***Official*** New Zealand in Zimbabwe & Zimbabwe/New Zealand/India ODI Tri-Series

[sportychic33]

i think oram is targeting the odi series to make a full return. would like to see him in the next test tho ahead of styris.

 

[Zinzan]

I Wouldn't have Franklin in my oneday side. It would be too much of a risk against Sehwag for mine. He does swing the ball and could get early wickets...but on the other hand if he didn't get early wickets if can see him getting murdered by sehwag and co.

Personally I'd have Oram (if he's fit) opening with Bond. He performed well in the natwest series in England as an opener and I think his tight bowling would complement Bond very well.


My side would be.....

Astle
Fleming (c)
H Marshall
Styris
Cairns
Mcmillan
Oram
McCullum (wk)
Vettori
Adams
Bond

With the strength of the batting line-up you could float the odd batsmen or change the order slightly on the day and it wouldn't really make too much difference.

With Bond and Oram opening up, I'd have Cairns as first change bowler then Vettori and Adams (whose been in good form again in county cricket). If one of the bowlers struggles with their 10 overs you've always got Styris and Astle for a few overs. In fact more than a few on a slow pitch.

That is a very strong batting lineup !!!!

To add to the above ....Franklin struggles to control the swing of the white ball. He should remain a test specialist for the next few years

 

[AndrewM]

Are you over there with the team Andrew? If so what is the latest on Orams fitness??

That certainly made my day, Zinzan. I wish... a budding reporters dream. I'll talk to James

I'm slightly humbled you hold me in such high regard re: my journalist qualities

I believe Bracewell was quoted before the first test suggesting Oram will play in a full capacity in the forthcoming tri-series with India and ZImbabwe. He has said that Oram will only play as an all-rounder if selected. Stryis is seen as the next best all-rounder, providing a steady option with the ball.

We certainly have enough batsman to play with. Even though Oram could slot in as a specialist batsman, i think that he should only play when fully fit. He will perform better as a result - knowing he is fully contributing rather than just in one capacity.

 

[Smudge]

That certainly made my day, Zinzan. I wish... a budding reporters dream. I'll talk to James

I'm slightly humbled you hold me in such high regard re: my journalist qualities

I believe Bracewell was quoted before the first test suggesting Oram will play in a full capacity in the forthcoming tri-series with India and ZImbabwe. He has said that Oram will only play as an all-rounder if selected. Stryis is seen as the next best all-rounder, providing a steady option with the ball.

We certainly have enough batsman to play with. Even though Oram could slot in as a specialist batsman, i think that he should only play when fully fit. He will perform better as a result - knowing he is fully contributing rather than just in one capacity.

Maybe Zinzan thinks the M in AndrewM stands for Mugabe and you're the ZCB liaison officer, thanks to a little bit of nepotism from Uncle Bob?

 

[Zinzan]

That certainly made my day, Zinzan. I wish... a budding reporters dream. I'll talk to James

I'm slightly humbled you hold me in such high regard re: my journalist qualities

I believe Bracewell was quoted before the first test suggesting Oram will play in a full capacity in the forthcoming tri-series with India and ZImbabwe. He has said that Oram will only play as an all-rounder if selected. Stryis is seen as the next best all-rounder, providing a steady option with the ball.

We certainly have enough batsman to play with. Even though Oram could slot in as a specialist batsman, i think that he should only play when fully fit. He will perform better as a result - knowing he is fully contributing rather than just in one capacity.

I was wondering if u were Andrew mclean who often talks to John Morrison on radio sport

 

[AndrewM]

I was wondering if u were Andrew mclean who often talks to John Morrison on radio sport

You spoilt the fantasy mate

No i'm not the fabled Andrew Mclean.

Print media and radio...

While he is the later half of his career, i'm just getting started... that's what i tell my therapist anyway.

 

[Arjun]

Is the NZ team for the ODI series declared?

 

[AndrewM]

Is the NZ team for the ODI series declared?

Not yet, as soon as it is announced you will hear about it on the frontpage.

 

[AndrewM]

NZ unchanged for 2nd Test
14 Aug 2005

New Zealand has retained the same line-up that destroyed Zimbabwe by an innings and 294 runs, while the home side have made one change.

