***Official*** South Africa in New Zealand 2012

[Athlai]

Why is Ellis being seen as someone who offers something to the team?

[Flem274*]

In my case, your dislike for him (and everyone elses) makes me like him more.

It's my Grant Elliott thing all over again, except without Grant Elliott. Ellis WAG!!

[wellAlbidarned]

and Elliott actually had a period where he performed exceptionally well in ODIs.

[Athlai]

I don't dislike Ellis. I think he has a great attitude and is a quality first class allrounder. But he really isn't good enough with either bat or ball at this level.

[Neil Young]

If the answer is Andy Ellis, the question is nine shades of wrong!

[Howsie]

Ellis for Arnel next test - don't lose anything in the bowling and batting improves.

Nah, stuff that, Ellis isn't a test cricketer. He'd be playing as the 5th bowler and batting at eight, waste of a player really. Pick or bowler or batsmen, not a nuffy all rounder.

[Hurricane]

I don't dislike Ellis. I think he has a great attitude and is a quality first class allrounder. But he really isn't good enough with either bat or ball at this level.

Better option than Arnel and helps team balance at number 8 in the order.

[Athlai]

A 5 man attack with Ellis isn't really a 5 man attack.

[Flem274*]

It's an awesome man attack.

[Neil Young]

Better option than Arnel and helps team balance at number 8 in the order.

Better option than Arnel based on what?

Bits and pieces allrounders offer nothing in test cricket. Invariably they are shown up in both disciplines. We are better off picking the next specialist off the block if Arnel is not up to it, and that is going back to Boult who shouldn't have been overlooked in the first place.

[Flem274*]

Ellis does rip it up with the ball in the Shield. I'd be curious to see him bowl in the whites. NZC to post highlights of him.

[Hurricane]

Nah, stuff that, Ellis isn't a test cricketer. He'd be playing as the 5th bowler and batting at eight, waste of a player really. Pick or bowler or batsmen, not a nuffy all rounder.

McCullum
Taylor
Brownlie
Vettori
Bracewell
Martin

Our test match standard players

On the cusp/can't make up my mind
Gillespie
Williamson
Van Wyk

That leaves 2 spots Don't really see anyone really banging down the door - who is your team? taking into account that Boult will not be picked in the next test.

[Flem274*]

Better option than Arnel based on what?

Bits and pieces allrounders offer nothing in test cricket. Invariably they are shown up in both disciplines. We are better off picking the next specialist off the block.

Why is he automatically a bits and pieces player before he even plays a test?

I'm starting to think people judge Ellis on how he looks and not how he performs.

I wouldn't put my house on him, but he is the best allrounder (Franklin sucks at bowling Athlai) in FC cricket and even if he were to perform to his domestic career averages, which are much worse than how he has actually performed in the past two years, he would not be a bits and pieces player.

I don't think he will succeed if picked, but it's a bit harsh to write him off so early based on appearances and I really hope he does well if picked because I love it when supposedly **** players gun it.

[Howsie]

Why is he automatically a bits and pieces player before he even plays a test?

I'm starting to think people judge Ellis on how he looks and not how he performs.

Batting eight and playing as the 5th bowler, that automatically makes him a bits and pieces player.

[Neil Young]

Why is he automatically a bits and pieces player before he even plays a test?

I'm starting to think people judge Ellis on how he looks and not how he performs.

I wouldn't put my house on him, but he is the best allrounder (Franklin sucks at bowling Athlai) in FC cricket and even if he were to perform to his domestic career averages, which are much worse than how he has actually performed in the past two years, he would not be a bits and pieces player.

I don't think he will succeed if picked, but it's a bit harsh to write him off so early based on appearances and I really hope he does well if picked because I love it when supposedly **** players gun it.

Well it goes without saying that, if selected, I hope Ellis tears it up. I will happily be proven wrong about him.

While I take you pr point about writing him off before he has played, I just feel I have seen plenty of his ilk over the years come up short in test cricket. Not just for NZ, for any number of test teams. Not least England in the nineties.