*Official** New Zealand in England

[Loony BoB]

Still think the 14-man squad was a good plan?

Did I ever think/say that was a good idea? I can't remember. I don't think any New Zealander in the right mind would want to have a 14 man squad instead of a larger one.

EDIT: Although I'm more concerned about losing Fleming than the amount of people who are available to replace him. It's not like any other NZ'er has the knowledge and skill Fleming offers the team as a captain.

EDIT: And it's good to hear he might be back in. And I hope McMillan plays in all three tests, because I've always like him.

 

[Kent]

Still think the 14-man squad was a good plan?

But who would you rather be - Kyle Mills carrying the drinks every day, or Matthew Sinclair and Ross Taylor smashing trundlers over in Norfolk!

Neither is ideal for a last-minute call-up really.

 

[Kent]

Taken from here...

Bracewell confirmed Fleming was an option to open the batting, and with Michael Papps' three consecutive single figure scores in the past week it seemed the Fleming-Mark Richardson opening pair was likely for Lord's.

If Fleming left the No 3 position vacant, Bracewell confirmed the in-form Nathan Astle would fill it.

Cairns will lead the side against Kent tomorrow, with allrounder Jacob Oram earning a rest after his century against Worcestershire, and Kyle Mills joining him on the sidelines after dropping out of test contention due to back problems.

Bracewell wanted Oram to play this weekend, but he also needed another look at pacemen Shane Bond and Chris Martin after the rain-marred past fortnight.

Bond has exceeded expectations with some sharp spells in his comeback from injury and seemed a shoo-in to head off Martin who has struggled with the soft run-ups and the wet ball in the damp English spring.

But Bracewell remained cautious about his star speedster who hasn't played a test for a year after suffering back stress fractures in Sri Lanka last May.

"He's ahead of where we all thought he would be.

"But we've got to keep level-headed on that. While it's tempting short-term, we have to make sure the long-term plan is the key."
Bracewell meanwhile reaffirmed his faith in spinner Daniel Vettori, amid reports England were considering an all-seam attack for Lord's, which offers little joy for spinners this time of year.

"We would like to go in with the perfect balance and that very much includes Daniel Vettori. I would very much doubt he would miss out."

McMillan often says the media and selectors should get off his back for a few games after he scores a well-played 60. And here I was thinking 5 wicket bags were roughly the bowlers' equivalent of a lot more than that.

It's ridiculous that Bond and Martin are essentially competing for the same place, because Martin had the ball coming out so perfectly it's hard to see how he could just suddenly lose it. I thought in UK conditions that he was about to get even more reward for the tight lines and bolt upright seam he'd displayed. Now it seems all it's taken is a sweep caught at square-leg, a c&b, and Kadeer Ali stumping himself for Vettori to get his place locked in instead.

It's a horrible thing to say, but I'm now kind of wishing Hick hadn't been off-strike for most of Vettori's overs, and perhaps put him in the stands a dozen or so times.

 

[Loony BoB]

I'm sure Bracewell and the selectors know what is best for the players, the team, the test and the series. Don't forget that he sees and hears the players while we just read the numbers and reports from CricInfo / the media.

Vettori does indeed seem to be doing well, as does McMillan, and Martin does indeed seem to be struggling. If Martin himself is lacking confidence then he shouldn't be in the squad ahead of others that are taking wickets and do have confidence. Maybe he said himself that he's lacking this. Y'never know.

 

[Kent]

Fair call, LB. It would mean a massive turnaround since he was saying this, however -

But I feel I fit in to the team now. My pace is up a yard or two and I hope the selectors don't waste my best years, which I feel are just ahead of me.

I'm just a little shocked that NZ could be about to drop someone whose last four test innings figures were 6/76, 5/104, 5/55, 2/65. If I did that against Bangladesh playing on a strip of the outfield I'd expect to play the next test, let alone SA on flat tracks.

 

[Kent]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2905457a2201,00.html

Don't know if I'd go for the Macca at #3 idea after remembering what he was like at the 1999 WC, but I'm glad the Dominion Post's Jonathan Millmow has a few other concerns like mine (and a few of Anzac's):

...Vettori will almost certainly play, for no other reason than he offers variety and Fleming is one of his biggest supporters.

Fast-tracking Bond into the first test is an unnecessary risk when Chris Martin is the other option.

Martin took 18 wickets in his previous two tests against South Africa and he deserves first crack, even if he has started the tour slowly and the English media have written him off.

New Zealand's best XI a week out from the first test at Lord's would be Fleming opening with Richardson, followed by a punt on McMillan at No 3 then Scott Styris and Astle.

Chris Cairns and Jacob Oram should follow at 6 and 7, with Brendon McCullum back down to No 8 unless the second new ball is due and he can be used to protect the allrounders. Vettori gets a stay of execution with Daryl Tuffey and Martin to share the new ball.

 

[marc71178]

So basically is it Bond or Martin?

