New Zealand squad for ICC named!

[James]

As you can all see from Tim's update on the frontpage the New Zealand ICC squad has been named:

The 14 man squad is:

1. Stephen Fleming
2. Nathan Astle
3. Shane Bond
4. Chris Harris
5. Paul Hitchcock
6. Kyle Mills
7. Chris Nevin
8. Jacob Oram
9. Mathew Sinclair
10. Scott Styris
11. Glen Sulzberger
12. Daryl Tuffey
13. Daniel Vettori
14. Lou Vincent

What does everyone think of it? With only 4 specalist batsman we are again light there. We always go over board on picking all-rounders! I'm not sure who I would have gone for but we need to start improving our batting resources...

My starting lineup from that squad would be:

Astle
Nevin
Sinclair
Fleming
Vincent
Harris
Styris
Oram
Vettori
Bond
Hitchcock

 

[Tim]

I think we are at least another batsman short. In my opinion it had to be Oram who so far as yet to impress really with either bat or ball.

I know ive harped on about McCullum, Fulton and the like but I think this side desperately needs one more batsman, otherwise im happy with it and i understand with McMillan why he doesn't want to go.

 

[Tim]

Astle
Fleming
Vincent
Sinclair
Harris
Styris
Oram
Mills
Vettori
Bond
Hitchcock

 

[scorpio]

where is cairns or macmillan ?
without those two new zea is not winning much in my reckoning..

 

[Tim]

why don't you read the frontpage and get the facts?

 

[Tim]

I agree that this side does not have much of a chance, because apart from Astle, Fleming & Harris the amount of experience is very little.

 

[scorpio]

why don't you read the frontpage and get the facts?

Well..i didnt look there and just asked a question. If you cant answer and would prefer wiseass remark be my guest.. :rolleyes:

 

[Kimbo]

this to me looks like one of the cruddiest teams we have had in a while. whats the bet kyle mills and mathew sinclair do bugger all...
its a pity mcmillan didnt want to go, he is desperately needed there. ah well, if the rest of the team dies in a bomb it will be a good decision. :undecided:

 

[scorpio]

rest of the team dies in a bomb ? :I

WHts tht mean ? If u meant it literally..very cheap. Hope it is some kind of insider joke..

 

[Tim]

Scorpio, it wasn't a wisearse remark. But do you even read the news items on the frontpage?

 

[Tim]

I trust Sunil didn't mean what she said to come out like it did, but you need to becareful what you say in future S.H

 

[Kimbo]

sorry wasn't thinking. it was just a sarcastic comment. cos i was thinking, if the black caps walked out that hotel in pakistan just 2 minutes earlier they would all be dead... freaky.
not saying by any means that i think sri lanka is as dangerous but i respect the decisions of the players that aren't going.

 

[anzac]

have to agree that we look short in both batting and experience - esp in the middle order. i can see the odds blowing out even as we speak!!!

Astle
Nevin
Fleming
Sinclair
Harris
Vincent
Styris
Oram
Vettori
Bond
Mills
Tuffey
probably with Oram as 12th man unless the warm up matches dictate otherwise.

It's a huge ask because I can't think of anytime that the new middle & lower order have made any contribution at the same time!!! Nevin, Sinclair, Vincent & Oram are all inconsistant with the bat, yet none of them can afford to be with this squad as there are no batting options. i would have liked to have seen McCullum in the squad, but not as an opener.

i don't too much re Hitchcock but I believe he is f/med. Mills is supposed to be a specialist "at the death" bowler. i would retain Tuffey as he is in effect our most experienced seam bowler of the squad and has not really done anything to warrant being dropped that i know of. Bond has played as many ODI matches as Mills and Hitchcock together!!!!!

i have retained Nevin as 'keeper & opener to try and lengthen the batting, and to allow both Sinclair & Vincent to concentrate on their batting rather than have the added pressure of 'keeping as well. I am not a fan for Fleming to open esp with this long tail & lack of experience.

the other option would be to open with Astle & Vincent and use Nevin as a floating pinch hitter, otherwise to come in around No7.

Harris is obviously the lynch pin in the middle order and a huge responsibility is going to rest on him. I have a funny feeling that the batting order may get changed with him coming in at No4 as he did in WI, to give him as many overs at the bowling a la Bevan.

still looks pretty dodgy to me what ever way they go!!!!

 

[Kiwi]

I don't beleive that New Zealand have much of a chance with this team. Macca will be missed alot and we can't afford not to have him there when cairns and Adams(our big hitters) arn't there.
Why are the selecters putting Sinclair in the team. Why not try someone else like Fulton, or papps because the selecters arn't going to use sinclair unless they are really desperate.

 

[Tim]

If I had my way as a selector, i'd be putting Papps, Fulton, McCullum & Gary Stead in the mix. The reason i chose Stead was because he is a true batsman, and his fighting 100 last season against Auckland in the State Shield was a gutsy effort under pressure. NZ needs his experience & Australian-like leadership qualities.

 

[lord_of_darkness]

dont keep your 10$ notes away like the Indian team the New Zealand team is full of suprises .... im sure there will be some suprises in the ICC

 

[Tim]

Well you're right, this contract issues opens up a whole new can of worms for the ICC Trophy & NZ may have a chance of defending their trophy if players like Gilchrist don't show up.