**Official** New Zealand v Australia

[Tim]

Why on earth they selected James Marshall to open when he's been batting at #4 for Northern Districts is beyond me.

Still, McMillan is out of the team & Marshall can surely do no worse.

 

[Somerset]

Is Wiseman going to be brought in for the Auckland test? Despite his excellent form, it's a big ask to bowl on the typically seaming Eden Park wickets, with Hayden, Gillcrist and co. looking for the short boundaries.

Bond should have been sent the SOS. He'll probably be selected against SL in the tour match, so why not play in Auckland against a team he has the wood on in the most recent contests?

To be honest, throwing Bond straight back into the test side wouldn't be ideal and although I wouldn't be against it if the situation happened, I'm probably pleased it didn't. A slight niggle and I wouldn't mind betting that he'd lose confidence being so injury prone, not exactly the best scenario.

Doesn't look like Wiseman will play either. I still can't see why O'Brien is in the side, while Martin and Franklin are probably both lucky they're still there. Would be a good reward for Wiseman if he was selected in the XI though, and the chance to actually play in front of a home crowd, but I certainly don't think it's likely.

 

[Somerset]

Why on earth they selected James Marshall to open when he's been batting at #4 for Northern Districts is beyond me.

Still, McMillan is out of the team & Marshall can surely do no worse.

As long as he takes the shine of the new ball and scores a few runs, he'll have done his job. And as long as Fleming bats at number three of four, probably a number of other Kiwi supporters, including myself, will be relieved.

 

[Somerset]

I do hope Fulton gets a chance within the next series or two. He's put the figures on the board - far and above any others on a consistent basis over the last few years. He's got over 2500 runs at a shade over 50 - worth a decent crack as far as I'm concerned.

I tend to agree, he can't be any worse than the current back-up players we have anyway. As you say, he's scored the runs and proven he's capable of playing long and successful innings, should be given an opportunity at the highest level fairly soon IMO.

 

[Will Scarlet]

To be honest, throwing Bond straight back into the test side wouldn't be ideal and although I wouldn't be against it if the situation happened, I'm probably pleased it didn't. A slight niggle and I wouldn't mind betting that he'd lose confidence being so injury prone, not exactly the best scenario.

He's been bowling plenty of overs for Canterbury, and playing continuously for over two months now. And FC players actually have a longer work-day than their international counterparts.

It doesn't get more important for NZ cricket fans than a series against AUS, so play your best against them. Saving the series or at least preventing the inevitable thrashing by AUS seems pretty important to me. Taking early wickets and putting pressure on the AUS middle order is a good way of achieving this.

 

[Tim]

We were lucky in Wellington & i still think we'd get smacked at Eden Park even if Bond returned.

It's best to give him another couple of weeks to see how his body is & then consider him for the Sri Lankan series.

 

[Somerset]

He's been bowling plenty of overs for Canterbury, and playing continuously for over two months now. And FC players actually have a longer work-day than their international counterparts.

It doesn't get more important for NZ cricket fans than a series against AUS, so play your best against them. Saving the series or at least preventing the inevitable thrashing by AUS seems pretty important to me. Taking early wickets and putting pressure on the AUS middle order is a good way of achieving this.

Bowling plenty of overs for Canterbury is very different from bowling plenty of overs for New Zealand. I'm not denying any of your comments but I feel that the step up has the potential to go wrong in what is effectively a lost cause against the Australians, something I personally wouldn't want to risk.

 

[SJS]

Btw, how did Vettori bowl in the last test ? I missed it.

 

[marc71178]

71, 51, 62, 37 in his past four innings. Marshall has a good technique - why not take a punt on them like they did with Cumming and Hamish? To be fair, all the "dark horse batting" selections have all paid off lately.....

That's the thing - it sounds like these punts have shown themselves to have the mental ability for International Cricket, which is a huge thing.

 

[Blaze]

Btw, how did Vettori bowl in the last test ? I missed it.

Nothing worth talking about. He bowled plenty of overs though

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Btw, how did Vettori bowl in the last test ? I missed it.

On the first morning he was magnificent - as well as I've ever seen him bowl. After that he was decent but nothing special.

 

[mavric41]

On the first morning he was magnificent - as well as I've ever seen him bowl. After that he was decent but nothing special.

All the Kiwi bowlers bowled well for the first 3 - 31/2 hours and had the Australians under pressure. It was the taking of the second new ball and the release of pressure that turned the test.

 

[Somerset]

All the Kiwi bowlers bowled well for the first 3 - 31/2 hours and had the Australians under pressure. It was the taking of the second new ball and the release of pressure that turned the test.

Franklin wasn't particularly impressive early on, only late in the middle session did he bowl impressively IMO. Overall it was a decent performance from the Kiwi bowlers though, particularly Martin and Vettori.

 

[Tim]

The NZ bowlers are doing ok in patches, but thats not good enough when your facing Australia. It might be ok against any other side, but with Australia you've got to put 7 or 8 consistent overs together as an individual bowler.
Just about everytime one bowler was actually creating pressure, but it all went to waste because the bowler at the other end was bowling full-tosses or bowling too short.

 

[Arjun]

James Marshall was picked as an opener. Does he open in domestic matches? If he does, how has he performed?

 

[_Ed_]

James Marshall was picked as an opener. Does he open in domestic matches? If he does, how has he performed?

He has done it on occasions, but I don't think he has had great success opening (not totally sure though). I think most of his good performances have been in the middle order. Strange selection really.

 

[Arjun]

He has done it on occasions, but I don't think he has had great success opening (not totally sure though). I think most of his good performances have been in the middle order. Strange selection really.

I just read on the previous page that he plays at number 4 for his FC side. But with Michael Papps back in action, as well as some other openers having a godo series, why not pick one of them? We have seen middle-order batsmen struggle at the top.

 

[anzac]

I just read on the previous page that he plays at number 4 for his FC side. But with Michael Papps back in action, as well as some other openers having a godo series, why not pick one of them? We have seen middle-order batsmen struggle at the top.

James used to open for ND prior to this season from memory.............
Papps is still not scoring runs this season in the Championship - a run of single figures since his return...........
How has basically ruled himself out having said that in his opinion he's not ready to face the likes of McGrath & Co.........
no other specialist openers have impressed enough to be in contention this season, the only other possible option would be Gaffaney IMO - usually bats 1st or 2nd drop in the Championship, but opens with Cumming in ODs..........

 

[southern man]

Gaffney has opened the batting all season for Otago in both form of the game.

 

[mavric41]

Whats happened to Sinclair?