*Official* New Zealand in Bangladesh Thread

[anzac]

I think they'll select the team for the 1st test on it's merits, and not think about AUS until after they have this one in the bag...............

this would mean that the playing XI would come from those in the warm up game only, as IMO C Martin has no claim to a starting spot ahead of either Franklin or Butler so far as the seamers go..............

I don't expect them to open with McCullum - not having given him a go as such in the warm up game.........neither do I expect to see Sinclair in that role despite his 71 in the 2nd innings................I'm picking a repeat of ENG with Flem to open with Richardson, and I'm hoping that it's only because he hasn't played since ENG test series that Richardson only scored 2 runs in the warm up game - in hind sight perhaps he could have done with a run in the 'A' team in RSA to keep in touch for AUS type conditions...........although I'd be more concerned if he didn't score about his average in the Tests v BAN.........

If Flem opens then I expect to see Sinclair at #3, as he's a genuine #3 compared to the likes of Astle & Styris, and I don't think they'd be looking at Marshall in that role..........

actually based upon the scores from the warm up game I'd not be surprised to see Styris miss out in the 1st Test, as Sinclair, Astle & Marshall all scored runs..........and I also think they will stick with their preferred lineup of a 50 / 50 split between bat & ball, with the same bowling lineup including the 2 spiners as Braces is a big fan of doing so when the opportunity arises........

If this all comes to pass so far as the batting lineup goes, then I'd expect to see Astle at #4 & Marshall at #5 just to break up the previous susceptability in the middle order, and to maintain some impetus to the top order while Sinclair finds his feet........

 

[Kent]

actually based upon the scores from the warm up game I'd not be surprised to see Styris miss out in the 1st Test...

What?! A 'Rodney Redmond' on the results of a 3-dayer?

The first Kiwi in decades dropped after a century in his most recent test, all because that donkey Fleming sent him back going for a third run in the first (and most meaningful) innings he got. I can't agree with that!

Anyway, this morning's Herald article suggests Bracewell's quickly backing down from his '5 batsmen' plans....

New ball duties loom for Oram

I just wonder if Butler, Oram, Vettori & Wiseman on a flat pitch and hot weather would be good enough to get 20 wickets. One injury could stuff you up big-time, and if you look at Bangladesh in their tests over the last couple of years, they're not always rolled inside three sessions.

 

[Mingster]

Drop Wiseman. Take Franklin, Butler and Oram. I think that would be enough seamers to do the job against Bangladesh. Take 6 genuine batsmen, instead of playing Oram or McCullum in the top 6.

I think Bracewell has already confirmed that Sinclair is the opener hasn't he? I personally would like to see Fleming continue at 3, that is his best position and he is arguably our best Test batsman. We have to utilise him well.

 

[bryce]

yes i don't think that bracewell would make all those public statements that "fleming will not open this series" and then open with him, i'll put money on it that the team for the opening test will be:

1.Richardson
2.Sinclair
3.Fleming
4.Styris
5.Astle
6.Marshall
7.Oram
8.McCullum
9.Vettori
10.Wiseman
11.Butler

 

[marc71178]

I'm picking a repeat of ENG with Flem to open with Richardson, and I'm hoping that it's only because he hasn't played since ENG test series that Richardson only scored 2 runs in the warm up game - in hind sight perhaps he could have done with a run in the 'A' team in RSA to keep in touch for AUS type conditions

I find it strange that you think Richardson should've played on the A tour?

Surely that would render the A tour a bit farcical?

 

[shaka]

Wiseman will probably get one test (at least) to identify to the selectors whether he will be selected for the tour with Australia. So the Australian series is being looked at now, but the focus is obviously on not losing to the minnows of test cricket.

 

[Macka]

It's an interesting idea. Richardson doesn't play all that much cricket. Last season he didn't play domestic one day games, and a lot of people thought it was too much to ask of him to go from club cricket to playing tests. I don't think he has played any cricket since the England tour, and that was quite awhile ago.

 

[Darrin]

New Zealand in Bangladesh

Im pleased that bracewell is considering using 6 batsmen. The luxury that we have is styris is a batting-allrounder coming in quite high in the order. This accentuates the balance of the side, and the bowling options available to fleming.

Just on Styris, i think that he is an under-rated bowler. I admit that he's not that quick but something normally happens when he arrives at the bowling crease. He can swing the ball around a bit, and has got some good batsmen out.


I would also like to see them go with Franklin in the test team. We need to utilise the new-ball wisely, and i see franklin can do this better than Butler at present.

My Team:
Sinclair
Richardson
Fleming(c)
Styris
Marshall
Astle
Oram
Mccullam
Vettori
Franklin
wiseman

This still gives me 5 bowling options.

