Lets build backwards
11) Patel
A very handy young spinner, much more worth while than his seaming equivalents and the feats of my signature taken into account a very good number 11 batsman.
10) Bond
The no brainer place in the side.
9) Franklin/Vettori/Mills
If Mills is in the team, fit and ready this is his spot. If not then it's either Franklins or Vettori's.
8) Franklin/Vettori
The captains spot in the team is secured either way, bloody glasses wearing variation master.
7) Franklin
With Fulton out we need the batsman and he's proven his worth with the bat. Potentially this spot could be given to Hopkins though I'd rather Oram was here and the rest of the order was pushed up one to squeeze Franklin/Hopkins out.
6) Oram
A great finisher for NZ cricket.
5) Taylor/(Hopkins)
Protects him from the new ball, feel he could play well at this position in the team. (Due to injury Hopkins has to be here as without Fulton Taylor may just have to be made a number 3)
4) Styris
If something goes wrong here's the Virus to save us.
3) Taylor
So what would you rather Styris at 3 or giving Taylor a sink or swim position? With Fulton out those are the two options. Taylor can be given a shot I spose.
2) McCullum
Well we've dug our hole may as well stick to it. Arguably the finest lower order batsman in the world, so lets make him open!
1) Vincent
See above. (I rate him though
)
New Zealand cannot afford to play five bowlers ( or even four) as the bowlers we choose anyway would probably not be effect enough to merit their position in the team. Our batting is weak so we
need the strongest tail in the world.
That tail would include McCullum/Oram, Franklin, Vettori, Bond, Patel the top 3 positions in that tail should secure us 50 runs even in case of a giant failure which is more than can be said for most teams in the world.
Without Fulton we are really going to feel the hurt of not having Fleming in the team. Should be a hard series against Saffa's.
The test series even more so with the lack of Franklins handy test bowling.
Patel is the key IMO.