If they both perform in the Kent game, it makes it very interesting indeed.

 

[Darrin]

*official** New Zealand in England

i find it rather odd what is happening regards the selection of the first test team to play England. I mean Fleming opening in test cricket? no thanks! Fleming is best suited in this team at number 3

Micheal Papps is a very good talent just because we have had a copule of failures from him, we find he's not a candidate to open in the first test! But he is an specialist opener. I admit i am a big fan of his.

The only alternative is to leave macca out. Now thats a big call but there is soo much depth at the moment that any selction os a big call. This would then ake the side as follows:
M. Papps
M.Richardson.
S.Fleming(c).
S.Styris.
N.Astle.
J.Oram.
C.Cairns.
B.Mccullum.
D.Vettori.
D.Tuffey.
C.Martin.

Seems pretty logical to me. With everybody in their SPECIALIST ROLES.

 

[Craig]

So basically is it Bond or Martin?

If they both perform in the Kent game, it makes it very interesting indeed.

It does, but that is a good problem to have isnt it?

 

[CaM]

Hello All

hello there all, this is my first post on these baords

This is my prediction for the first test squad.

M.Richardson.
S.Fleming(c).
N.Astle.
S.Styris.
C.McMillian
C.Cairns.
B.Mccullum.
J.Oram.
D.Vettori.
S.Bond
D.Tuffey.

Astle will fill in Flemings spot and they will pick Bond - not because he is better than martin but because the english love him (and might do poorly against him like a lomu type figure).

CaM

 

[tooextracool]

Fair call, LB. It would mean a massive turnaround since he was saying this, however -

But I feel I fit in to the team now. My pace is up a yard or two and I hope the selectors don't waste my best years, which I feel are just ahead of me.

I'm just a little shocked that NZ could be about to drop someone whose last four test innings figures were 6/76, 5/104, 5/55, 2/65. If I did that against Bangladesh playing on a strip of the outfield I'd expect to play the next test, let alone SA on flat tracks.

if bond is bowling somewhere near his best though then he provides more variety and some well needed pace to this nz attack. if lords is the pitch it usually is, which is absolutely flat,bonds pace will come in handy.
vettori did pretty well on his last tour to england and in the warm up game so i would still keep him.

 

[CaM]

hi there, does anyone know of any radio stations (UK)/internet radio stations where I can listen to the current cricket game?

thanks

CaM

 

[Neil Pickup]

The Kent game isn't being covered on the radio AFAIK as it's only a warm-up, have a try at www.bbc.co.uk/radiokent for bulletins.

 

[Neil Pickup]

And thanks Kent for fielding a second-string bowling attack so NZ can get into form

 

[tooextracool]

And thanks Kent for fielding a second-string bowling attack so NZ can get into form

oh is that why papps is scoring?

 

[CaM]

yes, i think that is why papps has got past double figures....I sure hope he doesnt play in the tests and deprive somebody good...please no more dodgy openers!

 

[PY]

And they're doing it well too.

Oh well, they'll come back down to Earth when they face Harmo and Hoggard.

I find myself really hoping that Jimmy Anderson is picked this series. I don't know why but I think him getting picked for form rather than being picked from past escapades will help his confidence.

 

[Kent]

Just woke up to see Richardson hit his familiar wall at the 5-hour mark!

Somebody has to find better energy drinks for the poor old coot. He might never score another ton otherwise!

 

[Kent]

Good to see Papps scoring some runs and building his confidence, but I think Neil might be right. There's no bowlers in this Kent side with a f/c average under 29.

Look's like the catching left a bit to be desired too. Now that he's spent some time in the middle though, you'd have to say he's a safer choice than an injured, under-prepared Fleming for the opening role.

http://www.ananova.com/sport/story/sm_954549.html?menu=

Michael Papps rode his luck, twice surviving chances before lunch, to close in on three figures at Canterbury while partner Mark Richardson ticked along at a slower tempo as drinks were taken at 158 without loss.

Papps, by no means certain of playing at Lord's in the first Test, was dropped on both occasions in the slip cordon and prospered thereafter against a Kent attack lacking regular new-ball duo Mohammad Sami and Martin Saggers.

Having scored just seven in his first three first-class innings of this tour, Papps lacked fluency initially and survived a straightforward chance to second slip on 23 off young pace bowler David Stiff, who, having switched ends, found the edge only for Rob Ferley to spill the head-high opportunity.

Kent captain David Fulton then floored a more difficult slice to first slip when left-armer Alamgir Sheriyar angled the ball across the compact right-handed opener.

Papps, who progressed to an unbeaten 81, got under way with an edge to the third-man boundary off Amjad Khan in the fourth over of the morning and tucked into the expensive Stiff, cutting and driving fours through the covers in consecutive overs from the pavilion end.

 

[Loony BoB]

Nicer still that Astle is pushing the scoring rate a bit. It's been a very slow paced game, in both wickets and in runs.