***Official*** England in New Zealand series 2013

[Kippax]

Originally Posted by NZTailender

Fresh article, that one.

Just think how desperate he is now.

[wellAlbidarned]

Originally Posted by vandem

Or use Nathan McC at #7? Can't be much worse with the ball than Jeets or Bruce Martin, can bat, can field.

Nah, he definitely can be. how the **** this guy rated by anyone as anything except a 20/20 darter/slogger is beyond me. We have perfectly good seamers, why not use them eh?

[Mike5181]

Williamson isn't that much worse than our spin bowling options either. He can partially fill that role, I guess.

[Flem274*]

God it would be funny if Williamson became a half decent spinner considering his action.

[BeeGee]

Originally Posted by Flem274*

God it would be funny if Williamson became a half decent spinner considering his action.

Williamson is a half decent spinner BECAUSE of his action.

[BeeGee]

Originally Posted by straw man

I've wondered that too since he's started taking a fair few domestic wickets and has scored a few runs too. I've always been a closet fan of Butler's bowling (think I'm the only one) so I wouldn't mind seeing him in a limited overs side. Waiting to see the highlights of his recent 6-fer too.

I'm a Butler fan.

My Test Team

1. McCullum
2. Flynn or Guptill (toss a coin)
3. Williamson
4. Taylor
5. Brownlie
6. Watling
7. Munro
8. Butler
9. Bracewell
10. Southee
11. Boult

Plenty of bowling options. This is the key to winning Tests.

[Prince EWS]

Originally Posted by Flem274*

God it would be funny if Williamson became a half decent spinner considering his action.

Probably don't really want him to get any better than he is or people will start caring enough to get him reported.

[Bahnz]

Originally Posted by BeeGee

I'm a Butler fan.

My Test Team

1. McCullum
2. Flynn or Guptill (toss a coin)
3. Williamson
4. Taylor
5. Brownlie
6. Watling
7. Munro
8. Butler
9. Bracewell
10. Southee
11. Boult

Plenty of bowling options. This is the key to winning Tests.

You're ****ing kidding me.

[hendrix]

I'm more worried about the Butler selection TBH

[Howsie]

Yeh, I don't get all the Butler love. Decent option in limited overs cricket (you wouldn't want him to be a regular) But as a test match bowler, you're having a laugh.

[jcas0167]

Originally Posted by BeeGee

Plenty of bowling options. This is the key to winning Tests.

I think that Southee, Boult & Bracewell are good enough to get the wickets - the key is ensuring we get 350+ totals. So I'm stacking the batting. Ronchi will play the Gilchrist role at no7, but as a specialist batsman - Watling can keep the gloves. Also, Kyle Mills earns a recall due to his form, experience and past success against England.

1.Guptill
2. Flynn
3. Taylor
4. McCullum
5. Williamson
6. Watling +
7. Ronchi
8. Mills
9. Bracewell
10.Southee
11. Boult

12th Man: Nathan McCullum

[Flem274*]

If you're stacking the batting as much as you suggest wouldn't it be best to slip in a batting allrounder at eight rather than a specialist bowler who can bat a bit? I don't think it's the right call myself but if you were to follow that line of thought get a batting allrounder in there.

Like Vettori when he's fit.

[Prince EWS]

I don't mind the idea of Mills but he'd have to:

1. Be really fit and confident he wouldn't break down or deteriorate over five days.
2. Really want to do it.

I know he was really keen to get back in the Test side a couple of years ago, but with his age, the increasing regularity of his injuries and the - ahem - much easier and comfortable lifestyle for LO specialist cricketers these days, I'd be surprised if he wouldn't rather just extend his LO career for as long as possible now. He'd probably play if asked, but - and this just a gut feel - he'd probably see it more as doing the side the favour than being given a lifeline.

There's also the fact that he's really quite similar to Southee and Bracewell - even Boult is a very similar bowler in his methodology if you ignore the hand he bowls with - and if you're going to pick a four man seam attack then you do want them to be a bit different to each other.

I'd sooner pick MitchM if I wanted four quicks I reckon, even though I know part of the 'point' of people suddenly wanting to pick Mills is batting.

[jcas0167]

Originally Posted by Flem274*

If you're stacking the batting as much as you suggest wouldn't it be best to slip in a batting allrounder at eight rather than a specialist bowler who can bat a bit? I don't think it's the right call myself but if you were to follow that line of thought get a batting allrounder in there.

Like Vettori when he's fit.

Vettori would be ideal. I'm not sure who else could fill that spot as a batting all-rounder - Elliot or Munro? In any case, Mills seems to be taking his batting pretty seriously this season. I'd be comfortable with him there.

I've just realised I left out Brownlie. This means McCullum has to open and Flynn drops out.

[Kippax]

Glen Larmer talks to Black Caps coach Mike Hesson - Audio Player - Audio - RadioLIVE Still floundering and even a Freudian slip in this. Relationship with Taylor sounds like it's as pulseless as ever.

Black Caps | Tim Southee Likely To Return For England... | Stuff.co.nz

Black Caps | Andre Adams Assesses England's Chances... | Stuff.co.nz

But Adams, with his impartial hat on, is tipping New Zealand to win the three-match T20 series, and repeat the dose in the ODIs.

"England can be slow starters and I think we'll probably beat them in the ODIs and the T20. I'd say 2-1 in both of those and we'll lose 3-0 in the tests.

"England just don't have a set team.

"The mess about with their limited overs stuff for whatever reason, whether it's because they pick form guys out of tournaments, I don't know. Lumby played in the World T20 winning team [in 2010] then he didn't play for a while and fell out of favour. They do that kind of thing, they mess about."