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International Debutant
Welcome to the year 2017. New Zealand a side on the up under coach Shane Warne who has been in charge since 2012 has seen a positive transformation into a side that plays above themselves, always backs themselves from any position and in Noel Steele has found a leg spinner which many experts say rivals Warne himself for his bowling abilities and performances. New Zealand are preparing to host Sri Lanka in a 2 test series at home with the tests being played at the Basin Reserve in Wellington and at the University Oval in Dunedin.
2017 Players in or on verge of international setup
Openners
Marcus Martyn (Northern Districts) RHB (c) - Age 26, 37 tests 4523 at 70.67 HS: 314 16 Centuries and 17 Fifties - A top class openner who struggled initally in test cricket taking 5 tests to get a century a 314 against Australia but since then has gone from strength to strength both with the batting and with the captaincy since the retirement of Jesse Ryder in 2015. He will miss the Sri Lankan series being out with a hamstring injury for four weeks
Vic ****er (Auckland) RHB - Age 25, 19 tests, 1654 runs at 50.12 HS:177 7 centuries and 5 fifties - An agressive openner who can get his team off to a flying start but gets out often through brain explosions and can be inconsistant.
Peter Fulton (Canterbury) RHB - Age 37, 29 tests, 1956 at 39.92 HS: 122 4 centuries and 10 fifties - Fulton has been one of the top consistant performers on the domestic circut over the past decade but has struggled to transfer these performances to the higher level of international cricket apart from his centuries in both the semi and the final of the 2011 world cup which makes him a popular player with the New Zealand fans.
Middle Order Batsman
Adam Dial (Auckland) RHB - Age 31, 60 tests, 5284 runs at 50.81 HS: 171 15 centuries and 27 fifties - One of the experienced veterans of the New Zealand side he is yet to lose his agressive intent and brillant strokemaking but is not the best at grinding out an innings.
Ross Taylor (Central Districts) RHB - Age 32, 44 tests, 2732 runs at 36.43 HS: 166 5 centuries and 11 fifties - Very agressive middle order batsman who can smash quick fire centuries but is also prone to brain explosions, has played most of his ODI's and some of his tests as an openning batsman.
Robert Nicol (Auckland) RHB - Age 33, 67 tests 6623 runs at 63.68 HS: 190* 22 centuries and 32 fifties - Highly gritty and defensive middle order batsman who has specialised in getting the team out of difficult situations. However with the recent upturn in results his average has declined as he hasn't needed to do the rescue job which he specialises at as often.
Nicholas Keen (Central Districts) RHB - Age 19, 2 tests 118 runs at 39.33 HS: 87* 0 centuries and 1 fifties - Highly agressive highly talented youngster who played a brillant explosive second innings 87* against Pakistan to see us home by 5 wickets on debut but has done little else so far in tests. Has also shown himself to be a handy death bowler with his part time leg spinners in Pakistan.
All Rounders
Mark Marsden (Northern Districts) RHB LS - Age 24, 31 tests 2121 runs at 43.29 HS:179 6 centuries and 9 fifties and 139 wickets at 32.55 with Best Bowling of 6/53 - A top class all rounder who does a decent job at number 6 and plays an important role as spin support for Noel Steele where although he doesn't take to many wickets himself he has a habit of getting top order batsman out.
Robert Duckworth (Central Districts) RHB RMF - Age 29, 12 tests 656 runs at 34.53 HS: 153 1 century and 2 fifties and 17 wickets at 51.94 BB: 4/105 - An allrounder who has been near the top of the bowling averages as well as being decent with the bat over many seasons at 1st class level but has proved to be mediocre at best in international cricket
James Franklin (Wellington) LHB LFM - Age 36, 89 tests, 3764 runs at 38.41 HS: 184* 3 centuries and 23 fifties and 292 wickets at 32.36 BB: 7/84 - A highly consistant top class seamer who has lead the New Zealand attack with great effort since the retirement. Has also played numerous useful supporting knocks in teh lower order
Wicketkeepers
Brendon McCullum (vc) (Canterbury) RHB WK - Age 35, 93 tests 6673 runs at 52.96 HS: 253* 16 centuries and 26 fifties 230 catches and 27 stumpings - A world class wicket keeper batsman now past his peek but his performances with both bat and gloves mean that many experts rank him as the greatest keeper-batsman ever.
Tim Weston (Central Districts) RHB WK - Age 34, 6 tests 350 euns at 35.00 HS:102* 1 century and 2 fifties 6 catches - As McCullums backup has not had many opportunities but has been reliable on the few occasions he has gotten to play. Did a good job a few seasons back as an emergency openner on the tour of Pakistan after an injury crisis
Bowlers
Noel Steele (Wellington) RHB LS - Age 28, 42 tests 339 wickets at 23.55, BB: 10/41 - A world class leg spinner who many consider one of the all time greats. Has won us many games from the dead but is in a bit of a form slunp by his high standards at the moment.
Warren McSkimming (Otago) RHB RM - Age 37, 49 tests, 115 wickets at 43.79 BB: 6/38 - A hard workman like medium pacer who doesn't usually take to many wickets but can hold an end down well so that the bowlers at the other end get the glory.
