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

Cabinet96

Global Moderator
I dunno. Yes if you look at their overall record in the past 2 years, it's absolutely no contest at all. But hypothetically, say Southee had been picked for England against India, and bowled as well on as he did for New Zealand in India and SL. Would you be dropping him to bring Broad back into the side for the New Zealand series?
Well, it would all depend on fitness for me. I don't actually believe Broad was fully fit in India, and if he is fully fit in time for the test series then I would bring him in for Southee. If not I'd keep Southee. Close though. I'd probably go for Southee over Finn in a composite team anyway.

Also, hasn't this thread already been created? Mods to merge.
 

Bahnz

Hall of Fame Member
He would walk into the T20 and ODI sides. Not sure where he would go in the test team though with Taylor coming back and McCullum apparently shifting back down the order.
Would depend on how he bats in his next few FC games for Wellington. That comment that Ryder made before Xmas about not caring about getting out really showed that at that stage he was no where near being ready for test cricket. At the international level the bowlers are so good that you have to care about losing your wicket, because otherwise...well, you'll lose your wicket.

If he starts batting with a mind to stay at the crease and build big scores then I don't think you can seriously argue that McCullum deserves a middle-order spot more than he does.

Still, all this is moot because I doubt whether he'll come back anyway.
 

wellAlbidarned

International Coach
The lesson in all of this is that the guy you make captain should be, without a doubt, one of the first three names on the team sheet. If McCullum moves down the order then his spot should be under serious pressure, buuut he's captain so...
 

Bahnz

Hall of Fame Member
I think New Zealand are more likely to win a Test than draw one unless it rains actually, because the bowling attacks of both teams are really quite good and New Zealand's batting is terrible. If it rains then that changes though obviously.
I agree, but I also think I'm more likely to get struck by lightning than be hit by an asteroid. It doesn't mean that I worry about either actually happening (much).

I guess there's the slimmest chance that New Zealand could repeat what they did against Sri Lanka (bat first on a flaaaaat deck, have Taylor and one other batsmen post big runs, then do enough damage with the new ball to gain a big first innings lead and push for a win on the 5th day). But I reckon England's top 5 is too classy for that to be a realistic possiblity.
 

jcas0167

International Debutant
Would depend on how he bats in his next few FC games for Wellington. That comment that Ryder made before Xmas about not caring about getting out really showed that at that stage he was no where near being ready for test cricket. At the international level the bowlers are so good that you have to care about losing your wicket, because otherwise...well, you'll lose your wicket. .
I didn't interpret that comment quite that way. You often read of players in various sports who say as they get more experienced they are less tense, less worried about what others think and looking to enjoy their game more. As a result they tend to get 'in the zone' and play better. I'm hopeful that's the case with Ryder.
 
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straw man

Hall of Fame Member
do you really want another 45?
We'll save that for the tour of England. Though SA have a particular brand of aggression and intimidation that our guys always shrink away from - England for all their skills aren't quite as scary IMO, so our low might be a solid 85 instead :dry:
 

straw man

Hall of Fame Member
Yeah for a not-particularly-eloquent person like Ryder I wouldn't read too much into his choice of words.

Though seeing his strike rates and then his dimissal v Southee in domestic FC, I do think if he comes back he would be best to bat at 6 - not going to want to take the heat up the order and will want to throw the bat.
 

jcas0167

International Debutant
Though seeing his strike rates and then his dimissal v Southee in domestic FC, I do think if he comes back he would be best to bat at 6 - not going to want to take the heat up the order and will want to throw the bat.
For him to get in at the moment either Williamson or Brownlie is going to have to miss out. Unless he opens :ph34r:
 

hendrix

Hall of Fame Member
State of the Nation

So I've been mulling over different routes that could be taken in regards to the composition of our? Or should we wait until after this series before giving Rutherford, etc, a game? Perhaps in England.

So I'm going to go ahead and throw some options out there, assuming that Taylor and Southee will be back for the series and that Ryder and Vettori won't be. It becomes a bit more obvious when all those guys come back.

So, side one: a little deviation.
1. D Flynn
2. B McCullum
3. K Williamson
4. R Taylor
5. D Brownlie
6. B Watling+
7. J Neesham/T Astle
8. D Bracewell
9. T Southee
10. B Martin
11. T Boult


2nd team is based on the form of Watling and the calls for him to go up the order. Flynn would drop out and Ronchi would sweep in.

1. B Watling
2. B McCullum
3. K Williamson
4. R Taylor
5. D Brownlie
6. L Ronchi+
7. J Neesham/T Astle
8. D Bracewell
9. T Southee
10. B Martin
11. T Boult
I wouldn't mind either of these teams. Definitely Neesham over Astle though.
 

Mike5181

International Captain
Hesson's apparently ruled out Watling as an opener. Doesn't want to risk ruining him. Fair enough, I suppose. That leaves Ronchi out, unless they decide to use Watling down at six as a specialist batsman. It makes no sense to move McCullum into the middle-order, considering he's comfortably our best opener, and Guptill's spot shouldn't really be safe.
 

Flem274*

123/5
McCullum moving into an already congested middle order when he is our only international quality opener is strange.
 

Mike5181

International Captain
Even if it was being considered, I doubt it would happen if the Ryder/Hesson meeting goes well. Williamson, Taylor, Ryder, Brownlie, and Watling sounds like a solid middle-order considering what we had in the tests against South Africa.
 

Bahnz

Hall of Fame Member
McCullum moving into an already congested middle order when he is our only international quality opener is strange.
From what I've heard, a lot of what he was talking about was Brendon being forced to be overly defensive, so it may not necessarily be a move down the order but a change in batting mindset that Hesson is going for.
 

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