if the CD effort was "The Good", the CANT's must rate as "The Bad" or "The Ugly".............and in many ways their batting IMO was a reflection of the problems that beset the National team:
* loss of early wickets exposing the middle;
* a lack of partnerships in the middle order;
* a lack of concentration / application by their senior players resulting in the loss of quick wickets at crucial times;
* too much being asked of the lower order to perform............
Firstly their bowling attack which includes the likes of Martin (2nd top wicket taker), Cairns, Harris & Wiseman - all experienced current & former internationals, should have had the nowse to have done better - or the field placings & fielding effort were crap - Cairns' captaincy a factor????
The batting was on the back foot from the start chasing 355 at a RRR of 7.1 RPO from the start. This was further compounded by the early loss of both of their form openers thru' the comp in Papps & Stewart, although Stewart played at No3 today. I don't know too much about the dismissals so I can not say if it was bad luck, poor shot selection, or if anything can be read into the batsmen's performance or lack thereof, other than it is unfortunate for the individuals, although Papps should have another chance to set his record straight in the S.O.O.
While McCullum has opened in the Championship games with Papps he has not done so in the Shield, and has been batting lower down in ODIs. He scored a brisk 30+ but did not stay long enough to offer any platform or chance to rebuild after the loss of early wickets - perhaps an indication as to why he has not been tried back as opener in ODIs????
Instead CANT's other form batsman in Fulton showed his credentials by trying to rebuild with little support b4 becoming the 7th? wicket to fall after Stead, McMillan & Cairns had all come & gone, with only Harris & Wiseman of any note left. Again he too will have a further opportunity in the S.O.O. match.
McMillan did nothing to change my opinion of his application to the game & ability to recognise or take note of the state of the match. He persists in his reverse sweep in almost any situation of opportunity, and I wonder just how much of a success it really is for him - he scores some early runs but whenever I see him start to play it I generally get the feeling he is going to be there for a short time thereafter. He had the situation tailor made for him to show his maturity & play a BIG innings, yet he let himself and the team down yet again! Disappointing to say the least from a player of his credentials & a former national Vice-Captain!
IMO his continued selection on this type of play must come into question particularly with so many middle order players putting their hands up for consideration in both forms of the game - Fulton, Taylor & Sinclair, or even top order players such as Papps, McIntosh, How or Vincent who have shown greater application to compose a big innings this season.
Cairns continued his recent form - quick runs in spectacular fashion, but again no where near the application required. As with McMillan I have doubts as to the validity of any continued selection based upon current form - although Oram failed with the bat he was able to perform with the ball.
I am unable to comment on how they fared as opposing Captains regarding their field placings etc, particularly as Cairns is / was the current National Vice - Captain, and Oram has been talked of as a future candidate for the Captaincy.
Harris again showed that he can put something of an innings together, but not at anything near the RRR - and when he tries to accelerate he invariably gets out trying to find the fence. Close but once again no cigar so far as a recall goes perhaps?
Wiseman is the only other batsman other than Fulton to have shown anything, and it is to his credit that his batting / hitting has come on so well. However he is first and foremost a bowler, and that side of his game was disappointing.
I had made an earlier comment questioning if the return inclusion of the internationals may upset the CANT side. On paper it looks the right move, but the disruptions to the team personnel & batting order, along with the 'form' of the internationals, may have had some adverse effect on the outcome.
