**Official** New Zealand in England

[Flem274*]

McCullum will already be looking to hit every ball to the boundary TBH, How is a player who can turn the strike to him almost at will. Then once he's batted himself in 15-20 (20-30) he'll look for the boundaries. He's certainly not what you'd want to be finishing a T20 innings, but he's a fine limited overs opener.

I am yet to be convinced by How in 20/20 (I'm very convinced in ODIs). I'll watch some more of him in this series and see how it pans out.

 

[Athlai]

Just the one T20 isn't it?

 

[Flem274*]

Just the one T20 isn't it?

Thought there were two?

 

[Athlai]

Thought there were two?

Only one.

 

[Raghav]

They can stick around but if How does his typical (but so legendary) 12 (30) then that could create pressure at the other end (presumably McCullum), as well as making me laugh.

Hoping for a proper 50 (88) then an acceleration to 150 (120) from How in the ODIs tbh.

That means you expect him to score 100 runs in 32 balls [50-150]

cant imagine him doing that. I do not think he can....

 

[Matt52]

I looking forward to seeing how Flynn goes tonight, mostly because I thought he had a reputation as quite a quick scorer but all the reports so far on this tour have been how dour and tough he is. I hope they put him up the order with a free license to open his shoulders a little and hopefully he might get a bit more confidence to play some shots. Put him up at 3 or 4 and give him some time in the middle. Its only a 20/20 after all.

 

[Tim]

I wouldn't be surprised if NZ's had one eye on the Twenty20 and One Day series to be honest. These are the formats we're good at and the formats that the likes of McCullum, Taylor, Oram etc seem to enjoy because they get a licence.

I noticed Nasser Hussain mentioned 3 names on the SkySport website. He said if we had these 3 players we'd start as favourites. Stephen Fleming, Shane Bond and....Jesse Ryder!
I dunno about Fleming, I think particularly in twenty20 he's not that valuable as a batsman. Bond needs no further discussion but I agree about Ryder. If he got rid of the crap surrounding him, he and McCullum are potentially the best opening combination going round in the next year or so.

Anyway, the twenty20 match could go either way, but providing Fulton gets his act together..I think we'll be good enough to take the ODI series.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Huh? England are favourites?

*goes and puts money on NZ*

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

I noticed Nasser Hussain mentioned 3 names on the SkySport website. He said if we had these 3 players we'd start as favourites.

Haha, Nasser is such a tool.
Even with out those 3 we start favourites.

 

[Richard]

Agree with the second, but not the first, sentance.

Must say it continues to baffle me that English optimists continue to think our ODI side better than NZ's.

 

[Nate]

Foxtel showing this live, aswell as WI/Aus. Going to grab a Cherry Coke.

 

[Richard]

So, teams and victors?

For NZ I'd want:

McCullum
How
Taylor
Fulton
Flynn
Oram
Styris
Vettori
Mills
Mason
Gillespie

Bit worried about the SR of How and Fulton. Styris at seven because he's the most experienced specialist bat and can lead us home in tight situations. Flynn at five also means the strike will be rotated as Oram and Fulton aren't renowned for quick singles. Mason has improved as an ODI bowler I feel and I'd like to see him play tonight. Gillespie can be expensive in ODIs but in 20/20 his unpredictability can be an asset. Also has good use of the bouncer and yorker which are good tools in 20/20.

For England

Wright
Ambrose
Pietersen
Collingwood
Shah
Mascarenhas
Broad
Swann
Sidearse
Lewis
Anderson

Yes, I see the problems with that line up however I've gone with that lot because they can at least score at a decent rate. I know Wright and Ambrose (iirc) are harldy proven openers but a top order of Cook, someone, Bell would be a worry. Basically, I don't really know if there's much top order limited overs batsman in England. Pietersen is the main man in the line up so he's at three. Broad is a wee bit higher up than usual but he'll live. I know Lewis would never be picked but I did it anyway, better than Tremlett at limited overs. Plenty of bowlers just in case Anderson has an off night. I know this line up looks shaky but I wanted to post something a bit different and I think England could try something a bit different because the usual 20/20 top order won't win many tournaments.

I pick NZ for the win but England to cause a few problems.

You seriously want Gillespie in the ODIs? Think I'd prefer Patel TBH, woeful as he's been in both one-day and First-Class tour-games this summer.

As I said earlier, though, Jonathan Lewis being picked now is pointless, he's 32 and he almost certainly won't be around in 2011. Given you've picked six bowlers (Lewis, Sidebottom, Mascarenhas, Anderson, Broad, Swann) I can only presume you're going for the "if you can't bat, try to bowl" approach.

Also, it's all but certain both Cook and Bell will play, and though 50-1 off 20 isn't exactly appealing, I've long thought it better than 90-5. Which is overwhelmingly the likely prospect if you promote nothing batsmen up the order. Ambrose I think could possibly do a decent job at maybe six (five if he was lucky), and him opening at this stage is the last thing I want to see.

 

[stumpski]

England won toss and will bowl. No Sidebottom and no Oram. Surprised to see so many empty seats - ground looks less than a third full.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Hmm both teams have somewhat lightweight, vulnerable bowling attacks.

As for the crowd they were going on about how there were only a few hundred tickets left during the TMS commentary of the last Test.

 

[stumpski]

Hmm both teams have somewhat lightweight, vulnerable bowling attacks.

Doesn't Martin play in these games then? Was surprised to see him in the Warks side a couple of days ago.

 

[Nate]

Reckon Mason will bowl really well this match, which will spark a top ODI series for him.

 

[Prince EWS]

You seriously want Gillespie in the ODIs?

No, pretty sure he was talking about the T20 game.

 

[Prince EWS]

Reckon Mason will bowl really well this match, which will spark a top ODI series for him.

Reckon he'll get smashed tbh. Backing him to have a good ODI series though, as long as he gets picked.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Do NZ have any realistic 6th bowler options or is it just nailed on that Gillespie, Mills, Mason, Vettori and Styris are gonna bowl all the overs?

 

[Nate]

Btw, is it just me, or are the 'highlights' that Sky show of recent 20/20s or whatever terribly dire? Look like they were put together by a teenager with a few minutes to spare, whilst missing all the cricket bits.