**Official** New Zealand v World XI

[sportychic33]

It will be interesting to see how Oram develops with his bowling. At the moment I think he is about a 2nd change bowler in the tests and thinks of himself as a partnership bowler. Maybe a change in psyche is needed as it would be good to see him a bit more aggressive and bowling a few bouncers and putting extra effort in for 2 balls each over.
Maybe he will improve his bowling when he joins Bacup in the Lancashire League in May.
As for Oram's batting I think that he is the technique to be a number 6 batsman in the tests as it gives him time to get his eye in and then launch. In the test matches against South Africa last year it was frustrating to see him batting at 8, as his partners at the other end kept losing their wickets so he ended up with pressure on him batting with Chris Martin and didn't get a chance to continue his form that he had in the 1st and 2nd test matches against South Africa.
Really sorry if that didn't make sense.

 

[Retox]

I can see the new zealand bowling attack like this

Bond (When he comes back vs Aussie (I hope)
Tuffey
Oram
Cairns
Vettori


This is for ODI. And that is in no order. Styris can bowl a few

the intresting thing now is who will open tests now Richardson is gone?

 

[Tim]

In the next year, it might possibly be Michael Papps & Jamie How. But I can't see NZ selecting both of them for the Australian series.

Craig Cumming could be an outside chance. He is far more impressive in first class cricket as an opener.

 

[southern man]

One change for the game tomorrow, Macca in, piggy out.

On Cumming, he hasn't scored many big scores only one hundred and one fifty. But has been very consistant and has always got a start.

 

[Fiery]

One change for the game tomorrow, Macca in, piggy out.

On Cumming, he hasn't scored many big scores only one hundred and one fifty. But has been very consistant and has always got a start.

Cumming didn't look up to it when he was picked the first time. There must be better options than him. Astle should open in the tests too now. He's had enough experience doing it in one-dayers.
Any word on the reason for dropping Pig? A bit rough when he didn't even bat in the first game.

 

[southern man]

Cumming was picked in the one day game though, He isn't a great one day player. But he is a very good player of the longer version.

He has averaged 36 in first class cricket, and has played for a very long time. A player who isn't up to it wouldin't be able to do that.

 

[Fiery]

Cumming was picked in the one day game though, He isn't a great one day player. But he is a very good player of the longer version.

He has averaged 36 in first class cricket, and has played for a very long time. A player who isn't up to it wouldin't be able to do that.

An average of 36 in State cricket doesn't do it for me I'm afraid. I saw enough lack of confidence and technical deficiencies in the one-dayers he played to put me off him. Peter Fulton would be a much better bet if we are bringing a new guy in.

 

[rogerramjet]

Fulton versus Cumming is a no brainer IMHO.

Cumming is 29 with a first class average of 35 and ODI domestic average of 19. Whereas, Fulton is 25 with a first class average of 42 and ODI average of 38.

 

[southern man]

But Fulton isn't an opener.

Just remind me how brillant mark Richardson was in the one dayers?

 

[Fiery]

We should pick the 6 best batsmen then find positions for them:

Astle
Fleming
Sinclair
Styris
McMillan
Oram

Astle and Fleming can and should both open I reckon.
Fulton can come in if any of these proven players get injured or if their form is just too woeful which has been known to happen especially in Sinclair and McMillan's cases.

 

[Tim]

Why on earth is Styris being rested when he's currently in need of form in the middle?
I've read several interviews now where he's said he's timing the ball well, he's just not going on with it...that's not good enough really at domestic level for an international player.

 

[Tim]

I would send an angry email to the selectors if they start picking Fulton as an opener. NZ is the best side at putting players out of position. We cannot afford with our limited depth of players in this country, to muck players around in 3 or 4 different positions in the batting order.

Fulton should only be batting #3 or #4 for NZ.

 

[Tim]

Cumming finished 99* today v N.D.

