***Official** Sri Lanka in New Zealand

[straw man]

I've given up on the Black Caps, if we could get some friggin consistency then maybe they would be worth watching and supporting. As it is they are hopeless, and NZC wonder why more people don't go to the grounds.

Where is your faith? Franklin to score a hundred next game and win the game.

 

[straw man]

tbh I have always been nervous as soon as the blackcaps have come in to bat not knowing if they were going to do anything or fail. I think Styris could be a key in the world cup if he gets back in great condition. I think this rotation policy is rubbish. Andre Adams has looked rubbish and is a bowler not an all-rounder like the comentators try to exaggerate. That batting line-up was very weak. Not one single player bar Taylor had been in terribly great form and you could almost forsee an early dismissal for all of them.

Gillespie bowled well and deserves to replace Franklin in the ODI squad. Here is my tri series(bar the injured players on list)/world cup squad:

+Brendon McCullum
Nathan Astle
Stephen Fleming
Ross Taylor
Scott Styris
Craig McMillan
Jacob Oram
Daniel Vettori
Mark Gillespie
Kyle Mills
Shane Bond

12th: Jeetan Patel

Backups: Peter Fulton, Marshall twins, Mason, Franklin (with an injury to a keeper I would use Gareth Hopkins)

The return of Styris, Mills and Oram is definitely key to Black Caps' chances. Both Styris and Oram were batting pretty terribly before they were injured though. Oram especially shouldn't be in the team unless is fit enough to bowl 10 good overs and shouldn't bat above 7. If McCullum is dropped back down to seven then I don't see a spot for Oram in the team (Bond, Mills, Gillespie and Vettori at 8-11). Don't have many options though.

 

[NZTailender]

I think we're getting a bit too carried away here, in some respects. The series is 2-2 and not 4-0 to SL. We haven't played as bad as we're saying but after this hilariously poor poerformance we're ready to abandon our team.

Buck it up.


I'm confident we'll come back strong for the 5th ODI because everyone in the team will desperately want to improve. And I hope we have a first choice team instead of people out due to "rotational policy."

Assuming everyone is fit for the Tri-Series, my XI would be something like this.

1. N Astle
2. S Fleming
3. R Taylor
4. P Fulton
5. S Styris
6. J Oram
7. B McCullum
8. D Vettori
9. K Mills (a question will be over his form, though)
10. M Gillespie/J Patel/J Franklin
11. S Bond

Gillespies been bowling well, as has Patel. Franklin has a future in ODI's (as I've said) but I think he may get taken apart in Australia. I'd chop and change between Patel and Gillespie for half the matches. Patel in for pitches with a bit for turn and Gillespie for more pacey/green pitches.

Although, if Mills isn't in form (and he won't have played much leading into the series) playing Gillespie and Patel would be the best bet.

 

[straw man]

It's true that it's not the end of the world and Fleming did describe it as comical. Was fairly similar to what Sri Lanka did in Queenstown and if we hadn't had such a long tail we probably would have reached the dizzying heights of their 120 odd.

Four of the top seven batsmen pick themselves - McCullum, Styris, Astle, Fleming. Then add Taylor who looks good at the moment (apart from a tendency to walk in front of his stunps). The other two spots could really be anyone.

 

[NZTailender]

Nah, it has to be Fulton. Show some faith in him. His 40 odd did win us the 3rd ODI.

 

[straw man]

Nah, it has to be Fulton. Show some faith in him. His 40 odd did win us the 3rd ODI.

He should have been lbw in that innings and his technique is very questionable. He is probably the best of a not-great bunch though. Relying on his height to hit through the line of everything won't work quite like it does in domestic cricket.

Those two spots will be between Fulton, McMillan, H Marshall and Oram (if McCullum opens) with outside possibility of J Marshall or Vincent come the world cup.

I would probably pick Fulton and H Marshall unless Oram is really fit and bowling well.

 

[Sw1fty]

H Marshall and McMillan are both competing for the same spot imo, although both should be playing domestic cricket imo

 

[Will Scarlet]

Glad not to see the match

Sometimes it's good to be a NZ cricket fan living in AUS. What a shameful performance!

There appeared to be three main differences between the two teams yesterday: SL's mindset to attack the bowling from the outset rather than push and prod, SL's bowlers coming out and bowling accurately in the early overs, plus SL's bowlers using the conditions to swing the ball.

