• Welcome to the Cricket Web forums, one of the biggest forums in the world dedicated to cricket.

    You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join the Cricket Web community today!

    If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.

**Official** New Zealand in England

NZTailender

I can't believe I ate the whole thing
Erm can someone explain that term?

Hay may well be capable however in his firts test, when it comes, I'd like to see him start off in the middle order. Remember Lou Vincent?
Who can forget? :wub:


But seriously, if Hay opens...I...I don't know what I'll do.
 

Flem274*

123/5
O another note, there's been talk of McCullum batting up the order and Hokins taking the gloves. At the start of the summer I was very opposed to it when Psxpro had McCullum opening in every team he posted as back then McCullum had proven in his top order gigs that he would just idioticly slog every ball but now I think it might be a punt worth taking. I'd rather him at number three though, gut feeling says it suits him more. If he were to bat in the top order in tests he's going to have to rein himself in a bit. Agression is good and I have no problem with him batting ourside of his crease, actualy it benefits him as it puts doubt into the umpires mind about LBWs and he's prone to them as he plays across the line alot. However skipping down the wicket second ball and (attempting) cutting straight deliveries needs to stop if he's to be a top order batsman. In fact cutting straight balls full stop needs to stop. Hopkins is a much better FC batsman than List A batsman due to his limited array of shots but that shouldn't be much of an issue in tests. Hopkins is also quite a good wicket keeper. Kruger Van Wyk or Derek de Boorder (de Boorder is a native kiwi, even though his name could be mistaken for another nationality) would probably jump the qeue ahead of Hopkins in a few years however.

Or alternatively, McCullum can stay where he is and thats one less experiment to keep an eye on.:p
 

Leslie1

U19 Captain
Or alternatively, McCullum can stay where he is and thats one less experiment to keep an eye on.:p
I can't remember, but when did McCullum make that drastic change to his stance? And at the time, for what reason?

Because if he can't bring that back to his 'normal stance' then we have a problem with him being a specialist batsman.

If he bats conventionally would he suffer the same setbacks some of our other batsmen do? Because he's predominantly a backfoot player, even when he steps forward to hit, he'll still jump back to his backfoot to defend at times. He seems to struggle with this stance when keeper comes up to the wicket. :wacko:
 

Flem274*

123/5
I can't remember, but when did McCullum make that drastic change to his stance? And at the time, for what reason?

Because if he can't bring that back to his 'normal stance' then we have a problem with him being a specialist batsman.

If he bats conventionally would he suffer the same setbacks some of our other batsmen do? Because he's predominantly a backfoot player, even when he steps forward to hit, he'll still jump back to his backfoot to defend at times. He seems to struggle with this stance when keeper comes up to the wicket. :wacko:
Start of this summer IIRC.

I think batting just outside his crease is a good idea. NZ batsmen of this era seem to have a tendency to not move their feet much and fall over/play around their front foot, a recipie for LBW b swing bowler. When he goes sideways then straight down the pitch however his body and his head are moving therefore he won't see the ball as well. IMO if he bats outside his crease and stops moving around, giving himself more time to see the ball he'll make some smarter shot selections. Another thing he can work on is not cutting too close to his body.
 

KiWiNiNjA

International Coach
Worst spelling of that word ever. :p

It's queue. NEVER is the Q which is not followed by U in the English language.
I've already given Flem that spelling lesson :p


Back to the team, I can't believe Grant Elliot is getting mentioned. This guy should never play another test for NZ. He is no Oram, so they should just select a batsman or a bowler, simple. Yeah, he will probably make the touring squad since he played the last test, but if he gets a game then I will be furious.

If Hay is to play, I would like him in the middle order. Yes, it's crowded, but such is NZ cricket.

