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

[Halfpast_Yellow]

Ryder
McCullum
Taylor
Flynn
Styris
Oram
Franklin
Thompson
Mills
Southee
Vettori

Styris is out though, so would bring in How to open and move Ryder and the rest of the team down one spot.

 

[Bahnz]

Who would open the bowling with Mills?.

Ummm...we've kind of been opening with Mills for the past 3 or 4 years, and during that time he's experienced immense success, hovering around the top 5 in the world over the past 18 months. Seriously, I know you have an immense speed bias but...seriously.

As for Athlai not wanting Styris in the team, again...why? In his last two innings for NZ against a proper side (England back in July) he scored match winning 50's. I honestly don't give a crap if his batting for Auckland has been bad. The simple fact is, he's the best one day batsman in the side, (and certainly the most experienced) and especially considering our current difficulties, we can't afford to lose him.

 

[Smudge]

Ummm...we've kind of been opening with Mills for the past 3 or 4 years, and during that time he's experienced immense success, hovering around the top 5 in the world over the past 18 months. Seriously, I know you have an immense speed bias but...seriously.

I didn't even read Matt's post as having a crack against Mills. Wasn't he merely asking who would open the bowling alongside him? Paranoid, perhaps, Bahnz?

 

[Bahnz]

I didn't even read Matt's post as having a crack against Mills. Wasn't he merely asking who would open the bowling alongside him? Paranoid, perhaps, Bahnz?

Oops, you're right completely misinterpreted that. I've been a bit suspicious of Matt ever since his comments about how we need to dig up some fast bowlers, during the 2nd test.

 

[_Ed_]

I didn't even read Matt's post as having a crack against Mills. Wasn't he merely asking who would open the bowling alongside him? Paranoid, perhaps, Bahnz?

I don't blame him though, Mills seems to get a lot of unfair criticism. One of the better ODI bowlers in the world IMO, but never seems to get the credit he deserves.

And I expect him to be left out of the Test team against India because he had a bad game in Napier, which I don't think is very fair considering the quality of his performances over the last 18 months.

 

[Prince EWS]

The top seven for the ODIs really should be Ryder, McCullum, How, Taylor, Elliott, Flynn and Oram. Not necessarily in that order, but it really picks itself from where I sit. It was more complicated before Styris's injury but I can't see another team being picked now.

I notice a fair few have left Elliott and How out but given they average 51 and 36 respectively in ODIs to date, I don't think they should be dropped just because they haven't set the Test world alight recently (or at all, in Elliot's case). Flynn's really the one whose one day spot should be under scrutiny but given he played well in the Tests and showed a broader range of shots, he'll be given this series.

Bowling side of things is a little harder to pick, but Southee had a really good start to his ODI career even if he is a tad out of form, and I suppose Patel will play now that he did well in the second Test.

That leaves this, subject to batting order changes:

1. McCullum
2. Ryder
3. How
4. Taylor
5. Flynn
6. Oram
7. Elliott
8. Vettori
9. Mills
10. Southee
11. Patel

 

[Halfpast_Yellow]

Full credit to the West Indies who deserved their win but what was with the NZ team selected. What is Franklin doing playing as a specialist batsman and Flynn batting at number 7?

I'd easily play Franklin as a specialist in the middle/lower order in Twenty20. Can hit the long ball well, has been in good domestic form, and we actually don't have a lot of middle-order powerhitters at the moment surprisingly.

Flynn coming in at 7 seems odd, with the 3rd wicket falling before the tenth over I would have brought him in, but I see the argument for promoting Oram up the order given he has hit a 50 or two for us before. I see Batting 'orders' becoming more and more flexible in T20Is given the nature of the game as teams seek an edge.

 

[Prince EWS]

Oops, you're right completely misinterpreted that. I've been a bit suspicious of Matt ever since his comments about how we need to dig up some fast bowlers, during the 2nd test.

Yeah, those posts were terrible and the rant was apt; just a little misplaced. Save it to your hard-drive and post it next time Mills has a less-than-brilliant game and Matt calls for his head again.

 

[Halfpast_Yellow]

The top seven really should be Ryder, McCullum, How, Taylor, Elliott, Flynn and Oram. Not necessarily in that order, but it really picks itself from where I sit. It was more complicated before Styris's injury but I can't see another team being picked now.

I notice a fair few have left Elliott and How out but given they average 51 and 36 respectively in ODIs to date, I don't think they should be dropped just because they haven't set the Test world alight recently (or at all, in Elliot's case). Flynn's really the one whose one day spot should be under scrutiny but given he played well in the Tests and showed a broader range of shots, he'll be given this series.

Bowling side of things is a little harder to pick, but Southee had a really good start to his ODI career even if he is a tad out of form, and I suppose Patel will play now that he did well in the second Test.

That leaves this, subject to batting order changes:

1. McCullum
2. Ryder
3. How
4. Taylor
5. Flynn
6. Oram
7. Elliott
8. Vettori
9. Mills
10. Southee
11. Patel

ODI team?

 

[Prince EWS]

ODI team?

Yeah, just realised a lot of people have actually been talking about Twenty20. Explains the fair-enough absence of How and Elliott.

 

[GGG]

Elliot for Styris, no big loss really.

 

[sammy2]

I hope marshall fires soon..

 

[susudear]

Which Marshall?

Because the one most likely to do that, is unlikely to play any serious cricket till the English spring/summer.

 

[Uppercut]

The Marshall most likely to fire is sadly no longer with us.

 

[Atreyu]

Am I the only one who thinks that if somebody gets out in the last few overs, Southee should come in? He can hammer the ball so cleanly off the middle

 

[sammy2]

The world is not ready for an inform gayle ... Thats all I have to say.
why sarwan had to be playing **** now ? why bravo had to be injured ?

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Am I the only one who thinks that if somebody gets out in the last few overs, Southee should come in?

I think even Tim would disagree.

 

[Atreyu]

I think even Tim would disagree.

Well I don't mean up the order, I mean more like ahead of Kyle Mills and Dan Vettori

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Tim Southee is capable of hitting sixes in the same way that Tino Best is. They can, but they're unlikely to.do it often enough to do damage.

 

[Atreyu]

Tim Southee is capable of hitting sixes in the same way that Tino Best is. They can, but they're unlikely to.do it often enough to do damage.

Just looked him up and he didn't look too good. at least at Test level.

Southee has a test 77* off 48 balls which included 9 Sixes and 4 Fours against a fairly solid england attack

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