**Official** New Zealand in South Africa

[NZTailender]

Originally Posted by hendrix

Also, I think Williamson should be in the top 3 because he doesn't have the ability that most of the other batsmen do to hit sixes at the end.

For me, I'd go with:

Guptill
Ryder
Williamson
Taylor
Watling
McCullum (w, c)
Neesham/Elliot
N McCullum
K Mills
Boult
McCleneghan

I...what? This is an ideal ODI side, right?

[NZTailender]

Originally Posted by hendrix

Nah, I don't buy this.

The bowlers can bowl anywhere but long hops down the leg side to him because he only has one shot.

Generally gets to about 10 (40), despite the fact that he's been trying to slog every ball, then gets a few healthy edges away before skying one.

Just puts too much pressure on the batsmen at the other end.

For this series, we literally don't have enough specialist or experienced batsmen in the squad for him to be left out, imo. If we're talking about the prospects of our ODI team past this series, yeah there are better options.

[straw man]

Originally Posted by NZTailender

tbf Nicol's done more in ODIs with bat and ball than Franklin since he's been in the side.

I'm struggling to separate out ODIs and T20s in my memory so you may be right about Franklin in ODIs. All I remember is he was moderately good at the T20 WC.

[NZTailender]

Originally Posted by straw man

I'm struggling to separate out ODIs and T20s in my memory so you may be right about Franklin in ODIs. All I remember is he was moderately good at the T20 WC.

The bowling flipside to the batting stats I linked to.

Didn't realise our bowlers were so **** outside of Southee, Mills, Oram and Bennett (what a gun, btw).

The perception of NcCullum always being good for 1 wicket and keeping it tight getting less and less true as time goes on. T20 gun, yeah, but ODI...

Edit: even Williamson competes with Franklin, bowling-wise..

[Marcuss]

The New Zealander - McCullum: Bowlers Aren’t Doing Enough With The Bat

[BeeGee]

Originally Posted by hendrix

Also, I think Williamson should be in the top 3 because he doesn't have the ability that most of the other batsmen do to hit sixes at the end.

For me, I'd go with:

Guptill
Ryder
Williamson
Taylor
Watling
McCullum (w, c)
Neesham/Elliot
N McCullum
K Mills
Boult
McCleneghan

There are only three things wrong with that team....

1) Ryder isn't in the squad

2) Taylor isn't in the squad

3) Ryder and Taylor aren't in the squad.

[hendrix]

Originally Posted by NZTailender

I...what? This is an ideal ODI side, right?

Originally Posted by NZTailender

For this series, we literally don't have enough specialist or experienced batsmen in the squad for him to be left out, imo. If we're talking about the prospects of our ODI team past this series, yeah there are better options.

Originally Posted by BeeGee

There are only three things wrong with that team....

1) Ryder isn't in the squad

2) Taylor isn't in the squad

3) Ryder and Taylor aren't in the squad.

Sorry guys, wrong thread.

Thought we were talking about the England L/O side.

[BeeGee]

Originally Posted by NZTailender

As much as everyone loves to hate him, Nicol hasn't been the worst ODI batsmen for us in recent times, and adds a spin bowling option. Also, we have a real shortage of specialist bats in this ODI team, so we actually kind of need him.

I'm not opposed to Nicol opening, on one condition. McCullum needs to make it clear to him BEFORE the game starts that Nicol has ALREADY earned the right to be aggressive and he needs to attack from ball one. None of this 10(30) BS.

[Prince EWS]

Originally Posted by BeeGee

I'm not opposed to Nicol opening, on one condition. McCullum needs to make it clear to him BEFORE the game starts that Nicol has ALREADY earned the right to be aggressive and he needs to attack from ball one. None of this 10(30) BS.

Nicol hasn't earned squat though. Surely he must know this.

[Hurricane]

Old Doull was using the phrase earning the right to be aggressive on the last day of the test as well.

[theegyptian]

Anyone feel South Africa may risk ruining or at least stalling the career of De Kock by exposing him to international cricket too soon in their eagerness to find a long term solution to their wicketkeeping problem? Maybe he is that good but it seems like they're very keen to get him playing.

[BeeGee]

Originally Posted by theegyptian

Anyone feel South Africa may risk ruining or at least stalling the career of De Kock by exposing him to international cricket too soon in their eagerness to find a long term solution to their wicketkeeping problem? Maybe he is that good but it seems like they're very keen to get him playing.

Well, if you're going to expose De Kock to full public scrutiny there is always the possibility that he may not stand up with all the pressure to perform.

If SA decide to play with him, I'm sure he'll come good.

[hendrix]

Originally Posted by BeeGee

Well, if you're going to expose De Kock to full public scrutiny there is always the possibility that he may not stand up with all the pressure to perform.

this will never end.

[Garson007]

Originally Posted by theegyptian

Anyone feel South Africa may risk ruining or at least stalling the career of De Kock by exposing him to international cricket too soon in their eagerness to find a long term solution to their wicketkeeping problem? Maybe he is that good but it seems like they're very keen to get him playing.

Unless he is completely fragile, which is a possibility (but then again, do you want a fragile player in your test team?), he would just have to work on his technique if he does fail. He certainly has the potential and I don't see how this can do harm - above the aforementioned fragility.

[BeeGee]

Originally Posted by hendrix

this will never end.

De Kock has an end.