1.How
2.<insert opener of your choice (who will almost certainly fail)>

3.Fulton
4.Taylor
5.Hay

(put in any order you want, also swap someone with Sinclair if you please)

6.Oram
7.McCullum

(if Oram doesn't play, then pick a batsman/bowler depending on team balance. If you put Elliot in there, then I will go bezerko)

8.Vettori (c)

(His place is pretty much cemented. Although could theoretically move up to 7, and McCullum up to 6 if Oram was ruled out due to injury, and another bowler was selected)

9.Franklin
10.Mills
11.Southee

(Martin misses out here, unfortunately. Ofcourse, if Franklin isn't fit, then Martin to take his place. Patel also unlucky, but to play if conditions suit)

Other players
12.Sinlcair
13.Martin
14.Patel
15.Ryder or middle order batsman Broom/Nichol/Flynn (knowing Hadlee's infatuation with the latter.......)

Players to cover for IPL players
Hopkins/Mason/Elliot
 

Days of Grace

International Captain
Everyone picking Peter Fulton.

But what has he done this season?

However, I hope he does get picked and is placed at no.3 and stays there. Inconsistency of batting order has really screwed this guy up along with his injuries.
 

Richard

Cricket Web Staff Member
Yeah but IQ isn't a word, it's an abbreviation. :unsure:

Don't think the "no-Q-without-U" rule applies to abbreviations.
 

Leslie1

U19 Captain
Everyone picking Peter Fulton.

But what has he done this season?

However, I hope he does get picked and is placed at no.3 and stays there. Inconsistency of batting order has really screwed this guy up along with his injuries.
Fulton - averages 54.87 this season
45 last season

Recent scores from States Championship (last 2 matches)...
2008
Cant vs Otago
3 from 16 (just in)
0 from 16

Cant vs CD
35 n.o. from 54
42 from 81

Fulton has a problem with his balance atm. I hope he's fixed it, but the way he got out in his last innings for Canterbury (hooking, top edged to third man) doesn't bode well. If he wants that number 3 spot to himself, he has to play like one, ie, no silly shots, and just tamper the ball early on.

Good thing about selecting Fulton, aside from xp (although if you check closely, not much xp really at international level), is the fact that at 29, he is already polished. There's no ifs or buts with him, he just have to perform. He doesn't have to add anything new to his batting, it's purely mental.

To be fair, his other incumbent. Sinclair, at 32, is at the same stage. There is nothing new to him anymore, he just have to go out there and execute. That's one thing these two will have in their advantage when being picked by selectors.
 
Last edited:

Richard

Cricket Web Staff Member
Haha, "struggles to get it off the square" over here of course.

Always forget it's "the block" in NZ.
 

Bahnz

Hall of Fame Member
O another note, there's been talk of McCullum batting up the order and Hokins taking the gloves. At the start of the summer I was very opposed to it when Psxpro had McCullum opening in every team he posted as back then McCullum had proven in his top order gigs that he would just idioticly slog every ball but now I think it might be a punt worth taking. I'd rather him at number three though, gut feeling says it suits him more. If he were to bat in the top order in tests he's going to have to rein himself in a bit. Agression is good and I have no problem with him batting ourside of his crease, actualy it benefits him as it puts doubt into the umpires mind about LBWs and he's prone to them as he plays across the line alot. However skipping down the wicket second ball and (attempting) cutting straight deliveries needs to stop if he's to be a top order batsman. In fact cutting straight balls full stop needs to stop. Hopkins is a much better FC batsman than List A batsman due to his limited array of shots but that shouldn't be much of an issue in tests. Hopkins is also quite a good wicket keeper. Kruger Van Wyk or Derek de Boorder (de Boorder is a native kiwi, even though his name could be mistaken for another nationality) would probably jump the qeue ahead of Hopkins in a few years however.

Or alternatively, McCullum can stay where he is and thats one less experiment to keep an eye on.:p
I actually wouldn't be at all surprised if the selectors tried this at some point. McCullum does bat either as an opener or as a number 3, on the rare occasions when he gets to play some First Class cricket, and it would free up a bit more space in the middle order for the younger players like Hay and Flynn. IIRC McCullum scored plenty of runs from the number 3 position when he last toured England four years ago. Of course it could backfire spectacularly when McCullum continuously is dismissed for 20 off 15 deliveries, but it would hardly be much worse than the current efforts of our top order.
 
Last edited:

Halfpast_Yellow

U19 Vice-Captain
I think it's an idea that possibly could come into consideration if Hopkins is in good touch in the warmups and all the specialist batsmen fail/don't look the goods.
 

Top