Zimbabwe has added all-rounder Andy Blignaut to their squad. Blignaut looks set to start after recovering from the flu, while left-arm spinner Keith Dabengwa may be included at the expense of Graeme Cremer.

Despite heavy criticism of the batsmen after being bowled out twice in one day, Zimbabwe coach Phil Simmons explained that there were simply no alternatives.

New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming said the side resisted to make any wholesale changes, as consistency of selection was important, especially in a winning side. Off-spinner Paul Wiseman was considered to play, as the Bulawayo pitch is likely to be slower and take more spin than Harare.

Fleming looks set to become the first New Zealander to reach 6,000 test runs. He enters the match just 15 runs short of the mark, after playing 95 tests.

Sri Lanka won the last test match played at Bulawayo by an innings and 200 runs.

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (c), Lou Vincent, James Marshall, Hamish Marshall, Nathan Astle, Scott Styris, James Franklin, Daniel Vettori, Brendon McCullum (wk), Shane Bond, Chris Martin.

Zimbabwe: (likely) Neil Ferreira, Brendan Taylor, Dion Ebrahim, Hamilton Masakadza, Craig Wishart, Stuart Carlisle, Tatenda Taibu (c/wk), Heath Streak, Andy Blignaut, Keith Dabengwa, Chris Mpofu.

 

[Prince EWS]

Zimbabwe has added batsman Hamilton Masakadza and all-rounder Andy Blignaut to their squad.

Masakadza played in the first test! In fact, he was the only Zimbabwean batsman to get to 20 if memory serves...

 

[Prince EWS]

Zimbabwe: (likely) Neil Ferreira, Brendan Taylor, Dion Ebrahim, Hamilton Masakadza, Craig Wishart, Stuart Carlisle, Tatenda Taibu (c/wk), Heath Streak, Andy Blignaut, Keith Dabengwa, Chris Mpofu.

Im pretty sure Mahwire would play ahead of Mpofu.

 

[AndrewM]

Masakadza played in the first test! In fact, he was the only Zimbabwean batsman to get to 20 if memory serves...

Wow my apologies Prince (and to all Zimbabwean fans). He scored 42 in the second innings. How embarassing. It has been fixed. Thats what you get when you post it on the forum

But that's terrible.

Back to the cricket....

 

[AndrewM]

Im pretty sure Mahwire would play ahead of Mpofu.

After their contrasting last-up performances, i tend to agree.

Mpofu still looks very raw IMO..

 

[Macka]

The only point of interest for this match will be whether our top-order can do something. James Marshall does not look the part; Lou is not an opener. Sigh. Make some tough decisions selectors.

 

[Tim]

Vincent shouldn't be anywhere near the opening spot. If he can't make it into the side at #4 or #5 then he shouldn't be in the team.

Im not totally convinced that James Marshall is an opener at test level either.

I think we've got to go with How & Papps because they are specialist openers and have been opening for C.D & Canterbury respectively for the last 2 or 3 seasons at least.

 

[cricket player]

The only point of interest for this match will be whether our top-order can do something. James Marshall does not look the part; Lou is not an opener. Sigh. Make some tough decisions selectors.

The best interest of the match will be who the zimbabwe come backs after that insulting defeat.

 

[Prince EWS]

Well this is just rediculous....

Feirerra has been dropped for Dabengwa. Zimbabwe back to their old tricks again. Blignaut didnt get picked either - hopefully hes still injured and not just left out.

 

[Tim]

Yep it is Ridiculous. Ferreira actually managed to hang in there for the 2nd innings.

I reckon it'll be over in a maximum of 3 days.

 

[Chubb]

Well this is just rediculous....

Feirerra has been dropped for Dabengwa. Zimbabwe back to their old tricks again. Blignaut didnt get picked either - hopefully hes still injured and not just left out.

That's insane!, well, what do you expect from Bvute and co.

 

[Prince EWS]

That's insane!, well, what do you expect from Bvute and co.

After the first test selection, I thought they might have turned the corner with their selections. Carlisle, Wishart and Feirerra all in the side...

Now, after getting bowled out twice in a day, they have decided to drop their most resiliant batsman, who was on debut, for an allrounder who struggled to make an impact in the Logan Cup (he has a batting average around 20 and a bowling average over 50!). This just screams out "stupid."