I agree with whoever blames Bracewell for over-coaching. After all, it's not as though he was much of a bowler or batsman. I've believed he's been our biggest problem for over a year now, not our player pool.

I'd like to see: Fleming move to #3, where he is less vulnerable to the likes of McGrath and Vass in the early overs. I'd have Fulton at #4 to potentially stop the rot as he did for Canterbury for a few seasons, and Taylor at #5. #6 needs to be a specialist batsman or a batting all-rounder (Styris, H Marshall, or Vincent). Did Bracewell forget about this fact when he promoted McCullum? Franklin and Vettori at #7 & #8 where they can patch up our regular batting collapses. Mills, Bond, and Gillespie in the tail. Franklin would be the second change bowler and could share his overs with Styris and Astle. Mason, Patel, Adams are the bowling reserves. It's anybody's guess who the batting reserves could be.

 

[Prince EWS]

Sincas for a patching up/nurdling role at 5?

 

[Matt52]

I agree with whoever blames Bracewell for over-coaching. After all, it's not as though he was much of a bowler or batsman. I've believed he's been our biggest problem for over a year now, not our player pool.

I'd like to see: Fleming move to #3, where he is less vulnerable to the likes of McGrath and Vass in the early overs. I'd have Fulton at #4 to potentially stop the rot as he did for Canterbury for a few seasons, and Taylor at #5. #6 needs to be a specialist batsman or a batting all-rounder (Styris, H Marshall, or Vincent). Did Bracewell forget about this fact when he promoted McCullum? Franklin and Vettori at #7 & #8 where they can patch up our regular batting collapses. Mills, Bond, and Gillespie in the tail. Franklin would be the second change bowler and could share his overs with Styris and Astle. Mason, Patel, Adams are the bowling reserves. It's anybody's guess who the batting reserves could be.

I agree. Bracewell is our biggest problem.he just doesnt seem very bright and he does seem to over complicate things. Have you heard that he made some of the nz batsmen PRACTICE IN BLINDFOLDS,..... why? .........TO TRUST THEIR PROCESSES!!!!!., I am not joking. They were practising without being able to see the ball. Brian Waddle mentioned it on the commentary for radiosport in the Christchurch game..The commentators were laughing in disbelief. How can you practice when you cant see the ball?.

Trouble is, Bracewell will be around until the world cup so we just have to grin and bear it.

Disagree with your line up though. Dont waste taylor down at 5. He has always batted at 3 for Central. Thats were all his runs have come. He averages some ludicrous amount (excluding A tours) at a high strike rate in that position and has proven ability to hang around and score centuries. He is a natural no3. No reason to change that,.

Fleming on the other hand started his career in the middle order at 4 or 5 and has said recently that he "loves 4". That was for test matches, so maybe its different in ODI's but to me he seems a natural no4. He pushes and prods and glides the ball around in the middle overs, He does OK at opening but he would provide a lot more solidity to the middle order and we dont expose our best and most experienced batsman to the new and swinging ball, we let him guide the team through the middle overs where you need experience not to get bogged down and to stop any loss of a few quick wickets early on. But if Fleming opens or bats 3 and gets a good one from Lee or McGrath or whoever then who have we got to stop the slide . Yesterday showed we have no-one.

Not sure about McCullum opening. Not because of him so much but just that Oram is not that great and McMillan is always dodgy(hope he has changed), so that 6 or 7 role seems empty at the moment. If he does Ok at opening then fine.

Vettori should be at no7 or 8.

I dont think Fulton is up to it unfortunately. marshall is a bit dodgy too. I would rate Vincent ahead of both of them,

Ryder should have been brought in around the same time as Taylor.

Ryder/ McCullum
Astle
Taylor
Fleming
Vincent/McMilan
Styris
Oram/McCullum
Vettori
Franklin/Patel
Bond
Gillespie

 

[Macka]

Huge questions must be asked why the hell we're trialing players 15 games out from a world cup? Seriously, do you see Australia trying new players right before a world cup? Likewise, why are we rotating players before a world cup? Is it a "rest" policy or, more likely, do the selectors and coach have no idea who is their best 11? Simiarly, do they have a clue about a batting or or who will be bowling at the death?

We have no consistency in batting orders, bowling line-ups. Specialties like opening and death bowling still remain a huge problem for us.

