**Official** New Zealand v Australia

[Blaze]

I am only relatively new to this forum so can anybody tell me if they know of anyone on this forum who might have the inside scoop on who is likely to get the nod for the opening position for the tests?

Does anyone have ties with any of the players?

 

[meatspx]

Forgot about that left-armer who shall not be named.
He could take the place of Wilson, or Martin is he's bowling pies at this time of the year.

 

[Ming]

I don't think Wilson is upto Test standard yet, ODI's? Certainly. He bowls a nagging length and gets good bounce, but he isn't really a wicket-taking bowler. I would prefer someone like Lance Hamilton, who has been a genuine wicket taker this and for the past few seasons. Hamilton bowls at a good clip, and swings the new ball extremely well. If you ask me to compare him with Franklin, Hamilton is by far the better bowler. Sure the likes of Franklin or Wilson are better batsmen than Hamilton, but left the batting to the Top 8, and select your best 3 Test pace bowlers in NZ at 9, 10 and 11.

My Test team:

Fleming
Papps
Sinclair
Styris
Astle
Marshall/Vincent
McCullum
Vettori
Tuffey
Hamilton
Martin

 

[Kippax]

I am only relatively new to this forum so can anybody tell me if they know of anyone on this forum who might have the inside scoop on who is likely to get the nod for the opening position for the tests?

Does anyone have ties with any of the players?

CW's Richard Rash is related to Craig Cumming. He said the powers-that-be weren't very impressed, and he shouldn't expect to get back in the BCs any time soon.

Obviously the landscape has changed since then (Rigor gone, Cumming in good domestic form), but if I was a betting man I'd look closely at what Martin Crowe opted for (Fleming and Papps).

Crowe's probably the closest in the media to those who'll make the final call (being Fleming's good mate and batting mentor), and he was the one who first raised the prospect of Fleming opening in England.

 

[Fiery]

I don't think Wilson is upto Test standard yet, ODI's? Certainly. He bowls a nagging length and gets good bounce, but he isn't really a wicket-taking bowler. I would prefer someone like Lance Hamilton, who has been a genuine wicket taker this and for the past few seasons. Hamilton bowls at a good clip, and swings the new ball extremely well. If you ask me to compare him with Franklin, Hamilton is by far the better bowler. Sure the likes of Franklin or Wilson are better batsmen than Hamilton, but left the batting to the Top 8, and select your best 3 Test pace bowlers in NZ at 9, 10 and 11.

My Test team:

Fleming
Papps
Sinclair
Styris
Astle
Marshall/Vincent
McCullum
Vettori
Tuffey
Hamilton
Martin

Hamilton's 32 and I think the selectors will balk at that. Franklin is a better bet with his left-arm variation and batting skills. Franklin has obvious talent and just needs the selectors to show him a bit of faith and give him an extended run in the side. I reckon he can become a world-class allrounder in time if given the chance.

 

[Kippax]

I don't think Wilson is upto Test standard yet, ODI's? Certainly. He bowls a nagging length and gets good bounce, but he isn't really a wicket-taking bowler.

My Test team:

...
Tuffey
...

Sorry for getting back on my current hobby-horse, but does that mean you think Tuffey will be a potential wicket-taker this season, Ming?

Honestly, I can't see Tuffey get anything but clobbered on a dry test surface. If you're bowling scrambled seamers to the Aussies at 128kph, you may as well be Trevor Hondo.

The last A-grade batting surfaces I've seen him bowl on were the Wellington OD against the World XI, and a match at McLean Park in the SC. Jamie How smashed a century before lunch against him in that game back in December.

 

[Fiery]

Sorry for getting back on my current hobby-horse, but does that mean you think Tuffey will be a potential wicket-taker this season, Ming?

Honestly, I can't see Tuffey get anything but clobbered on a dry test surface. If you're bowling scrambled seamers to the Aussies at 128kph, you may as well be Trevor Hondo.

The last A-grade batting surfaces I've seen him bowl on were the Wellington OD against the World XI, and a match at McLean Park in the SC. Jamie How smashed a century before lunch against him in that game back in December.

I think the best we can hope for against the Aussies is to play them on green-tops to level the playing field a bit. If so, Tuffey is a proven performer and showed in the State Shield final he might be coming into some good form. I don't think NZ Cricket will be asking the groundsmen for green-tops this time by the sounds of it though.

 

[Kippax]

I think the best we can hope for against the Aussies is to play them on green-tops to level the playing field a bit. If so, Tuffey is a proven performer and showed in the State Shield final he might be coming into some good form. I don't think NZ Cricket will be asking the groundsmen for green-tops this time by the sounds of it though.

Yep - unless they've improved their groundsman-scaring tactics, it's hard to see Bracewell and the BCs getting the test pitches they want. Especially after the whole Hamilton thing.

It seems they made it pretty clear they wanted something slow and low at the Basin against SA last season, but were dismayed to be told "bugger off - we'd rather produce a good cricket wicket".

Anyway, the problem with green-tops IMO is the way McGrath rates his bowling currently. It's not like English conditions haven't been good to him before, and it would be almost embarassing for him to come here in his "best ever" form and not exploit helpful conditions better than we can.

