*Official* Pak In NZ Thread

[Craig]

Originally posted by anzac
NZ's new answer to the Jhonty factor in ODIs????

as unfortunately I doubt that he'll get the opportunity to Tour with the Test Squad, and there's probably not enough mid week games to have a chance to force your way into the side unless as a result of injury..........

Its getting to the point where there are going to be cricketers who miss out and consider themselves unlucky.

Case in point: Richard Jones.

This pitch is the best I have seen since England toured. Trevor Jackson is now in favour with the NZC.

[Tim]

Hamish Marshall continues to bat with such composure yet his SR is in the high 70's, early 80's also.
I'm sure the selectors will be very interested now in seeing if James Marshall can do the same.

If NZ can continue producing good batting results, in a year or two we will be getting to the point where good players will be unlucky to miss out...and there's no shame in that, it's a great position to be in.

[Craig]

I think Tim we are getting to that stage.

Jones deserves to play more Tests, but probably wont (Assuming Astle comes back against South Africa), McIntosh or Papps can consider themselves unlucky when one of them gets picked (in all likelyhood) for the series against South Africa.

And both are good players.

[Tim]

Well the selectors will be facing a dilemma when they come to naming the test squad for the 3 match series against South Africa.

Presumably Vincent will be out so do they keep Jones? or do they pick Papps or McIntosh?

Robbie Hart will be the other topic...he may well start the series against South Africa, but if he fails in the 1st test he may be dropped out for McCullum & that would probably end his international career so he will be gunning for runs & catching chances.

I think that while Richard Jones is a gutsy player...having Jones & Richardson opening could be almost too negative, Papps & McIntosh are also defensive but probably not as defensive as Jones is.

I'd like to see Papps given a go myself.

[Tim]

I'm not sure how harsh Bracewell will be on how long a player can go without form for, but Styris & McMillan will fully know that Hamish Marshall is on their heels & they will have to produce a couple of substantial innings to keep their places in the side secure.

Styris annoys me sometimes because he gets a good score and then for the next 3 or 4 matches he gets nothing & then complains about why he's been treated so harshly in the media..he needs to be consistent or else he won't be batting at #4 for much longer, more like #6

[Craig]

Are the ygood fielders? What is their strengths and weakness'?

[Tim]

As you'd expect any player that comes through in New Zealand can field very well, I don't think i've seen a hopeless NZ fielder in ages.

McIntosh & Papps I think both field in the slips & have safe hands.

And they're both specialist batsmen.

[thierry henry]

Just on the Oram/Flintoff debate, after a bit of thought I think I am slightly in Flintoff's favour atm. However, I think people need to realise that Oram has more ability with the bat then he has shown thus far, prior to being called into the NZ team he was a specialist batsman, and they more or less made him into a bowler when the NZ team was desperately short of fire-power (I recall his first series was against Zimbabwe, and NZ were using Styris and Franklin as opening bowlers!). Considering that, as a pure batsman if he really lives up to potential he could be up there with Flintoff. As a bowler, Flintoff has a head start, but so far in his career Oram has performed admirably in this department.

[Tim]

I think this will be a great 2nd innings.

The pitch is still a belter & if Razzaq or Inzi get going then this could go right to the wire.

[Kent]

Originally posted by Tim
Styris annoys me sometimes because he gets a good score and then for the next 3 or 4 matches he gets nothing & then complains about why he's been treated so harshly in the media..he needs to be consistent or else he won't be batting at #4 for much longer, more like #6

When was this? Everything I've read in his Dominion column is "I need to develop more consistency", etc.

McMillan is far worse in this regard. After his 30-odd he said it should keep people off his back for 3 or 4 more games!

[Tim]

Oh this hasn't been recently, but I've read or heard comments by him in the past.

[Pratters]

Out! The thing I have liked of this match has been quality cricket is being played, some thing not always seen in one dayers. Also, my gut feeling tells me Inzy will play a huge knock today after all the torture he was put through in the field.

[Tim]

You mean some of the torture he put HIMSELF through in the field?
Some of his fielding was disgusting, it was embarassing for Pakistan to see the Captain trying to stop the ball with his foot & then miss it by a mile.

[Tim]

Who said McCullum can't keep?, he just pulled off a ripper to get rid of Hameed.

[Pratters]

Thats Inzmam ul haq for you. 4 down now Atleast Inzamam is still there. If only he can get some support.