NZ Batting Top 6

[Ming]

He usually gets his man, which means we MAY be one down with not too many runs on the board. Do i want the best batsmen in the country opening in a test-match against the new ball and Mcgrath? NO. Having watched mcgrath for years i have a lot of respect for the guy for obvious reasons.

Would you rather want to see Jamie How and Michael Papps back in the pavilion after 2 overs with only a couple of runs on the board instead? The fact is that we are struggling for openers in NZ, and Fleming has already shown in England he adapt to the role of Test opener very well.

Sinclair is a makeshift opener. We need to get specialists to do a specialist job. Australia dont open in tests with Martyn or Ponting, do they? They consider it a specialist job. Styris is not a test 4, he's a number 6, or 5. I keep emphasing the top 4 positions in the order are specialist jobs.

I don't think I heard many people saying Styris wasn't a Test number 4 when he smacked 170-odd against South Africa last year. The fact that Styris is out of form, has nothing to do with him batting at 4. He has already built a good enough Test and ODI batting record to suggest he has the qualities to be called a specialist batsman.

 

[Kippax]

Do i want the best batsmen in the country opening in a test-match against the new ball and Mcgrath? NO.

But do i want the best batsman in the country coming in at 5/1 in a test-match against the new ball and Mcgrath? An even stronger NO!

Personally I'd rather give a player like Fleming a blank canvas. I've decided it's a better alternative than forcing him to grind his guts on the balcony, watching two lesser players struggle and concede a psychological advantage, then go out and mark his guard.

I was asking myself the other day, 'if Fleming's dismissed in the first over of a test, what are we risking? The chance we'll post a low score and haemorrhage another test defeat? The chance we'll slip down the rankings? The chance some of our middle-order will be exposed as not quite as flash as they thought they were? The chance the coach will face a lot of s*** from the public? The chance Snedden will look into scheduling tours around a '2 test, 7 ODI' model?'

Call me cynical, but we're here already.

For those who think that's far too pessimistic, here's a more positive angle. Scott Styris started his 170 against SA with the fall of Fleming's wicket. The score? 12/2.

 

[Kippax]

We need to get specialists to do a specialist job. Australia dont open in tests with Martyn or Ponting, do they? They consider it a specialist job.

If you replaced Langer, Hayden and all of AUS's alternatives with say Michael Papps and Matt Sinclair, I'd be very surprised if Ponting chose to keep batting at 3.

 

[Will Scarlet]

How
Fleming
Sinclair
Fulton
Astle
McCullum

A bit fresh at the top, I know. But if you include Oram, Franklin, and Vettori in the middle order then the batting is more solid.

People will say you shouldn't bring in Fulton and How against AUS but if they don't play now, then when? Especially so if they both score runs in the coming FC matches. Constant rejection is bound to remove their drive to score FC runs.

 

[Tim]

How has lost a bit of form...

 

[Fiery]

How has lost a bit of form...

I know it's not going to happen but with Oram out wouldn't it be nice if Cairns made a brief test comeback against the Aussies. Make him an offer he can't refuse Sneds!

 

[steds]

Couldn't make my mind up, so I voted for all 15

 

[Will Scarlet]

How has lost a bit of form...

Did he get injured the the last match? He batted at #7 in CD's first innings.

 

[crickey]

Fleming, papps, oram, mcmillan (just nudged 2 sixes last two balls) styris, marshall.

I agree Cummings would be based on form in FC however cant seem to put bat to ball for NZ

 

[Darrin]

You guys have just exemplified what is wrong with new zealand cricket at the moment...we are playing poeple out of position. Fleming is a number 3.

I stand by what i have said.

 

[Ming]

Just like how Fleming was transformed from a ODI 3 to an opener is wrong with NZ Cricket?

 

[Will Scarlet]

Just like how Fleming was transformed from a ODI 3 to an opener is wrong with NZ Cricket?

There is a huge difference between moving players up the order in ODIs and tests. Top order batsmen in tests are expected to spend long periods at the crease; scoring a rapid-fire 35-40 in tests isn't good enough.

 

[Richard Rash]

You guys have just exemplified what is wrong with new zealand cricket at the moment...we are playing poeple out of position. Fleming is a number 3.

I stand by what i have said.

I totally agree with you...Except i think Flem is a 4

 

[Ming]

Fleming showed in England he has what it takes to be Test opener. He's very likely to open after what Bracewell said.

 

[Will Scarlet]

Fleming gets away with it due to his talent, experience, and the fact that when batting at #3 he's usually in after a few overs anyway.

 

[cric_manic]

fleming averages 54 as an opener in tests

 

[Darrin]

fleming averages 54 as an opener in tests

Too smaller sample, has not played enough innings' as an opener for the sample to be valid.

 

[Darrin]

Fleming gets away with it due to his talent, experience, and the fact that when batting at #3 he's usually in after a few overs anyway.

You can't go into a test match saying we'll put fleming in as an opener because the openers that we have picked are poor. You have to somewhat positive. The other avenue is if you select right then you should get some value out of your openers.

 

[cric_manic]

yes but if we dont give him opertunities as an opener we wont know how good he is.Now is the best time for him to open as there is no likely replacement for richardson

 

[Darrin]

Fleming showed in England he has what it takes to be Test opener. He's very likely to open after what Bracewell said.

Because Bracewell said it does it make it right? You have to learn tjhe ability to think for yourself.