 

[Fiery]

Yep - unless they've improved their groundsman-scaring tactics, it's hard to see Bracewell and the BCs getting the test pitches they want. Especially after the whole Hamilton thing.

It seems they made it pretty clear they wanted something slow and low at the Basin against SA last season, but it seems they were dismayed to be told "bugger off - we'd rather produce a good cricket wicket".

Anyway, the problem with green-tops IMO is the way McGrath rates his bowling currently. It's not like English conditions haven't been good to him before, and it would be almost embarassing for him to come here in his "best ever" form and not exploit helpful conditions better than we can.

True but I can see the likes of Clarke, Martyn, Gilchrist...in fact all of their batsman struggling to adjust on those conditions more so than our batsmen who have plenty of exposure to crappy wickets playing State cricket. I'm hoping just for this series that Braces, etc can convince the groundsmen it's in our best interest to leave a bit of grass and perhaps the odd pile of sheep-dung on the wickets. I'd rather see a series win than the Aussies feasting on our comparatively ordinary bowling attack.

 

[Ming]

Hamilton's 32 and I think the selectors will balk at that. Franklin is a better bet with his left-arm variation and batting skills. Franklin has obvious talent and just needs the selectors to show him a bit of faith and give him an extended run in the side. I reckon he can become a world-class allrounder in time if given the chance.

Hamilton is 31. Wilson is 31. He would still have at least 3 years left in international cricket. What's the point in building to the future when most of half team are young enough already? Pick the best bowlers available, and Hamilton is one of the best pace bowlers in the country.

Why would Franklin be a better option with his left arm variation when Hamilton is a left armer as well?


Select specialists in Tests. We need bowlers. Their bowling should get them into teh side, not their batting. If they are a good batsman, then take that a as a bonus then. Franklin's bowling is tame at best.

Sorry for getting back on my current hobby-horse, but does that mean you think Tuffey will be a potential wicket-taker this season, Ming?

Honestly, I can't see Tuffey get anything but clobbered on a dry test surface. If you're bowling scrambled seamers to the Aussies at 128kph, you may as well be Trevor Hondo.

The last A-grade batting surfaces I've seen him bowl on were the Wellington OD against the World XI, and a match at McLean Park in the SC. Jamie How smashed a century before lunch against him in that game back in December.

Well believe it or not, Tuffey has actually had some success not only on green seamers but in India as well....

Should we never pick Tuffey again because a batsman smashed him for a century? Tuffey's pace has improved, he's more in the 130-135 region now, certainly not in the 125 when he played agianst South Africa.

 

[Kippax]

Well believe it or not, Tuffey has actually had some success not only on green seamers but in India as well....

Should we never pick Tuffey again because a batsman smashed him for a century? Tuffey's pace has improved, he's more in the 130-135 region now, certainly not in the 125 when he played agianst South Africa.

You're giving me the 'roll eyes' over something we all remember....from 1999! Hell, David Duval and Martina Hingis were the world #1 in their respective sports.

I read last year that Tuffey wouldn't be picked again until he'd fixed his technical problems by working with Richard Hadlee. That clearly hasn't happened from what I've seen, and unless he gets some outswing back (which you can't get with a scrambled seam), I just don't see what he has to scare anyone on a dry surface.

I hope I'm wrong, given most Kiwi fans and experts view him as an automatic selection, a spearhead and a proven performer.

 

[shaka]

Tuffey's bowling average in domestic OD cricket was about 21, the third highest in the country, that stat should not be taken lightly, Guys who got ahead of him was aldridge with 15ish and Sulzberger with 18ish

 

[Fiery]

Why would Franklin be a better option with his left arm variation when Hamilton is a left armer as well?

QUOTE]

Good point. Forgot Hamilton was a left-armer.

 

[Blaze]

I hope I'm wrong, given most Kiwi fans and experts view him as an automatic selection, a spearhead and a proven performer.

I think he is quite frankly sh*t and don't think NZ cricketing short term future is looking to flash in terms of test matches if he is spear heading the attack

 

[JASON]

My prediction for the 20/20 at least is for NZ to beat Australia.

 

[Blaze]

My prediction for the 20/20 at least is for NZ to beat Australia.

Why?

 

[bryce]

also about that article - how can trist say that lou vincent is in good form without having played any cricket for a fair amount of time?(barring the SOO match)

 

[Fiery]

also about that article - how can they say that lou vincent is in good form without having played any cricket for a fair amount of time?(barring the SOO match)

I actually thought he looked out of touch in that game. It's a bit desperate to resort back to Lou Wincent. Maybe if everyone is injured he might be able to play the odd one-dayer here and there but not a test class player, a one-test-wonder.

 

[bryce]

yeah i agree, he shouldn't be considered until he shows he can consistently score runs in the domestic competition, and if he is picked his selection will be entirely based on two matches alone - his debut in perth and the latest match for auckland he played in where he scored 185*

 

[age_master]

My prediction for the 20/20 at least is for NZ to beat Australia.

nah i gotta tip Australia - McGrath and Lee with the ball

Gilly, clarke, hopes, symonds, ponting and hussey with the bat - ponting said hayden would likley be given a chance too