***Official*** West Indies in New Zealand

[NZTailender]

My team?

Papps
How
Fulton
Fleming
Styris
Astle
McCullum
Vettori
Franklin
Bond

Unlikely. I think How will make his debut but I'm not sure about Papps, but I'd have him in my team. They'll probably make Vincent open again

And, of course, here's my team (if I were selector)


1. How
2. Papps
3. Vincent
4. Fleming
5. Aslte
6. Styris
7. McCullum
8. Vettori
9. Franklin
10. Bond
11. Martin/Mason/Gillespie/generic seam bowler.

 

[sirjeremy11]

Unlikely. I think How will make his debut but I'm not sure about Papps, but I'd have him in my team. They'll probably make Vincent open again

And, of course, here's my team (if I were selector)


1. How
2. Papps
3. Vincent
4. Fleming
5. Aslte
6. Styris
7. McCullum
8. Vettori
9. Franklin
10. Bond
11. Martin/Mason/Gillespie/generic seam bowler.

Oh yeah! I forgot Vincent. They probably will make him open.

I'm sure they will pick H Marshall though! I can feel it in me bones...

 

[Tim]

Ross Taylor, 4 centuries, 9 half centuries, average of 43, strike rate of around 90, batting at #3 for Central Districts.

It was almost impossible to ignore after the season he's had so far for C.D

And the good news is that the so called wonder-talent of Jesse Ryder hasn't even made the NZ side yet. The batting is looking very good right now. Time for the bowling to head in a similar upward direction.

 

[Tim]

Anyone think Ryder could be an outside chance for the test team?

4 centuries, 7 half-centuries, average of 49, highest score of 236. He must be close.

 

[Retox]

Anyone think Ryder could be an outside chance for the test team?

4 centuries, 7 half-centuries, average of 49, highest score of 236. He must be close.

Give him a few more years.

 

[NZTailender]

Anyone think Ryder could be an outside chance for the test team?

4 centuries, 7 half-centuries, average of 49, highest score of 236. He must be close.

Once again, if I were a selector, and it was 1-0 or 2-0 going into the third test, I'd debut him and Taylor

 

[Perm]

What I would have liked to see was Ross Taylor get a crack in the Black Uniform before the series was safely in the bag. It may sound ridiculous but if he does get the opportunity to play in the next two games there is nothing at stake for the team and he may think of it like that. Sometimes players need to be brought into a pressure situation where they know that their team is relying on them and that they are part of a team that is looking to win a series.

They should've blooded him when the series was wide open, like they did with How and Fulton.

 

[Sportsgirl]

My Test side would be

1.How
2.Astle
3.Vincent
4.Fleming
5.Fulton
6.Marshall/Styris
7.McCullum
8.Vettori
9.Mason/Franklin
10.Bond
11.C Martin

 

[Zinzan]

Can't believe a lot of you guys would have Vincent as high as 3 in the tests. Clearly he has proved a successful opener in the odi's, but its painfully obvious that he's most effective at 4,5 ot 6 in the longer form of the game.

 

[NZTailender]

Can't believe a lot of you guys would have Vincent as high as 3 in the tests. Clearly he has proved a successful opener in the odi's, but its painfully obvious that he's most effective at 4,5 ot 6 in the longer form of the game.

Yeah, I was just wary of Fleming and Astle being so low. Vincent seems to bat best at number four. Styris bats well at number 3 IIRC. So yeah, Styris, Vincent, Fleming and then Astle...

Edit: Although Fleming being at 5 would deal with his troubles against the new ball which he had opening v Australia etc.

 

[sirjeremy11]

My Test side would be

1.How
2.Astle
3.Vincent
4.Fleming
5.Fulton
6.Marshall/Styris
7.McCullum
8.Vettori
9.Mason/Franklin
10.Bond
11.C Martin

I'd love to think that Astle would/could open, but I just don't think in tests he can - imagine him on a green top... dangerous waste of a decent batsman. Bring back Richardson!

 

[sirjeremy11]

Sunny tomorrow in Napier. Maybe some showers in Auckland on Saturday, but mainly fine says the forecast.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

I saw the Nathan Astle catch last night on Inside Cricket.

That's not possible is it? People can't do things like that.

 

[sirjeremy11]

I saw the Nathan Astle catch last night on Inside Cricket.

That's not possible is it? People can't do things like that.

That's what we thought. It was just extraordinary, and, in the end when you look at how close it went, may have won the match,

 

[Tim]

That's not the first time Astle has made a remarkable catch. He may not look like an agile fielder, but his ability to position himself to take the harder catches is quite unreal.

That catch was very baseball like. I wonder if Mike Young's coaching had an influence on it!

 

[sirjeremy11]

That's not the first time Astle has made a remarkable catch. He may not look like an agile fielder, but his ability to position himself to take the harder catches is quite unreal.

I think it's because he has such great hand eye coordination. He is our best ever ODI batsman... and he is a hand eye player.

 

[Blaze]

I think it's because he has such great hand eye coordination. He is our best ever ODI batsman... and he is a hand eye player.

He has made the most centuries but you still have to consider Crowe the best surely?

Crowe 143 4704 107* 38.55 4 34 29 2/9 32.89 0 66 0
Astle 210 6805 145* 35.62 16 39 97 4/43 38.10 0 80 0

 

[sirjeremy11]

Crowe is by far a better batsman, but I think bar that average, Astle's record is better.

Let me rephrase, I think Astle is our most successful ODI batsman ever.

 

[Natman20]

I dislike Astles style of batting. I would rather watch a Fleming innings if he gets going

 

[marc71178]

He has made the most centuries but you still have to consider Crowe the best surely?

Crowe 143 4704 107* 38.55 4 34 29 2/9 32.89 0 66 0
Astle 210 6805 145* 35.62 16 39 97 4/43 38.10 0 80 0

Especially if you factor in the S/Rs (considering Crowe played in a far less batting-friendly time)