Right before a world cup is not the time to:
- Rest our best batsmen
- Give our standby captain a run at the helm
- Trial a player in the top order who has a top score of 50-odd in domestic cricket and has shown absolutely no ability to push on and score runs
- Ruin the one thing we can do well (lower order batting) by moving players

This smacks of poor management to me. We've had 4 years to build up to this, and it's just now we're trialing? Granted, injuries have forced the selectors somewhat, Do we remember what happened to us last world cup?

Let's recap:
- Vincent kept for one game
- Daniel Vettori opened the batting (this is up there wiith Kyle Mills being elevated to 3 in a Test for the most desperate idea ever)
- McMillan opened the batting despite never doing it before
- Astle, the only player who consistently wins us games, changes batting positions.

Again, before a world cup, we had no opening combination sorted (what's changed?), no batting order (ditto), and obviously no clue. In summary, you simply cannot trial players this close to a world cup. We should have had this sorted a year ago.

 

[JASON]

Sri Lanka has still not given Malinga Bandara a single outing. For Hamilton, I hope Murali is rested and Bandara given a chance to play .

Infact for Hamilton game, SL should play Dilshan and IMO consider resting Sanath J. Winning this series is not important .
It is more important that all the batsmen get in among the runs .

Marvan could be trialled at the opening slot for this game to give him a chance to get some more time in the middle. He needs it IMO.

I would therefore go with the following for Hamilton

Marvan
Tharanga
Mahela
Sangakkara
Kapugedera/Chamara Silva
Dilshan
Bandara
Maharoof
Vaas
Malinga
Dilhara

 

[JASON]

My best NZ Team for the World Cup would be -

Fleming
Astle
Ross Taylor
Peter Fulton
Scot Styris
James Marshall
Brendon Macullum
Daniel Vettori
Kyle Mills
Shane Bond
Mark Gillespie /Michael Mason /James Franklin/Jeetan Patel - selection based on fitness/ conditions of the pitch.

 

[Fiery]

My best NZ Team for the World Cup would be -

Fleming
Astle
Ross Taylor
Peter Fulton
Scot Styris
James Marshall
Brendon Macullum
Daniel Vettori
Kyle Mills
Shane Bond
Mark Gillespie /Michael Mason /James Franklin/Jeetan Patel - selection based on fitness/ conditions of the pitch.

Not a bad team Jason, but not sure about J.Marshall at 6. 6 needs to have a power game. Would prefer an Oram or McMillan there. Fulton still needs to prove himself too, although I would love to see him whack Brett Lee for 6 a few times with that superb pull shot he can play.

 

[aussie]

Who would they be?

Australia, South Africa, Pakistan..

 

[aussie]

Haven't been seeing SRI's performances in ODI's in the last year i presume..

 

[Fiery]

Australia, South Africa, Pakistan..

Pakistan and SA are just as unpredictable as NZ.

NZ are surely going to win the thing. We have such a great depth of talent, with fringe players all competing for who should be left out

 

[Dick Rockett]

Bracewell is our biggest problem.he just doesnt seem very bright and he does seem to over complicate things. Have you heard that he made some of the nz batsmen PRACTICE IN BLINDFOLDS,..... why? .........TO TRUST THEIR PROCESSES!!!!!., I am not joking. They were practising without being able to see the ball. Brian Waddle mentioned it on the commentary for radiosport in the Christchurch game..The commentators were laughing in disbelief. How can you practice when you cant see the ball?.

OBI-WAN: This time, let go your conscious self and act on instinct.

LUKE: (laughing) With the blast shield down, I can't even see. How am
I supposed to fight?

OBI-WAN: Your eyes can deceive you. Don't trust them. Stretch out with your feelings.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Not a bad team Jason, but not sure about J.Marshall at 6. 6 needs to have a power game. Would prefer an Oram or McMillan there. Fulton still needs to prove himself too, although I would love to see him whack Brett Lee for 6 a few times with that superb pull shot he can play.

Not sure James Marshall should be in there at all. He scored 35 runs in his first 7 ODI innings, then gets one half-century and is suddenly part of NZ's best XI for the World Cup?

 

[_Ed_]

Not sure James Marshall should be in there at all. He scored 35 runs in his first 7 ODI innings, then gets one half-century and is suddenly part of NZ's best XI for the World Cup?

I think his 152* for Northern on Saturday was more of a factor than that half-century.