*Official** New Zealand in England

[tooextracool]

He was once named as Trescothick's best replacement.

that doesnt say much about strauss does it?look if courteney walsh batted left handed he would still be a good enough replacement for trescothick.

 

[anzac]

And of course those extra analysts will be so useful when a team only has 10 fit players because of injuries.

Are they packing their kit?

shades of Brian Waddle & Co in the sub continent...............

 

[anzac]

I gotta go with talent over form anyday. You know Bond and Astle can do it and have done it in the past, so you gotta trust that they can do it again, unless they aren't fit or are done in terms of being too old, etc. If they're fit and in their prime, you gotta trust them more than some other players.

ordinarily so, but not IMO when they haven't had ANY cricket to speak of for such a long period & on an Away tour..on a Home series I could live with it.......but not in a squad of 14.............

 

[marc71178]

that doesnt say much about strauss does it?look if courteney walsh batted left handed he would still be a good enough replacement for trescothick.

Oh yes, I distinctly remember Walsh's career average in the 40's and his double centuries.

 

[Loony BoB]

Well, if Hawkeye can replace umpires, I'm sure that the videotape man can keep wicket.

Hey, Fleming's known for making the most of people who are considered unknowns in the world!

I'm sure they have some kind of plan, and I can only assume that it includes playing either random NZ'ers who happen to be in the country or else a bunch of people who are suffering jetlag. Or the physiotherapist.

 

[Kent]

And of course those extra analysts will be so useful when a team only has 10 fit players because of injuries.

Are they packing their kit?

Not all analysts of course; physios, psychologists, etc.!

Really though, 4 injuries at once? I can't see it, but there are always Kiwis playing league cricket over there before Ian Smith would need to don the whites.

I'm sure young Ross Taylor would find Gareth Batty quite a tasty intoduction to tests actually!

 

[marc71178]

Really though, 4 injuries at once?

Bond and Astle aren't fit.

That's 2, and look at England for the "freaks" that can happen.

 

[Kent]

Astle, Bond and Tuffey aren't actually confirmed until their fitness tests on the 24th.

I think Bracewell and Fleming are well aware of the "freaks" that can happen. Oram and Styris are already banned from primary school visits.

 

[Lions81]

that doesnt say much about strauss does it?look if courteney walsh batted left handed he would still be a good enough replacement for trescothick.

What a ridiculous thing to say. He doesn't need to be left-handed at all.

 

[Lions81]

It's actually very sad that finances come into play at all on a tour. An international cricket team not able to afford to take more than 14 players? That's a bad sign for New Zealand cricket.

 

[marc71178]

What a ridiculous thing to say. He doesn't need to be left-handed at all.

No, either way he wouldn't be as good a player as Banger is.

 

[Lions81]

No, either way he wouldn't be as good a player as Banger is.

Marc, a sense of humor please?

 

[Craig]

Thorpe is not in the plans (for some strange reason)

Thrope gave ODIs away to try and spend more time with his children. And plus if he wont bearound for 2007, is there any point having him in there?

 

[Tim]

Craig, while I was in Christchurch 2 weeks ago I went and watched the 1st ODI out at Lincoln & Bond was bowling brisk medium pace. From what I can gather he will be able to return to fast bowling. He's just doing things caustiously at this stage.

 

[Craig]

Craig, while I was in Christchurch 2 weeks ago I went and watched the 1st ODI out at Lincoln & Bond was bowling brisk medium pace. From what I can gather he will be able to return to fast bowling. He's just doing things caustiously at this stage.

Fair enough, after a potential career ending injury, you can understand him bowling at that pace.

 

[Lions81]

Thrope gave ODIs away to try and spend more time with his children. And plus if he wont bearound for 2007, is there any point having him in there?

How about to win matches now? It's not all about the World Cup. There are actual matches which count in between them.

 

[meatspx]

If Bond can't bowl in the vicinity of 145km +, then he shouldn't get special treatment from the selectors (aka. being selected when fully not fit).

It's hard to see Bond taking wickets if he doesn't have his greatest weapon - pace.

 

[Loony BoB]

So what's Tuffey's greatest weapon? And Oram's? Bond may have outstanding pace, but he has a great economy rate. How accurate is his bowling? I hear it's pretty damned good.

I do agree that he shouldn't get special treatment due to pace, but I think the same from all other players. So long as they can still take wickets better than the rest, they're still worthy. I'm sure the selectors wouldn't have taken Bond if they didn't believe he was capable... well, I hope they wouldn't, anyway! They also wouldn't play Bond if he or his physio didn't want him to play, too, and I'm sure they know where he's at better than anyone.

As for two weeks ago, hopefully he can get used to bowling closer to normal pace in one month in the nets...

 

[marc71178]

It's hard to see Bond taking wickets if he doesn't have his greatest weapon - pace.

It may be his greatest, but from what I hear, it's by no means his only one.

 

[Arjun]

And plus if he wont bearound for 2007, is there any point having him in there?

If he is 100% fit till 2007, why not play him? He's far better than all those ODI specialist batsmen picked in the recent England teams.