*Official* New Zealand in Sri Lanka 2012

[Flem274*]

Nah, DWTA.

To just focus on merits since I cbf making a long post, Worker and Bracewell haven't done anywhere near enough in FC to warrant a shot.

I don't think we can cast any aspersions on team harmony based on what we know, but if (IF) Baz is being a ratbag then turf him.

We have the right players around the team by and large; they're just playing like chumps.

I completely understand your frustration though.

[straw man]

Originally Posted by otagoman

Im tempted to go for a complete overhaul of our batting and starting over. McCullum is 31, Taylor is 28, Guptill is 26, Flynn 27, Watling 27.(We also need a decent spinner)

Why not completely rebuild, only really Guptill is young enough to turn the promise into something.

If we took this approach, we'd end up doing this every two years. And we'd be even more terrible than we are now.

In fact this is almost what happened around 2008 when Oram left the test side - we had Vettori, Martin and McCullum plus a bunch of 20 yr olds and/or debutants. And it hasn't been working for us.

[Days of Grace]

Originally Posted by otagoman

Im tempted to go for a complete overhaul of our batting and starting over. McCullum is 31, Taylor is 28, Guptill is 26, Flynn 27, Watling 27.(We also need a decent spinner)

Why not completely rebuild, only really Guptill is young enough to turn the promise into something.

The culture of the team is probably crap with the McCullum and Taylor camps, so why not get rid of the both of them. Williamson is a hard worker, hopefully the other young guys would follow his lead.

Worker
Rutherford
M. Bracewell
Williamson (C)
Latham (WK)
Anderson
Neesham
D. Bracewell
Southee
Boult
Johnston

With Milne, Wheeler, Guptill, Sodhi being squad players

Also disagree.

For one thing it shouts out that the coaching staff is giving up on McCullum and Taylor and telling the rest of the world they don't know how to handle them. Doesn't speak much for the coaching staff.

Also, I would rather have a player who is averaging 40 and frustrating me, then a player who is averaging 20 and is giving me the ****s.

[Bahnz]

Yeah, I know at times that it seems like we should just toss the whole lot and try and inject some youth, but you only have to have a look at how Latham and Milne have gone in their international efforts so far to guess how that will turn out. There are a few potential changes that could be made (it's hard to see how anyone can do much worse than Guptill has in recent times), but wholesale reform is not the way to go.

[SteveNZ]

Originally Posted by otagoman

Im tempted to go for a complete overhaul of our batting and starting over. McCullum is 31, Taylor is 28, Guptill is 26, Flynn 27, Watling 27.(We also need a decent spinner)

Why not completely rebuild, only really Guptill is young enough to turn the promise into something.

The culture of the team is probably crap with the McCullum and Taylor camps, so why not get rid of the both of them. Williamson is a hard worker, hopefully the other young guys would follow his lead.

Worker
Rutherford
M. Bracewell
Williamson (C)
Latham (WK)
Anderson
Neesham
D. Bracewell
Southee
Boult
Johnston

With Milne, Wheeler, Guptill, Sodhi being squad players

I appreciate you wearing your heart on your sleeve, Steven. Unfortunately that wouldn't even do as an NZ A side. Tim Johnston? Mark Craig has taken more wickets, can bat and has the Howick pedigree to give him the extra edge.

I'd wager that three of that side won't ever play for NZ in any form.

[straw man]

Sri Lanka v New Zealand, 2nd Test, Colombo : New Zealand wait on Tim Southee's fitness | Cricket News | Sri Lanka v New Zealand | ESPN Cricinfo

[Flem274*]

We've got this test in the bag lads. Bracewell will hit his stride, Boult and Southee will continue and Jeets will do ok, and the batsmen will turn up. We're about due a Guptill 74 and a Franklin 53, Baz always manages to average 40 in a test (usually with two 40s), Taylor is due a ton and Flynn looks the goods. Kruger will add one of his 30s down the order and we're looking at 700/7 declared with a Boult special with the bat. Herath will injure himself in the first innings.

New Zealand by an innings. I believe!

[hendrix]

If Southee doesn't play none of that will happen.

[Flem274*]

Lies. Boult and Bracewell will just take all the wickets. 5/10 each, in both innings. B&B will take over from W&W as the greatest fast bowling duo who are a play on the alphabet at the same time, as they should because B comes before W and even the word alphabet starts with an A.

[Flem274*]

Franklin out, Astle in.

Dilshan returns.

We're batting first lads.

[_Ed_]

Debut for Astle. Nervous times - for him and for us.

[_Ed_]

Four tests on at once. Madness. In a good way.

[wellAlbidarned]

Originally Posted by _Ed_

Four tests on at once. Madness. In a good way.

not if you rely on there not being much cricket on and the same time (copyright phlegm**** 2012) to find a place to watch it. Frankly depressing being below Bang/WI in the priorities

[Mike5181]

Batting fails.

Replaces batsman with bowler*

[Flem274*]

I would just like to declare right now that Kippax is the best bloke ever. Stevo, you have competition for my official man crush.