.

There's real pressure & competition at the moment...the NZ 'A' batsmen & bowlers are putting the numbers up & there's no doubt that the current NZ team will know that.

 

[Craig]

About Lou Vincent?

 

[Tim]

What do you mean?

I presume you mean 'What about taking Lou Vincent as the back-up opener?'

It's clear that there's been a decision by Vincent himself or maybe the selectors that Vincent is better off batting in the middle order rather than opening, so no I can't see him being picked as a backup opener.

 

[Craig]

He would struggle to get in the middle order if they are all firing. Same applies to Nathan Astle.

If McMillan is preforming and so is Cairns and so is Oram, it will be tough to leave anybody out.

 

[Mingster]

Who cares.

We've got depth! For once!

 

[marc71178]

I for one would judge depth when they play against semi-reasonable opposition who aren't being chucked straight into extremely alien conditions.

Mismatch says I.

 

[Tim]

Alien conditions? honestly Marc...

Sri Lanka have been given the opportunity to bat on the flattest wickets in the country, they won't even have to travel to the North Island where there's no doubt they'd struggle even more.

 

[marc71178]

So you're saying the conditions they're facing are the same as those they'd face in SL then?

I very much doubt it - there's a distinct difference in climate for one, not to mention the wickets the bowlers are bowling on.

For me, absolutely nothing of any consequence can be read into this series, as it's a complete and utter mismatch.

Besides that 'A' sides don't have a great history of showing how good a team is...

 

[Tim]

Well the NZ 'A' team aren't doing much wrong, they're putting the numbers up as they should.

Actually...in the 1st test against S.L, Chris Martin took 7 wickets in the match..and now he's taken 11 in the match v S.A.

 

[Tim]

I think it's time players, teams & whoever else got over trying to use the defence of having to play in alien conditions...it's professional sport, you've got to get on with it.

Marc, im sure that if NZ 'A' toured S.L & struggled & then I came up with the defence that it was down to different conditions..you'd be the first in here telling me to get over it.

 

[anzac]

SRL 'A' teams have had a few series over the past season - probably more than anyone else, & so if they have had any sort of consistency in selection the players should have experienced a variety of conditions................isn't that what 'A' tours are about?????????????

while their depth may appear thin at the moment if the selections are semi consistent then they are building up a decent sort of exposure & experience..........

 

[anzac]

the NZL 'A' team batting has done well this series, both openers amongst the runs, Sinclair continuing his form over the latter part of the domestic season, Vincent back with a ton and even H Marshall getting 60...............Franklin providing an 'all-rounder' type performance.....

unlike C Martin in the 1st match there have been no real stand out bowling performances to date in the 2nd match..........
both of the remaining bowlers from the 1st match have struggled (Mason no wickets yet & Butler injured????), Franklin has a handful but Mills has the best return so far..........

 

[Andre]

All well and good, but bare in mind that 20+ for Sri Lanka's top player are at home because of the senior squad Test Series, so it's not the strongest possible 'A' side.

And besides, all the blokes performing for NZ have basically proven that they can't handle international cricket too well, so it's all a bit inflating and misleading this series IMO.

 

[Tim]

After being 140/2 this morning...S.L 'A' are now 226/9..so that means in 4 digs they still haven't scored 300 on 2 very good batting wickets.

 

[Tim]

I disagree...I think the only player out of his depth was Matt Bell & probably Paul Wiseman.

How, Marshall (1 innings of 40*), Mason, B.Martin & Fulton have yet to play test cricket...Franklin & Butler have had limited international cricket.

Vincent & Sinclair have shown they can bat alright at international level, but they've been let down by inconsistency.

 

[Andre]

I disagree...I think the only player out of his depth was Matt Bell & probably Paul Wiseman.

How, Marshall (1 innings of 40*), Mason, B.Martin & Fulton have yet to play test cricket...Franklin & Butler have had limited international cricket.

Vincent & Sinclair have shown they can bat alright at international level, but they've been let down by inconsistency.

So, like I said, none of them have handled international cricket too well.

I know your never ever going to agree with what I'm saying, but bare the thought in mind that it is mickey mouse stuff and I'd say these blokes wouldn't be able to do the same things on the Test and ODI scene week-in wekk-out - and they've yet to show anyone otherwise I'm afraid.

 

[Tim]

Yeah, I know that but more than half that squad haven't even played test cricket!

I don't see why S.L needed to keep 20+ players at home either..but it's there choice. They may aswell send out a few players to NZ for the ODI series next week.