 

[Richard Rash]

Cumming didn't look up to it when he was picked the first time. There must be better options than him. Astle should open in the tests too now. He's had enough experience doing it in one-dayers.
Any word on the reason for dropping Pig? A bit rough when he didn't even bat in the first game.

He has been 'rested' and it's about time too. He has been playing very very averagly even in domestic cricket.

I would be calling for Bracewells head if I saw Astle opening in a test match. Opening the batting in a test match is a very specialised role. Hayden is struggling for Australia but you don't see them suggesting that Gilchrist should be opening in tests. It is completly different opening in ODI's to that of opening in tests..

Cumming is in the form of his life and to be fair he got better as the series went on against Pakistan. It was a huge adjustment for him to make. He had been playing domestic cricket for 7 or 8 years and then suddenly under all sorts of pressure is thrown in the deep end facing the fastest bowler in the history of the game

 

[Richard Rash]

I would send an angry email to the selectors if they start picking Fulton as an opener. NZ is the best side at putting players out of position. We cannot afford with our limited depth of players in this country, to muck players around in 3 or 4 different positions in the batting order.

Fulton should only be batting #3 or #4 for NZ.

Thank you Tim. You are exactly right. If they pick Fulton as an opener I will help you write that letter. What we need to do is start afresh IMO. We need to pick Papps and How and tell them that they see them as the future and we need to stick with them long term. They are both specialist openers and although How's form has dipped of late I think if he starts playing on some decent tracks we will see that he is more than capable.

 

[Fiery]

He has been 'rested' and it's about time too. He has been playing very very averagly even in domestic cricket.

I would be calling for Bracewells head if I saw Astle opening in a test match. Opening the batting in a test match is a very specialised role. Hayden is struggling for Australia but you don't see them suggesting that Gilchrist should be opening in tests. It is completly different opening in ODI's to that of opening in tests..

Cumming is in the form of his life and to be fair he got better as the series went on against Pakistan. It was a huge adjustment for him to make. He had been playing domestic cricket for 7 or 8 years and then suddenly under all sorts of pressure is thrown in the deep end facing the fastest bowler in the history of the game

Have to disagree. Fulton is a much better player than Cumming and I think its more important to get the best 6 batsmen in the country in the team. Astle is stronger mentally and is more well-equipped technically to handle the job than anyone else on the domestic circuit. For this reason I wish Richardson waited till there was an obvious successor before he retired.

 

[southern man]

Opening is a very very specilised position, Astle is a great middle order player. He doesn't have the game to be a test open, he is far to free spirited and attacking. It would be suicide to have him opening in the tests.

 

[southern man]

We need to pick Papps and How and tell them that they see them as the future and we need to stick with them long term. They are both specialist openers and although How's form has dipped of late I think if he starts playing on some decent tracks we will see that he is more than capable.

Hows form has dipped, what about papps he has no form.

 

[Fiery]

Opening is a very very specilised position, Astle is a great middle order player. He doesn't have the game to be a test open, he is far to free spirited and attacking. It would be suicide to have him opening in the tests.

He's old enough, wise enough and good enough to adapt his game. What's wrong with a positive start in tests anyway? The Aussies have shown that scoring at 4 an over in tests is the best way to win and to beat the best we have to take them on aggressively.

 

[Ming]

No, the Aussies haven't been winning all their Tests because of a high run-rate. It's more than that.

What's wrong with a positive start in Tests? Nothing. But I certainly don't want to be 1/20 after 2 overs.

I certainly don't agree on Astle opening in Tests. Astle struggles against the new ball in the longer form of the game, and would be a sitting duck against the Aussies if he was thrown in first. You need someone with experience in opening, and Astle doesn't have any experience opening in ODIs. Sure you might say Fleming adjusted well, but Fleming was already used to coming in at 3 and coming into bat after only an over or two in Tests. Astle bats in the middle order, usually around 5 in the Test team. It would be stupid and foolish to try and convert him into a Test opener.