Robin Atkin (Wellington) RHB RM - Age 29, 6 test 16 wickets at 34.19 BB: 5/40 - A decent medium pacer who got selected a year ago due a 6 wicket haul against a touring England team and has done a serviceable job keeping his place due to noone banging hard on the door in First Class cricket.
Coming up: 1st Test against Sri Lanka
2017 Players in or on verge of international setup
Openners
Marcus Martyn (Northern Districts) RHB (c) - Age 26, 37 tests 4523 at 70.67 HS: 314 16 Centuries and 17 Fifties - A top class openner who struggled initally in test cricket taking 5 tests to get a century a 314 against Australia but since then has gone from strength to strength both with the batting and with the captaincy since the retirement of Jesse Ryder in 2015. He will miss the Sri Lankan series being out with a hamstring injury for four weeks
Vic ****er (Auckland) RHB - Age 25, 19 tests, 1654 runs at 50.12 HS:177 7 centuries and 5 fifties - An agressive openner who can get his team off to a flying start but gets out often through brain explosions and can be inconsistant.
Peter Fulton (Canterbury) RHB - Age 37, 29 tests, 1956 at 39.92 HS: 122 4 centuries and 10 fifties - Fulton has been one of the top consistant performers on the domestic circut over the past decade but has struggled to transfer these performances to the higher level of international cricket apart from his centuries in both the semi and the final of the 2011 world cup which makes him a popular player with the New Zealand fans.
Middle Order Batsman
Adam Dial (Auckland) RHB - Age 31, 60 tests, 5284 runs at 50.81 HS: 171 15 centuries and 27 fifties - One of the experienced veterans of the New Zealand side he is yet to lose his agressive intent and brillant strokemaking but is not the best at grinding out an innings.
Ross Taylor (Central Districts) RHB - Age 32, 44 tests, 2732 runs at 36.43 HS: 166 5 centuries and 11 fifties - Very agressive middle order batsman who can smash quick fire centuries but is also prone to brain explosions, has played most of his ODI's and some of his tests as an openning batsman.
Robert Nicol (Auckland) RHB - Age 33, 67 tests 6623 runs at 63.68 HS: 190* 22 centuries and 32 fifties - Highly gritty and defensive middle order batsman who has specialised in getting the team out of difficult situations. However with the recent upturn in results his average has declined as he hasn't needed to do the rescue job which he specialises at as often.
Nicholas Keen (Central Districts) RHB - Age 19, 2 tests 118 runs at 39.33 HS: 87* 0 centuries and 1 fifties - Highly agressive highly talented youngster who played a brillant explosive second innings 87* against Pakistan to see us home by 5 wickets on debut but has done little else so far in tests. Has also shown himself to be a handy death bowler with his part time leg spinners in Pakistan.
All Rounders
Mark Marsden (Northern Districts) RHB LS - Age 24, 31 tests 2121 runs at 43.29 HS:179 6 centuries and 9 fifties and 139 wickets at 32.55 with Best Bowling of 6/53 - A top class all rounder who does a decent job at number 6 and plays an important role as spin support for Noel Steele where although he doesn't take to many wickets himself he has a habit of getting top order batsman out.
Robert Duckworth (Central Districts) RHB RMF - Age 29, 12 tests 656 runs at 34.53 HS: 153 1 century and 2 fifties and 17 wickets at 51.94 BB: 4/105 - An allrounder who has been near the top of the bowling averages as well as being decent with the bat over many seasons at 1st class level but has proved to be mediocre at best in international cricket
James Franklin (Wellington) LHB LFM - Age 36, 89 tests, 3764 runs at 38.41 HS: 184* 3 centuries and 23 fifties and 292 wickets at 32.36 BB: 7/84 - A highly consistant top class seamer who has lead the New Zealand attack with great effort since the retirement. Has also played numerous useful supporting knocks in teh lower order
Wicketkeepers
Brendon McCullum (vc) (Canterbury) RHB WK - Age 35, 93 tests 6673 runs at 52.96 HS: 253* 16 centuries and 26 fifties 230 catches and 27 stumpings - A world class wicket keeper batsman now past his peek but his performances with both bat and gloves mean that many experts rank him as the greatest keeper-batsman ever.
Tim Weston (Central Districts) RHB WK - Age 34, 6 tests 350 euns at 35.00 HS:102* 1 century and 2 fifties 6 catches - As McCullums backup has not had many opportunities but has been reliable on the few occasions he has gotten to play. Did a good job a few seasons back as an emergency openner on the tour of Pakistan after an injury crisis
Bowlers
Noel Steele (Wellington) RHB LS - Age 28, 42 tests 339 wickets at 23.55, BB: 10/41 - A world class leg spinner who many consider one of the all time greats. Has won us many games from the dead but is in a bit of a form slunp by his high standards at the moment.
Warren McSkimming (Otago) RHB RM - Age 37, 49 tests, 115 wickets at 43.79 BB: 6/38 - A hard workman like medium pacer who doesn't usually take to many wickets but can hold an end down well so that the bowlers at the other end get the glory.
Robin Atkin (Wellington) RHB RM - Age 29, 6 test 16 wickets at 34.19 BB: 5/40 - A decent medium pacer who got selected a year ago due a 6 wicket haul against a touring England team and has done a serviceable job keeping his place due to noone banging hard on the door in First Class cricket.
Coming up: 1st Test against Sri Lanka
