Quote:
Originally Posted by Bahnz
So do Phlegm's though. I think his opinion is based on
a) An irrational hatred of Ronchi; and
b) A faulty assumption that Ryder will be back.
But if he's correct in the later of those, then NZ's middle order will look like this:
4. Taylor
5. Brownlie
6. Ryder
7. Watling
Taylor and Ryder are absolute locks for 4 and 6 respectively. Scaly is being unnecessarily dismissive of Brownlie and Watling. They weren't just the best of a bad bunch. Their failures in 45ao-gate were the most forgiveable - both got unplayable deliveries from Philander that leaped off a good length on the line of off stump and jagged away. They both averaged 40+ against the best fast bowling attack in the world. Their efforts legitimately demand reselection for the England series. Watling's keeping isn't the flashest, but it's hardly like New Zealand have a top quality spin bowler whose presence requires a high class keeper. So unless you decide to drop Williamson and move everyone up by one position there's not really a place for Ronchi at this stage. Watling could yet come undone, but his efforts in SA and his performances in ODI's in 2012 should've secured his position in the side until at least the conclusion of New Zealand's tour of England.
If Ryder isn't available, I would be tempted to bat Ronchi at 7, relieve BJ of the keeping duties and tell him to focus on making runs at 6. Still, even that's tricky, as that would leave NZ worryingly light on 5th bowling options. He'd need to keep piling on the runs in domestic cricket for the pro's to outweigh the con's.
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Yeah I would pick Ronchi if Ryder wasn't available, but I'd probably not do it if he was. It's really tempting to make Watling open again but unless he actually came out and said he was keen on it, it'd be so unbelievably harsh to make him go and do it.