Vettori as opener

[Arjun]

We've seen left-arm spinner Vettori open the innings for New Zealand, though a long time ago. I'd like to know what you thought of it. The Kiwis had eight batting options before him, yet, in a few matches, he opened the batting. There was a match against the Aussies, where, chasing 220 (?) against Lee and McGrath, they opened with Vettori, and that move was panned. It surely was bizarre then. Do you think it was a good thing then? And now?

 

[open365]

No i think it was a pretty aimless move.

I wouldn't be averse to him opening the bowling though.

 

[slugger]

oh that.. we were just going through the alphabet, he was next in the order.. we were up to the 'v" batsmen before bowler..vincent..vettori

 

[Athlai]

Franklin could one day be an option to open the batting but Vettori's has went down hill, bowlers shouldn't open the batting IMO. Certainly not in ODI cricket anyway.

 

[Flem274*]

This thread almost gave me a heart attack. I thought for a minute there that Bracewell had cooked up aother dumb plan.

 

[Dan]

I think it had something to do with seeing off the opening bowlers without losing a 'valuable' wicket (ie Fleming)

 

[Julian87]

I think it would work as his batting is suited to it, much more than others imo.

 

[Prince EWS]

I think it would work as his batting is suited to it, much more than others imo.

It's really not though. He tries to work everything square and plays dinky shots as he turns his wrists and plays with small portions of the bat. Successful openers tend to get in line with the ball and play with the full face of the bat to combat the extra swing and seam movement.

James Franklin or even Kyle Mills would be better options to open than Vettori IMO. It'd just waste him.

 

[Craig]

I think it had something to do with seeing off the opening bowlers without losing a 'valuable' wicket (ie Fleming)

Wasn't that the **** and bull story when they decided to put Nathan Astle at 3? I wouldn't either open, fan of actuall openers opening or least proper batsmen.

 

[thierry henry]

Vettori actually had a golden run with the bat a few years ago, but his batting seemed to go to pieces when he got moved up the order to #5 in ODIs for a while....I suppose we can gather that, although he was often scoring more runs than most of the middle order players while batting at 8 or 9, when he tried to be a middle order player himself he was the worst of the lot. It's better he stays at 8 or 9 where he seems more capable of scoring middle-order player type runs.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

I wouldn't either open, fan of actuall openers opening or least proper batsmen.

...what?

 

[TT Boy]

It’s not that bad a thought, decent batsman and if they are concerned about the new ball he could be an option. And I can’t see Papps and Cummings becoming decent international openers anytime soon.

Although, last time NZ sent a bowler up the order he lasted all of two balls…

http://content-www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/238205.html

 

[Richard]

I think it had something to do with seeing off the opening bowlers without losing a 'valuable' wicket (ie Fleming)

Wasn't that the **** and bull story when they decided to put Nathan Astle at 3? I wouldn't either open, fan of actuall openers opening or least proper batsmen.

Indeed it was, how unutterably stupid to have not one but three players (McMillan, Fleming and Vettori) opening who've never been openers in any way, shape or form and one (Astle) at three who's beyond question New Zealand's best ODI opener of the modern era.

 

[Matt52]

Indeed it was, how unutterably stupid to have not one but three players (McMillan, Fleming and Vettori) opening who've never been openers in any way, shape or form and one (Astle) at three who's beyond question New Zealand's best ODI opener of the modern era.

Welcome to the wonderful and surreal world of Bracewell,

 

[iamdavid]

It's really not though. He tries to work everything square and plays dinky shots as he turns his wrists and plays with small portions of the bat. Successful openers tend to get in line with the ball and play with the full face of the bat to combat the extra swing and seam movement..

I thought that was part of the thinking behind him opening, because he scores in different areas to other batsman and he's unorthodox, might put the bowlers of their game plan a little.

I didnt think it would work, but I did see their reasoning.

 

[sledger]

wouldnt reccomend opening with vettori, as others have said the best bet in ODIs would be Astle.

 

[sledger]

Welcome to the wonderful and surreal world of Bracewell,

are you really in korea?

 

[Richard]

Kiwis are here, there and everywhere TBH.

 

[Richard]

wouldnt reccomend opening with vettori, as others have said the best bet in ODIs would be Astle.

Well... if he hadn't retired yeah.

 

[pup11]

Is the starter of this thread talking about opening in Odi's or test's (do New Zealand play test's anymore??) Vettori's batting has been pretty dire for sometime now, so the idea is just isn't on.