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About LinkBacksSo should he open, bat 3 or bat down the order?Originally Posted by Mike5181
So should he open, bat 3 or bat down the order?
Well he definitely shouldn't bat three. He's a very boundary-reliant batsman who lacks the versatility and finesse to properly build a one day innings at #3 regularly, IMO. He either has to open with Nicol batting 3, or bat down the order as a finisher.
~ Cribbage
Brendon McCullum is one of the biggest frauds in ODI history. Minnow bashing king and even then his stats don't do justice to the reputation he has around the world. He's a bum and shouldn't be batting any higher than seven afaic.
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He's still riding high on that 158 in the IPL and his T20 century against Aussie. Another batsman in the true Kiwi mold, along with Taylor, McMillan, Ryder: bags of talent, not mentally able to execute good shot selection at the right times.
Have a go at my ODI cricket simulator or my Test cricket simulator
What annoys me about this is that we have four guys who have opened last year or this year (Guptill, Nicol, Ryder, McCullum). Of the four, McCullum is probably the least able to hit the boundaries in the powerplay overs against a moving ball. I think he should definitely, as you said, bat lower, probably at 7, where he was going great before this opener idea came along.
Taylor not being in the team makes it harder but I'd love to see an ODI top seven of:
1. Guptill
2. Nicol
3. Ryder
4. Taylor
5. Williamson
6. Franklin
7. B. McCullum
If Oram was fit I'd even consider Baz at 8.
I'd swap Williamson and Ryder for reasons I explained earlier in the thread, but yeah.
It does potentially leave you a bowler short though; Nicol, Franklin and Williamson would have to make up ten overs. If Oram was fit as well I think Franklin would probably have to get the arse and McCullum would have to bat 6.
Switching Ryder and Williamson would be a good shout, but I have been traumatised by years of opening batting failures and consider Ryder more of a "third opener" in the likely case of a dismissal in the first two overs. Especially now that we're facing Steyn.
But with Guptill and Nicol batting the way they are, Williamson might be better at No. 3, where he might have 40 overs instead of 48.3 to build an innings.
Edit: I'd be happy with ten overs out of those guys, Franklin 5, Nicol 3 and Williamson 2.
Last edited by kiwiviktor81; 24-02-2012 at 04:30 AM. Reason: mentioned bowlers
Nicol and Franklin in particular are capable of bowling a few overs.
Kepler at his worst!The Kiwis crack me up when it comes to cricket. I get on really well with some of their players and coaching team and like them a lot but some of their antics on the cricket field make me laugh.
If it was the All Blacks with all that strength and fire power you would have to take it seriously, but on the cricket field with their pop-gun attack, really, do me a favour. They are the poor man's Aussies!
They may as well give up on all their intimidation efforts and just continue to play the game hard and do their best like they can. Especially after the third T20 game where they managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. If ever a team, as we would say in the trade, took the gas it was the Black Caps. If ever there was a choke this was it. Mind you I never heard that word mentioned post-match after the Kiwis surrendered a clear advantage that could have, and indeed should have, won them the series.
The Proteas’ fightback and spirit were good. They never gave up and their passion and intensity was evident right to the end. That’s where the personality of AB de Villiers will be good for the team. They didn't play particularly well as a unit, but in the end they still came out on top when it mattered.
Former ODI and T20 skipper Johan Botha was brilliant in this game. The last over of his spell set up the win for South Africa. Marchant de Lange bowled an excellent last over as well. Once the euphoria settles down in the South African camp after the unlikely series win they will reflect on areas of their game that need to improve considerably.
New Zealand is an average team and they should under no circumstances run the Proteas close. Yes, they may win the odd game against South Africa at home but over a series the margin of victory for South Africa should be significant.
-Kepler Wessels
The poor man?s Aussies - SuperSport - Cricket
Kepler's right about the intimidation thing. Not even Bond got lippy when he was chucking them down at 150+ so I don't see why Southee, struggling to reach 140, should have such a vocal opinion.
I've never been to SA but the people I have met from there were mentally tough. I can't imagine some skinny kid from a place as unthreatening as Whangarei is going to achieve more than a few laughs in the Proteas dressing room afterwards.
Yeah it's a decent enough option if that's what your squad resources dictate but I think the big positive that should come out of having Oram, NcCullum, Bracewell and Mills is that you can play five frontline bowlers without having a rubbish tail. With Oram unfit I'd go with the team you named but with him fit I'd have him in for Franklin there.
1. Nicol
2. Guptill
3. Williamson
4. Taylor
5. Ryder
6. McCullum
7. Oram
8. NcCullum
9. Mills
10. Bracewell
11. Southee
12. Franklin
I don't think that side should need any more batting that what it's got, personally. To keep Franklin in the side you'd need to leave Bracewell out.
When Ross makes his return to the ODI batting line-up for New Zealand, surely he should slot in at 3 and McCullum must go to 6 and try play a finishing role?
Nicol
Guptill
Taylor
Williamson
Ryder
B.McCullum
Funny we should go for a similar thing. I just think that Taylor would be a good 3 as if an early wicket falls he can come in and take the game to the opposition. Don't think NZL should worry about 3 being to high for him...we're talking ODI cricket, white ball, good wicket, minimal sideways movement.
Tbh I don't mind a few words and the Kiwis are entitled it as I like a bit of needle but only at the right moments.So yeah thats Kepler being Kepler. But sure,not after someone has absolutely smashed you for a 6 that stayed the same height for the majority of the field width.
*cough cough* Timbo Southee
Last edited by SeamUp; 24-02-2012 at 05:10 AM.
Meh, Southee can say what he likes, no matter his pace, if he performs well.
All that will happen is Kepler's article will be nailed to the dressing room wall for extra motivation.
Andrew Jones would score a ton then track the bloke down (didn't he do that in Australia once?).
Worked out well by the looks of it.
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