I'd say that's what the top six will look like come the first test. Daniel Vettori will bat at seven though and Gareth Hopkins will have the gloves - Watling isn't going to keep wicket at the test level, he's no way near good enough.The test team vs IND should be:
1. Tim McIntosh
2. Brendon McCullum
3. Jamie How
4.Ross Taylor
5. Jesse Ryder
6. Kane Williamson
7. BJ Watling (wk)
8. Daniel Vettori (c)
9. Kyle Mills
10. Andy McKay
11. Hamish Bennett
He bowled well during the first innings in the Wellington test, apart from that though he was poor. Well not poor as he wasn't expensive but he was hardly threatening at all after that innings.DWTA. Was perfectly fine against Pakistan.
Dunno tbh. Franklin will be on their minds and he might slot in at seven with Vettori at six. Greatbatch seems keen on Sinclair as well, and tbh I'd much prefer him than anyone else at three simply because of his experience and he's the best domestic number three around.I'd say that's what the top six will look like come the first test.
8 wickets in the two test series at 27. Nothing wrong with that. Not spectacular but not poor either.He bowled well during the first innings in the Wellington test, apart from that though he was poor. Well not poor as he wasn't expensive but he was hardly threatening at all after that innings.
I doubt Franklin even makes the squad. This is the first test series since the national contracts were handed out, you would think that if Franklin was any chance of playing in the next test series he would of been given one. He's not a very good player of spin and his bowling would be next to useless in India, I don't see how he brings any value to the squad tbh.Dunno tbh. Franklin will be on their minds and he might slot in at seven with Vettori at six. Greatbatch seems keen on Sinclair as well, and tbh I'd much prefer him than anyone else at three simply because of his experience and he's the best domestic number three around.
Plus, I did some stats rigging this morning and discounting Australia and the minnows from his record he averages 40 in test cricket.
Four of which were numbers 8-11 in the Napier test during Pakistan's first innings.8 wickets in the two test series at 27. Nothing wrong with that. Not spectacular but not poor either.
EDIT: Stop editing ****!
Franklin will make the squad tbh. I can't see who else they'd take. It's a 15 man squad right? After the likely first eleven we've got to find some reserve batsmen from somewhere.I doubt Franklin even makes the squad. This is the first test series since the national contracts were handed out, you would think that if Franklin was any chance of playing in the next test series he would of been given one. He's not a very good player of spin and his bowling would be next to useless in India, I don't see how he brings any value to the squad tbh.
Sinclair's no chance either. I know he's the incumbent but surely he would have been in Zimbabwe if they planned of selecting him for this tour.
Tbf it's a nice change to have a NZ bowler capable of getting tail-enders out.Four of which were numbers 8-11 in the Napier test during Pakistan's first innings.
The tail is hard to get. Australia to confirm.Four of which were numbers 8-11 in the Napier test during Pakistan's first innings.
Actually, I think that's a pretty good prediction mate, though Franklin's bowling might get him in over Flynn and the selectors might make McKay a scapegoat after Bangladesh. Likewise Sinclair has actually done something in the Plunkett Shield, which is more difficult than bullying the crap Zimbabwe A wheeled out for Daniel Flynn at times, but they may well go for him.I've basically come up with -
Tim McIntosh
Brendon McCullum
Jamie How
Ross Taylor
Jesse Ryder
Kane Williamson
Daniel Vettori
Gareth Hopkins
Brent Arnel
Tim Southee
Chris Martin
BJ Watling
Jeetan Patel
Andy McKay
Daniel Flynn
as the squad I think the selectors will take. Flynn's a better player of spin then James Franklin is and given that he's had more success in test cricket over the past couple of years I think they'll take him as the back up middle order batsmen.
I reckon they're as bad as each other tbh, both Tuffey and Martin bowl far too defensively these day's for my liking. Daryl Tuffey was almost Chris Martin like last summer with his test bowling - well outside off stump for long periods of time. You'd almost have to think he was told to bowl like that because it was rather obvious at the time.The tail is hard to get. Australia to confirm.
Tuffey isn't fantastic, but he's a better bowler than Martin and this is India. Southee is going to be nullified almost completely unless he gets lucky and Arnel we're yet to see how good he is at test level.
Either way Martin will play and bowl **** outside off and go 1/90.
Still think one of McKay and Bennett should play solely because they offer something different (Bennett pace and bounce and McKay nip and swing both ways). Bennett has the better recent FC form so I'd probably go with him.
**** we miss O'Brien as our bang it in bowler.
Probably the new theory they've got to replace the round the wicket obsession.I reckon they're as bad as each other tbh, both Tuffey and Martin bowl far too defensively these day's for my liking. Daryl Tuffey was almost Chris Martin like last summer with his test bowling - well outside off stump for long periods of time. You'd almost have to think he was told to bowl like that because it was rather obvious at the time.
Reckon Sinclair's still a chance; he never gets taken on A tours and still pops up all the time.I doubt Franklin even makes the squad. This is the first test series since the national contracts were handed out, you would think that if Franklin was any chance of playing in the next test series he would of been given one. He's not a very good player of spin and his bowling would be next to useless in India, I don't see how he brings any value to the squad tbh.
Sinclair's no chance either. I know he's the incumbent but surely he would have been in Zimbabwe if they planned of selecting him for this tour.