Makeup of NZ Test Team

[Tim]

Fulton has at least played himself back into some form, he's currently 74* against N.D overnight.
It's also a good sign that he's got runs in his first match as captain.

 

[thierry henry]

Richardson
Papps (a better FC player than OD, and he obviously has the selectors favour)
Fleming
Styris (yes, he is the no.4)
McMillan
Cairns
Oram (not one all-rounder too many- Cairns and Oram are both good enough to play and don't unbalance the side at all IMO)
McCullum (YES!)
Vettori
Tuffey
Mason/Martin

I think now is the time for Brendon McCullum. As a 'keeper, while I'm no expert, I think he's just as good as Hart. As a batsman I think we will be pleasantly surprised, and find that he is MUCH more suited to tests than one-dayers. To me as a batsman he is a lot like Craig McMillan-stereotyped as a one-day batsman because he "likes to go for his shots", but much more comfortable and successful in the test environment where there's no specific pressures to score quickly and he can bat at his own pace. McCullum will be able to wait for the balls that he can score off and not be panicked into ridiculous pull-shots or charges down the wicket like he has been after starting slowly in one-dayers. As for the other opening bowler, Mason and Martin stand out for me. I don't think Butler should be picked.

 

[Tim]

I think McCullum will be a far better test player than ODI player.

He was at his best batting at 6 or 7 for the NZ U19's in the 3 & 4 dayers.

 

[Prince EWS]

I have no clue what you are on.

There is nothing bad in having a long batting lineup. If Oram has to bat at 9, so be it. Bracewell wants specialists. Players who can get into the team on one facet alone.

So you don't want Oram and Wilson (both selected on bowling) in the team, because it would mean they would have to bat at 8 and 9, and they would 'look' silly? Right...:rolleyes:

For god sake Ima greeing with you! Nothing gets through!

Im saying, when selecting your lineup, it will probably look silly becuase of the allrounders in your team.

BUT IM NOT SAYING TO GET RID OF THEM!

Im saying taht if the lineup looks silly, it doesnt matter! You have to think outside the box when pickign a NZ team (or a ZIm team, or a SA team).

 

[Tim]

One guy who has been in good form this season is Mark Orchard from N.D.

He's nothing flashy with the bat but he looks as though he's got a good head on his shoulders & can chip away 30 or 40 runs.
Today against Canterbury he took 5/10 off 9.3 overs so he can also bowl medium pace quite well.

So he's definately justifying why he was picked for the NZ Academy intake last season.

An outside bet for NZ 'A'?

 

[Kent]

Not bad scalps from Bruce Martin so far today either - Fulton, Papps, Fulton again.

OK, it was only younger brother Tim Papps, but another opener anyway. Two LB's and a bowled, no doubt his arm-ball featuring in there somewhere.

 

[Craig]

I thought Fulton is right handed if that what you mean...?

 

[Mingster]

One guy who has been in good form this season is Mark Orchard from N.D.

He's nothing flashy with the bat but he looks as though he's got a good head on his shoulders & can chip away 30 or 40 runs.
Today against Canterbury he took 5/10 off 9.3 overs so he can also bowl medium pace quite well.

So he's definately justifying why he was picked for the NZ Academy intake last season.

An outside bet for NZ 'A'?

Yeah, he should be. He's a better bet for the 4-day NZ 'A' than Matthew Walker in my book.

Interesting to note that Orchard bats at 3 for ND, but is selected for his bowling. Another Scotty Styris in the making?

The competition for NZ 'A' will be tough, with Wilson, Franklin, Mills and Adams all running for a spot.

 

[Kent]

I thought Fulton is right handed if that what you mean...?

Sorry, of course. For some reason I still get McIntosh and Fulton mixed up in my mind even after watching them play. I think I just meant it's good to see him dismissing the best-performed batsman still in the comp.

 

[Mingster]

Man, what has happened to McIntosh?

Started the season with a hiss and a roar, and seemed certain to take Vincent's spot, and now hasn't reached a 50 since.

 

[thierry henry]

Richardson
Papps (a better FC player than OD, and he obviously has the selectors favour)
Fleming
Styris (yes, he is the no.4)
McMillan
Cairns
Oram (not one all-rounder too many- Cairns and Oram are both good enough to play and don't unbalance the side at all IMO)
McCullum (YES!)
Vettori
Tuffey
Mason/Martin

Well I must say, my team is looking a pretty good bet8D Love the squad

 

[Richard Rash]

The only problem i have with this team is the fact that with styris, mc millian and then cairns you have 3 stroke makers in a row and i feel we need more of a gritty player somewhere in that middle order but i can not think of anyone who could play that role

 

[Mingster]

Cairns is really a 7, not a 6. But by playing him there it gives us another bowling option.

Cairns, Oram, McCullum, Vettori. Not bad lower order aye?

 

[Tim]

Not a bad lower order PROVIDING they put some decent scores together & have some foundation laid by the top order to score some quickfire runs.

 

[Mingster]

Say either Styris or McMillan or Cairns manage to injure himself.

Who would you call up Tim?

I would favour Vincent (batting in the middle-order) or a Fulton.

 

[Tim]

Well I think the obvious choice would be Hamish Marshall.

Remember Vincent is still side-lined now that Auckland are out of the State Championship & the NZ 'A' series doesn't kick off for another 2 weeks yet so he's got no chance of showing the selectors some form.

He would have to be in prolific form for NZ 'A' to get back into the NZ team I think.

 

[Mingster]

Marshall?

He obviously struggled in the ODI series and didn't look good at all.

 

[Kent]

Sinclair.

His innings at Port Elizabeth (150 out of 291 or something?) was against a better SA attack than this, on a pitch that should be similar to the ones we see in this series.

 

[marc71178]

Sinclair.

His innings at Port Elizabeth (150 out of 291 or something?) was against a better SA attack than this, on a pitch that should be similar to the ones we see in this series.

What are the pitches scheduled to be like for this series?

 

[Kent]

Overall, fairly slow turners I think. Pitches full of runs aren't unusual for NZ at this time of year, although this hasn't been a normal summer by any means. I'd be surprised if there wasn't seam movement early on at each of the venues.

Hamilton's still a bit of a mystery because of a fungus problem that almost got the test shifted to Napier. They reckon it'll be slow with turn, but I don't think anyone can be sure after so much rain up there. The Basin's been a good batting track this season, and catering to Bracewell's wishes it could have good turn. Paul Wiseman said he's enjoyed the purchase there recently. The drop-in at Eden Park seemed to improve a bit between ODIs, but expect another slow Auckland pitch.