Should NZ persevere with Chris Martin?

[Zinzan]

I know he's probably been NZ's top test pace bowler in the last couple of years, but IMO seems to have lost 5-6 kms in the last couple of months & doesn't seem to be penetrative at all these days, not to mention that fact he's a liability with the bat & in the field.

Suppose it depends on who you'd replace him with, maybe once McKay's fit again well see it.

 

[Athlai]

Yeah he's getting close to his last legs I'd say. Will probably be gone for good within the year.

 

[morgieb]

Past it and should be dropped. Only reason why he's still picked is that the other options are injured or even worse.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Would be gone already if there were any decent alternatives. Would have had Franklin in ahead of him myself; at least he would have scored a few runs (or hung around for a while) and his bowling couldn't be any less penetrative.

 

[vic_orthdox]

As much as I'm loving the addition of the headband (looks exactly like a guy I play against now), have to say that I think his time is gone.

 

[DingDong]

is there anybody better??

 

[Halfpast_Yellow]

No one better

I note Sinclair bowled more Maidens today...

 

[Bahnz]

I've always been a big fan of Chris Martin, and even I'm ready to acknowledge that his efforts in this series have been poor.

At the same time:

a) Who else is there? McKay's FC stats look distinctly mediocre, Franklin is no longer a bowler, Tuffey is the least penetrative bowler in the world, none of the younger bowlers have stats that even come close to demanding selection, and the rest of the lot are all medium-pace, injury-prone journeymen.

b) His batting doesn't matter. While it's aggravating to watch him get out for a duck, when has it ever really contributed to a loss?

c) His record against Australia has always been poor, and its fair to say he's bowled without much luck this series.

So yeah, I wouldn't drop him on the basis of this series, but if he continues to churn out rubbish results on the winter tours I'd say his time has come.

 

[Howsie]

I've always been a big fan of Chris Martin, and even I'm ready to acknowledge that his efforts in this series have been poor.

At the same time:

a) Who else is there? McKay's FC stats look distinctly mediocre, Franklin is no longer a bowler, Tuffey is the least penetrative bowler in the world, none of the younger bowlers have stats that even come close to demanding selection, and the rest of the lot are all medium-pace, injury-prone journeymen.

b) His batting doesn't matter. While it's aggravating to watch him get out for a duck, when has it ever really contributed to a loss?

c) His record against Australia has always been poor, and its fair to say he's bowled without much luck this series.
So yeah, I wouldn't drop him on the basis of this series, but if he continues to churn out rubbish results on the winter tours I'd say his time has come.

Nah, I think it's fair to say he hasn't had a chance to pick up a few tailend wickets like he usually does. He's been rubish this whole series, nothing to do with luck. If anyone's been unlucky it's been Brent Arnel.

But yes toss him away, he's finished.

 

[Smudge]

Martin is due for the scrap heap - the problem is we have no strike bowlers at present. And I fear that there is next to nothing coming through. Yep, Mills back when he's healthy (although once the ball stops moving, he's very hittable in tests) but we really need someone classy climbing through the ranks very quickly.

 

[S.P. Fleming]

tipping a retirement announcement on wednesday evening.

 

[_Ed_]

I watched the third session in a bar with no sound, but the way Sky kept popping Martin's career stats up on the screen gave me a feeling they thought his days were numbered.

 

[NZTailender]

Wagner qualified yet?

 

[Smudge]

Nah, still about 18 months to go, I believe. His FC record hasn't been flash this season anyway, has it? Genuine question, BTW - haven't been following that closely.

 

[DIRK-NANNES]

Yeh nah, he's a year behind the others. Probably will be round Nov next year.

The Hamish Bennett bandwagon is taking passengers for its imminent roll-out

 

[Bahnz]

Yeh nah, he's a year behind the others. Probably will be round Nov next year.

The Hamish Bennett bandwagon is taking passengers for its imminent roll-out

With a first class average of 37 those seats might be a hard sell. Although to be fair to him, he is a player of rare ineptitude with the bat (averaging 0.3 this season). He's a worthy successor to Martin in that sense at least.

 

[Himannv]

IMO, for the moment he can still contribute but they certainly need to field a couple of young quicks once in a while and try to get them ready. Not sure what kind of local talent is available to them though.

 

[lockton2skipper]

chris has been a great workhorse for new zealand but his time is about up. time for the next generation. a fit andy mckay would be a usefull stop gap.

 

[Athlai]

Nah, still about 18 months to go, I believe. His FC record hasn't been flash this season anyway, has it? Genuine question, BTW - haven't been following that closely.

Top Ten Pace Bowling Wicket Takers
GW Aldridge 42 @ 20.16 SR 37.9
MD Bates 37 @ 25.40 SR 54.4
EP Thompson 34 @ 24.08 SR 49
BJ Arnel 29 @ 19.58 SR 48.6
MJ Mason 28 @ 22.78 SR 49.1
N Wagner 26 @ 36.69 SR 64.7
WC McSkimming 23 @ 28.39 SR 54.2
BC Hiini 22 @ 26.68 SR 56.8
SR Wells 20 @ 23.55 SR 41.8
MJ Tugaga 20 @ 38.35 SR 52.2

Top Ten Pace Bowling Wicket Takers Last Year
DR Tuffey 27 @ 20.96
LJ Shaw 26 @ 23.92
HK Bennett 26 @ 29.26
MJ McClenaghan 26 @ 42.26
AM Ellis 23 @ 23.78
EP Thompson 23 @ 31.95
AJ McKay 23 @ 34.34
de Grandhomme 21 @ 24.19
N Wagner 21 @ 33.33
MJ Harvie 19 @ 31

Out of those guys I'd think that Aldridge, Bates, Mason, Wagner, McKay, Bennett must be close to getting a Test match run.

Can they bat better than Martin?
Aldridge 1541 @ 22.01
Bates 191 @ 22.22
MJ Mason 1194 @ 15.92
N Wagner 517 @ 16.15
AJ McKay 175 @ 11.66
HK Bennett 108 @ 5.68

Odd how the guys closer to the team Wagner, Bennett, Mckay, Arnel are all worse with the bat. Hiini must average 30 odd.

 

[Days of Grace]

I don't think Mason would do much better than Martin, tbh.

Really frustrated with our lack of pace bowling options at the moment. Why is it so hard to develop a young bowler who can bowl 140km/h+?