**Official** New Zealand in South Africa

[BeeGee]

Also, I think Williamson should be in the top 3 because he doesn't have the ability that most of the other batsmen do to hit sixes at the end.

For me, I'd go with:

Guptill
Ryder
Williamson
Taylor
Watling
McCullum (w, c)
Neesham/Elliot
N McCullum
K Mills
Boult
McCleneghan

There are only three things wrong with that team....

1) Ryder isn't in the squad

2) Taylor isn't in the squad

3) Ryder and Taylor aren't in the squad.

 

[hendrix]

I...what? This is an ideal ODI side, right?

For this series, we literally don't have enough specialist or experienced batsmen in the squad for him to be left out, imo. If we're talking about the prospects of our ODI team past this series, yeah there are better options.

There are only three things wrong with that team....

1) Ryder isn't in the squad

2) Taylor isn't in the squad

3) Ryder and Taylor aren't in the squad.

Sorry guys, wrong thread.

Thought we were talking about the England L/O side.

 

[BeeGee]

As much as everyone loves to hate him, Nicol hasn't been the worst ODI batsmen for us in recent times, and adds a spin bowling option. Also, we have a real shortage of specialist bats in this ODI team, so we actually kind of need him.

I'm not opposed to Nicol opening, on one condition. McCullum needs to make it clear to him BEFORE the game starts that Nicol has ALREADY earned the right to be aggressive and he needs to attack from ball one. None of this 10(30) BS.

 

[Prince EWS]

I'm not opposed to Nicol opening, on one condition. McCullum needs to make it clear to him BEFORE the game starts that Nicol has ALREADY earned the right to be aggressive and he needs to attack from ball one. None of this 10(30) BS.

Nicol hasn't earned squat though. Surely he must know this.

 

[Hurricane]

Old Doull was using the phrase earning the right to be aggressive on the last day of the test as well.

 

[theegyptian]

Anyone feel South Africa may risk ruining or at least stalling the career of De Kock by exposing him to international cricket too soon in their eagerness to find a long term solution to their wicketkeeping problem? Maybe he is that good but it seems like they're very keen to get him playing.

 

[BeeGee]

Anyone feel South Africa may risk ruining or at least stalling the career of De Kock by exposing him to international cricket too soon in their eagerness to find a long term solution to their wicketkeeping problem? Maybe he is that good but it seems like they're very keen to get him playing.

Well, if you're going to expose De Kock to full public scrutiny there is always the possibility that he may not stand up with all the pressure to perform.

If SA decide to play with him, I'm sure he'll come good.

 

[hendrix]

Well, if you're going to expose De Kock to full public scrutiny there is always the possibility that he may not stand up with all the pressure to perform.

this will never end.

 

[Garson007]

Anyone feel South Africa may risk ruining or at least stalling the career of De Kock by exposing him to international cricket too soon in their eagerness to find a long term solution to their wicketkeeping problem? Maybe he is that good but it seems like they're very keen to get him playing.

Unless he is completely fragile, which is a possibility (but then again, do you want a fragile player in your test team?), he would just have to work on his technique if he does fail. He certainly has the potential and I don't see how this can do harm - above the aforementioned fragility.

 

[BeeGee]

this will never end.

De Kock has an end.

 

[Briony]

South Africa news : Quinton de Kock free to play against NZ | Cricket News | South Africa v New Zealand | ESPN Cricinfo

He's free to play and looks like he's being considered the long-term successor to de Villiers, at least in the shorter forms of the game.

 

[Scaly piscine]

De Kock has an end.

Can't help but feel there are thousands of people waiting for Ian Bell to play against him and for one to catch the other.

I suppose there's the possibility of Ben Stokes bowling as well as part of the equation - could be a tricky one to commentate on.

 

[jcas0167]

Anyone feel South Africa may risk ruining or at least stalling the career of De Kock by exposing him to international cricket too soon in their eagerness to find a long term solution to their wicketkeeping problem? Maybe he is that good but it seems like they're very keen to get him playing.

Without knowing much about de Kock, I'd say that playing T20's & ODI's at home against NZ is a pretty low risk way to be eased into the national set up. The model for how not to introduce someone is 19 year old Ken Rutherford being sent to open in the West Indies in tests against Garner & Marshall at their peak.

 

[Neil Young]

Can't help but feel there are thousands of people waiting for Ian Bell to play against him and for one to catch the other.

I suppose there's the possibility of Ben Stokes bowling as well as part of the equation - could be a tricky one to commentate on.

Pity Craig Cumming has retired.

 

[Hurricane]

I am setting up a charity that all of you will be required to contribute $1 towards for each deKock pun.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

That's a bit stiff don't you think

 

[Flem274*]

I have a feeling I'm going to wish I was still a mod in a few days so I could vigilante ban the lot of you.

 

[Hurricane]

That's a bit stiff don't you think

 

[BeeGee]

Pity Craig Cumming has retired.

Yeah, I do love a good (or bad) name pun.

Craig's batting is Cumming along nicely....

Papps is smearing the ball to all parts....

De Kock's rise to international cricket has been spectacular...

The worse the pun the happier I am.

 

[NZTailender]

De Kock's rise to international cricket has been spectacular...

I dunno, it his rise may be premature and if he fails SA may be left with a mess on their hands, selection-wise.