 

[Tim]

What I want:

Sinclair
Richardson
Fleming
Styris
Astle
Marshall
Oram
McCullum
Vettori
Franklin
Butler

What I think the selectors will do:

Sinclair
Richardson
Fleming
Styris
Astle
Marshall
Oram
McCullum
Vettori
Wiseman
Butler

I think they'll go with Butler for the added pace, instead of Franklin.

 

[Mingster]

I find it strange that you think Richardson should've played on the A tour?

Surely that would render the A tour a bit farcical?

Uh why would that be?

Richardson doesn't get enough cricket, no ODIs and usually heads into Tests with no game time.

 

[marc71178]

But the whole idea of an A team is for players who are pushing for selection, not regular players!

 

[Tim]

Im not against it. Although I feel it would be a waste of time for Richardson to be taking a spot in the 'A' team just to get time in the middle for a series against Bangladesh.

 

[Mingster]

But the whole idea of an A team is for players who are pushing for selection, not regular players!

Mark Richardson is an exemption, not many Test specialists left in the cricketing world these days.

 

[bryce]

i did not realise that stephen fleming is only 110 runs away from surpassing martin crowe as new zealands leading test run-scorer of alltime and also is poised to become new zealands most capped test cricketer of all time.

on another note bruce martin cannot bowl for at least another six weeks.

 

[Kent]

Im not against it. Although I feel it would be a waste of time for Richardson to be taking a spot in the 'A' team just to get time in the middle for a series against Bangladesh.

A bit of time on hard decks might've been good for him thinking towards Australia though. There's only the one warmup game against NSW.

As for what Marc said about A tours being for players pushing for selection, I don't think Matthew Bell (who opened in all 3 'tests' over there) was a realistic prospect in that regard. Barring a freak spate of injuries there's simply no way he'll be recalled, so his place may've been better used on Richardson.

I'm also sure it would've been a boost for guys like Jamie How and Peter Fulton to bat and tour with a guy like him. I know I'd feel a lot closer to 'making it' if I was talking to Rigger mid-pitch or in the dressing room.

 

[anzac]

as much as I'm an advocate for a 6-4 split in favor of batsmen, I'd also be the first to say that IMO the current bowling attack is not strong enough to do so - esp in sub continent type conditions...........

similarly I'd also say that IMO BAN do not justify such a change in strategy unless it is intended to be long term & you wanted a start b4 the likes of AUS & SRL etc..............

so far as bowling options goes it places a lot of responsibility on the likes of Styris & Astle to come up with the goods...........with Astle not having bowled for some time re his injuries.........

Styris has always been a useful partnership breaker, but I also read that he had concentrated on his batting because he was starting to suffer sore knees from all the bowling he was doing as an allrounder.............so I wonder how he would hold up to having a bigger workload - particularly if we had injuries or if Astle could not contribute...............

again my preference would be to develop a batsman into a part time spin option good enough to hold down an end if not takeing wickets...........this would alleviate the need for 2 specialist spinners & you could retain a 3 seam attack.............and some variety

 

[anzac]

A bit of time on hard decks might've been good for him thinking towards Australia though. There's only the one warmup game against NSW.

As for what Marc said about A tours being for players pushing for selection, I don't think Matthew Bell (who opened in all 3 'tests' over there) was a realistic prospect in that regard. Barring a freak spate of injuries there's simply no way he'll be recalled, so his place may've been better used on Richardson.

I'm also sure it would've been a boost for guys like Jamie How and Peter Fulton to bat and tour with a guy like him. I know I'd feel a lot closer to 'making it' if I was talking to Rigger mid-pitch or in the dressing room.

yep, that and as Mingster pointed out that he plays so little cricket compared to the others in the squad.............

and the point that Langer has captained the AUS 'A' side when the seniors are in ODIs - particularly when the 'A' side was overseas................brings that next level of experience to the team........

 

[anzac]

I think Bracewell has already confirmed that Sinclair is the opener hasn't he? I personally would like to see Fleming continue at 3, that is his best position and he is arguably our best Test batsman. We have to utilise him well.

hadn't realised that they had said that he wouldn't be opening - or had forgotten it..............

I agree that he is probably better suited to #3, but IMO in this lineup it would be better balanced with him opening & Sinclair at #3...........if we loose an early wicket as per both innings in the warm up (and previous history in both Tests & ODIs) he will be in soon enough to have to play as an opener.....

 

[Mingster]

Anzac, I totally agree with that we need a part-time spinner somewhere in the team. Just as a variation perhaps. But the only batting allrounder in NZ who can bowl spin, is Rob Nicol, and he was in a bad patch of form last season. But if the batsmen can do their job, and same as the bowlers, there shouldn't be a need for batting allrounders. Rob Nicol is a great prospect for the future, had a great debut season, averaging over 50, and also took some wickets with his part-time offies.

The NZ 12 has been confirmed, with Martin and Mills being left out.

 

[bryce]

i personally think that mark richardson is under-utilised