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I'm not sure about Astle in tests, the WC will surely be his swan song and we gain nothing in keeping him in the test side other than giving him more time in the middle.
Fulton has a great domestic record and needs to be given another chance (some other time), and yes I agree we need a specialist opener with Fleming. Imagine Vincent trying to face Vass on a green wicket, he wouldn't even get his bat halfway in front on his frontpad before he is LBW!
Whatever happens I just hope Taylor is given a chance & Vincent doesn't open. We can't keep on playing the same batsmen who are out of form (a side with Astle, Vincent, Marshall & Fulton in it is just too dodgy).
My side would be:
Fleming
(Not sure.... How?)
Styris
Vincent
Taylor
Oram
McCullum
Vetorri
Franklin (a must for the test side, fringe squad player for the ODIs)
Mills
Bond
Fulton is a middle order batsman so I wouldn't have him in the side. Oram can bowl third change for NZ in NZ, but long-term he should be a all-rounder as the 4th option.
Oram has had back injuries, he's tall, he only started seriously concentrating on his bowling when he wsa 17/18. It's not a matter of 'if', but rather than 'when' where it comes to having another back problem. Plus seeing Styris bowl in the first morning of a test is not a good tactic (it's happened recently, can't remember). Imagine Collingwood bowling first morning of the Ashes.
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