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

[Dick Rockett]

Well I certainly haven't found anyone who agrees with him.

Unfortunately though, he's paid the big bucks, and we just hang around on here and whinge

 

[SouthernMan]

I had my doubts about Bracewell. Although Gloucester had tremendous success at the one day game, they weren't much chop at the 4-day version. Personally, I'd rather the coach of the NZ side was able to improve test performances.
As it is, he's always had a dogmatic streak to him. He'd rather carry on with a bad idea than admit he's wrong. We may have won this series, but he can hardly claim that our openers played any part in that.

We have won our last 5 tests!

 

[sirjeremy11]

We have won our last 5 tests!

While I am on the whole "You beat who you are put up against, you can't do more, can you" school...

SL - Seemed disinterested about that game - we (Lou especially) played well though.

ZIM - Got to be the weakest team we have EVER played in a test series

WI - Got to be the weakest WI team we have ever played.

 

[Dick Rockett]

We have won our last 5 tests!

True, but his overall record since he took over is 8 wins, 9 losses and 6 draws. Firstly, that's an ordinary record. Secondly, that's about the same ratio as Stephen Fleming has managed throughout his captaincy, so whether Bracewell has had anything to do with that record is up for debate. Anyway, one can hardly argue that our opposition in those last five tests has been that great.

On the other hand, he's done a good job with our one day side - we've only struggled against Australia since he took over.

 

[_Ed_]

On the other hand, he's done a good job with our one day side - we've only struggled against Australia since he took over.

And South Africa in South Africa, but we're hardly alone in that.

 

[Dick Rockett]

And South Africa in South Africa, but we're hardly alone in that.

For sure, but they got spanked when they came here. Three of those games in SA were reasonably close too.

 

[ohtani's jacket]

True, but his overall record since he took over is 8 wins, 9 losses and 6 draws. Firstly, that's an ordinary record.

That's not a bad record.

Middle of the pack stuff, which is where NZ's at.

 

[Retox]

But has Sinclair had those chances after scoring as heavily as he has been recently? Where's the motivation for a player to put in all the hard work and get the results in first class play, then not be given higher honours?

Batsmen tend to get better as they get older. Have a look at Steve Waugh - after 50 tests his average was almost identical to Sinclair's current average. Imagine what we would have missed out on if he hadn't been persisted with.

Edit: even more interesting - after 25 tests (Sinclair's current tally), Waugh averaged only 31.73, and was yet to pass 100.

Spearman has been scoring well in england for a few years, Why didn't they bring him back since he has been scoring well in FC. Same goes for Sinclair beacuse they are great FC players but when they step up they fall on the floor.

Note: I am not one for going backwards, Sinclair has been given his chances (25 of them) Lets give How and Papps there 25 now.

 

[Dick Rockett]

That's not a bad record.

Middle of the pack stuff, which is where NZ's at.

I'm not saying it's a bad record, just trying to illustrate that perhaps Bracewell's influence on the team hasn't been that profound.

 

[Dick Rockett]

Spearman has been scoring well in england for a few years, Why didn't they bring him back since he has been scoring well in FC. Same goes for Sinclair beacuse they are great FC players but when they step up they fall on the floor.

Note: I am not one for going backwards, Sinclair has been given his chances (25 of them) Lets give How and Papps there 25 now.

That's not really much of a comparison. Spearman did precisely nothing with his opportunities in the NZ team. Sinclair has a decent test average and has scored three big hundreds - none of which, incidentally, have been against weak teams.

Besides, there was talk that Spearman might end up playing for England.

 

[James]

Spearman said he had no intent of ever playing for New Zealand again I believe.

He's wanting to get UK citizenship from what I remember so he qualifies as a local player for his county side.

 

[Retox]

Spearman said he had no intent of ever playing for New Zealand again I believe.

He's wanting to get UK citizenship from what I remember so he qualifies as a local player for his county side.

Yeah good on him I say.


The point I was trying to make was just beacuse a player is doing so well in FC cricket then comes into the National side.. then gets dropped from that beacuse he doesn't score.. Scores well in FC .. Back into national side.. Dropped.. Guess what? more scores in FC cricket.

Sinclair is a decent player, Scores big scores (when he does score hehe) But it's not what NZ needs we need someone to open who will avg in the 40s and score 50s and 100s alot (Papps and How) Not someone who will get one big score then for 10games score nothing over 20.

 

[Loony BoB]

I admit that I'd really like to see Papps given another go. He averages 51 at ODI level and has only played against South Africa and a single match against Aus where he retired hurt. He does admittadly have a very low strike rate which isn't suitable for ODIs, especially our ODI side which is doing more than well enough as it is... but such an average at such a strike rate would be good for tests. Papps' test record is shakey, though. 59 against South Africa and 86 against England are his only decent scores, the rest of them all being 12 or less (including one not out). But right now we may as well give him a shot, it can't be much worse than playing Marshall as opener, can it?

I still think Vincent should be playing in the middle order though. I'd love to see the following, someday...

Papps
How
Fleming, Vincent and Styris (in any order)
Astle
McCullum
Vettori
Franklin
Mills (well, for now, anyway... still unsure about who could take this position)
Bond

Who else is in contention for that seaming spot, by the way? Oram? Mason? Is Andre Adams doing okay since his last injury? He was playing fairly well before then.

EDIT: A quick check tells me Adams has only in fact played a single test, against England in 2002. Strange, considering he took 6/105 (average 17.5) in that game and then never got played at test level again.

 

[sirjeremy11]

I am still in favour of a Mason, Bond, Franklin pace attack. Vettori as spinner. Styris and Astle as back up.

 

[Dick Rockett]

Seconded.

 

[James]

When Oram is fit again and ready for international cricket, we need to get him in there don't we?

 

[_Ed_]

If he can bowl as well as he could before then yes definitely. And he should be close to making the test side just for his batting, although it would probably be Styris's spot that he'd be going for.

 

[sirjeremy11]

If he can bowl as well as he could before then yes definitely. And he should be close to making the test side just for his batting, although it would probably be Styris's spot that he'd be going for.

The only way he doesn't compete for a middle order spot is if his bowling gets better than it was before IMO. Otherwise he is a 5 or 6 who bowls as well.

 

[jadeey]

Napier weather forecast isn't looking for the next few days

 

[sirjeremy11]

Napier weather forecast isn't looking for the next few days

Yep. If the weather forecast holds true, looks like we will only take a 2-0 win!