*Official** New Zealand in England

[Waughney]

Vettori needs to go to. He may have improved slightly in the current series - but he isn't taking wickets, time for Bruce Martin to be given an opportunity. If the selectors had the b*lls they would have dropped him for the Pakistani & South African home series and given him time to slog it out in domestic cricket. He's still young, 1-2 years out of the team will probably do him good (no need to continue to bowl and see your average rise to embarrassing heights).

Yes, I agree that this is probably the best solution. A time on the sidelines toughens a cricketer, gives them time to receive advice and guidance and gives the player that extra bit of desire to perform well and make it back into the side. Look at every player in the Australian side (Hayden, Langer, Ponting etc.) they've all been put on the outer and returned better, stronger and more mentally tough cricketers. I'm sure a guy who was once considered the best left arm finger spinner in the world to be able to regain the form of old especially seeing as though he's still relatively young.

 

[Isolator]

How about Brooke Walker? I don't how he's regarded in NZ, but he wasn't bad when I saw him in the aborted NZ vs. Pak series ( where his name was on the scoreboard as "******" once).

EDIT : the censored bit is "Walker" with an "n" instead of an "l"

 

[luckyeddie]

How about Brooke Walker? I don't how he's regarded in NZ, but he wasn't bad when I saw him in the aborted NZ vs. Pak series ( where his name was on the scoreboard as "******" once).

EDIT : the censored bit is "Walker" with an "n" instead of an "l"

Same in Scrabble, isn't it? All the useful letters get used up first. At least with cricket, it doesn't matter if you end up with a whole bunch of 'Q's and no 'U's - well, unless you're not covering a Pakistan game anyway.

I like Scrabble.

 

[Sudeep]

Bowler: Need a 4th seamer to take over Cairn's role. Franklin is the only name that comes to mind, possibly Adams.

I don't see Adams doing well in Tests.

 

[twctopcat]

Great shot Oram, one of mine,

 

[luckyeddie]

From one of yesterday's match reports.
Modesty prevents me from revealing the name of the person who made such an astute observation.

Oram's last offering of the day was another scoop-***-pull off his hip to a short ball from Harmison, a stroke which now appears to be played compulsively

I am so smug.

 

[tooextracool]

Astle has looked out of sorts since Lords (injury?)

astle hasnt looked out of sorts at all....hes either been dismissed by a good ball or by an error of judgement.

By contrast Styris has only played 27 innings & has posted 6x50s & 3x100s since his debut in WIN........

its good to see styris do well....his form bodes good for the ODI series as he is the key to NZ's fortunes in that series. i can still remember that match winning innings of his against pakistan...unbelievable stuff

 

[tooextracool]

11. How

nice name that....

 

[_Ed_]

Styris on to 97...

 

[MoxPearl]

he really deserves 100 imho.. hes played a great innings

 

[MoxPearl]

99...

 

[MoxPearl]

YAY!!!!!!!! good **** styris!

 

[_Ed_]

Well deserved ton.

If you take out the top 3, its a pretty lousy scorecard:
15, 0, 14, 12, 6 not out

 

[twctopcat]

Bad way to go styris, not that i'm complaining.Let's finish the tail off now.

 

[Sudeep]

James Franklin seems a decent bat.

FC Cricket stats: 44 64 10 1501 108* 27.79 (M I NO Runs HS Ave )

And he definitely looks one of those better tailenders, a genuine no. 8 or 9.

 

[Loony BoB]

Bad way to go styris, not that i'm complaining.Let's finish the tail off now.

Not really a tail, more a lower order - Mills isn't a tailender and if Franklin's above him in the order, I'd imagine he isn't one either.

1. Fleming
2. Richardson
3. Astle
4. Styris
5. Papps

6. McMillan
7. Sinclair
8. Marshall
9. Fulton
10. Taylor
11. How
12. Vincent

Where's Vettori? He averages over 40 in his last ten matches.
EDIT: Sorry, he averages 39.33 in his last ten matches. Close.

McMillan & Vettori need to go - wasted spaces, havent been performing for a long time. Tuffey should be given another opportunity (if he is 100%).

Vettori has been performing with the bat. He averages higher than a few of the specialist batsmen in our team. I'd sooner let him do an Oram and play specialist batsman than drop him before we drop a poorer batsman.

Who to replace McMillan & Cairns? Personally I would replace them with 2 batsmen - but with the current form of the NZ attack 1 batsman & 1 bowler who can handle a bat will do.

Agreeing with the second bit - we can't afford to have less bowlers in our side right now when we're having trouble finding any that are in form!

Batsman: Sinclair (give him another go) or Marshall (good punt, can play on the bouncier and faster tracks).

It would be interesting to see Sinclair but only if he performs. He's just too inconsistent to allow any room, though, so if he doesn't perform he's out. I'd like to see Marshall or this Taylor chap as I've never seen either of them play yet.

Bowler: Need a 4th seamer to take over Cairn's role. Franklin is the only name that comes to mind, possibly Adams.

Adams - but with the same deal as Sinclair. He has an okay record for, er, one test to date. The reason I'd pick him over Franklin is because Cairns was a real fire in the side and (was) a very attacking bowler. Adams is similar - and he can play similar shots. I'd imagine that he'd be able to hone on his batting skills to become yet another all rounder in our side, too, at least capable of making a 50 every two or three matches.

I'll give my opinion on Franklin once I've seen him bowl.

 

[MoxPearl]

loony if u have never seen taylor .. your in for a treat if u watch him

hes a amazing batter.. granted i aint seen him in test matches.. but in one dayers hes like.. wow to watch

I mean just looking at his stats.. 30 ODIS... average of 50.. not to shabby

Also i like adams for the fire he brings to the team.. hes a very agro player which i like lol (hes the kinda player i could imagine punching someone lol)

 

[southern man]

Problem with Adams is that over the last year he has turned him self into a very average criketer, Anybody remeber the pakistain series?

 

[Loony BoB]

loony if u have never seen taylor .. your in for a treat if u watch him

hes a amazing batter.. granted i aint seen him in test matches.. but in one dayers hes like.. wow to watch

I mean just looking at his stats.. 30 ODIS... average of 50.. not to shabby

Also i like adams for the fire he brings to the team.. hes a very agro player which i like lol (hes the kinda player i could imagine punching someone lol)

Which Taylor are you talking about? Ross Taylor hasn't played a single ODI, has only played 13 first class one-dayers and averages 48.45... which is still impressive, mind you. Bit quick to bring him into the world scene, though.

 

[southern man]

I saw Ross Taylor hit 130 at the Brook and it was the best display of hitting i had ever seen.