Patton's yet to prove himself tbf, he had a good season last year but one season doesn't make him better then average (which a 30 year old with one season of FC must be). How and Ingram are average to poor and Worker has yet to do anything at this level
just because someone makes their debut late it does not mean they are crap. Have you seen his record? ND would kill for a number three with that. Age means jack, look at Chris Harris at 40 still scoring runs. Whether Patton is better than a domestic journeyman remains to be seen, but to argue with his current record seems illogical to me.
I'd say the top order scoring the most runs is currently the best. That is not CD.
For a whole 2-3 games. By that logic, the best batting side changes every five minutes. Williamson got out cheap today and last game, he's obviously crap.
51/5 much? Including wonderboy and our next in line test match opener out cheaply.
Until this innings though Worker had been batting at three for CD this season. How and Ingram make a decent opening combo, but there's better going around. Brodie and Bell are a better opening combo, as is the Jones/McIntosh/Guptill/Bopara combo for Auckland.
IIRC Brodie has played a season and a bit too, just like Patton. Of course he's in his early 20s so that makes him good. Silly me.
Bell is in the same category as you lump CDs openers into.
That Auckland line up you just listed is no better than How, Ingram, Patton/Worker, Sinclair, Patton/Worker. Guptill has only one FC century, Jones is a decent batsman, McIntosh pre-last season was a one score a season merchant, and Bopara will be here for one year.
The thing is though, neither Ingram nor How are quality. They're just average and above average domestic batsmen.
Just like every opener in the country
Are they? They're no better then the likes of Papps, Bell, Jones, Cumming, Parlane, McIntosh.
McIntosh only started scoring consistently last year and with a bit of Martin Crowe bandwagon hype got in the test side. Papps, Cumming and co. are no better than Ingram and How either I'll add