**Official** England in New Zealand

[sportychic33]

Interesting side. Would prefer:

Guptill
Papps
Flynn
Hay
Broom
Elliot
Weston (wk)
Houghton
Southee
Scott
Bennet

Nicol
Todd
Hiini

Not sure on the skipper. I think Weston is a better keeper than Watling (I saw Weston keep for our school side and Taranaki and he's fairly decent (cue Heath calling me biased), not great but our current crop of keepers apart from Van Wyk don't really set the world on fire)

What about the keeper from Otago (previously Auckland) deBoorder who actually keeps at domestic level?
Other than that I quite like your squad, keep Weston in there. What about selecting Thompson even though he is slightly older he deserves the recognition and is a decent bowler.

 

[Mixmasterreece]

What about the keeper from Otago (previously Auckland) deBoorder who actually keeps at domestic level?
Other than that I quite like your squad, keep Weston in there. What about selecting Thompson even though he is slightly older he deserves the recognition and is a decent bowler.

His stats are ok, but Weston has been more consistent.

Also by picking Weston as a keeper it allows you to take another batsmen away

 

[Bahnz]

Happy times is 'ere.

O'Brien injures his toe and Gillespie is called in as cover. Maybe there is such a thing as justice?

Doesn't sound like it'll matter either way. The selectors are leaning towards picking two spinners, which means our seam bowling attack will be just Martin, Mills and Oram. This also suggests that the selectors might be leaning towards picking Grant Elliot over Taylor or Sinclair, to provide a bit more support for the seamers.

 

[sportychic33]

His stats are ok, but Weston has been more consistent.

Also by picking Weston as a keeper it allows you to take another batsmen away

But by picking DeBoorder it enables you to pick a specialist wicketkeeper and still take Weston away. It is absolutely ridiculous to select someone who does not regularly keep wickets, wicketkeepers play an important role in the game believe it or not - in their judgement of situations and keepers who keep often are much more confident therefore able to take harder opportunities.

 

[Mixmasterreece]

its a mute point anyway as hopkins will go no matter what

 

[Silver Arrow]

Phil Mustard has been taken to hospital after being struck in the face during batting practice before the first test against New Zealand.

Mustard was feeding one of the bowling machines in the nets adjacent to Seddon Park, when a shot from batman Kevin Pietersen hit him in the face and he was taken to hospital with a suspected broken nose.

 

[Days of Grace]

Ouch.

****, that's gotta hurt.

 

[Mixmasterreece]

But by picking DeBoorder it enables you to pick a specialist wicketkeeper and still take Weston away. It is absolutely ridiculous to select someone who does not regularly keep wickets, wicketkeepers play an important role in the game believe it or not - in their judgement of situations and keepers who keep often are much more confident therefore able to take harder opportunities.

Thanks for the condescending nature of that post. I am well aware of the 'important role' wicketkeepers play in the game - I am simply interested in Weston's abilities with the gloves and whether or not they could be developed- but thanks anyway.

 

[Blakey]

its a mute point anyway as hopkins will go no matter what

Mute?

 

[Tim]

They'd take Hopkins as primary keeper and then Papps would be back-up if needed.

 

[chalky]

During the Aus Inida ODI Sky Sports UK displayed the England team as:

Vaughan (C)
Cook
Strauss
Pietersen
Bell
Collingwood
Ambrose (W)
Sidebottom
Hoggard
Harmisson
Panesar

So no real suprises then.

 

[Goughy]

So no real suprises then.

Yeah, real long tail though

 

[chalky]

Yeah, real long tail though

I know been a real problem since Giles left the team England hasn't had a number 8 who can hold a bat.

I think Giles' all round contribution to the team is a bit undervalued really, England have never been able to replace his roll as a bowling all rounder. Having a number 8 who can hold a bat was especially important with Flintoff at 6.

Hopefully Stuart Broad can become an decent international bowler as he certainly has potential as batsman. I think it was the role Duncan Fletcher originally pencilled in for Liam Plunkett who unfortunately just wasn't good enough when picked.

 

[Flem274*]

During the Aus Inida ODI Sky Sports UK displayed the England team as:

Vaughan (C)
Cook
Strauss
Pietersen
Bell
Collingwood
Ambrose (W)
Sidebottom
Hoggard
Harmisson
Panesar

So no real suprises then.

Wierd. Need to swap Strauss and Vaughan around and Bell and Collingwood around IMO.

How typical, players from both sides have had big injury doubts already. Flintoff, Tremlett, and Franklin are unavailable for the rest of the tour, Sidebottom and Collingwood have had a minor injury each and Mason, O'Brien and Fulton are out for now and Gillespie is just back from injury. Mustard has copped a broken nose today, whos next? (Please Hoggard, please Hoggard )

Two spinner would be interesting, Patel has fallen away a bit, N. McCullum isn't much of a FC spinner, B. Martin isn't the spinner he was a few years ago, Lythe is a good player but not up to it and Houghton, Hira and Schaw are too young. Spose Patel is the best bet.

WRT wicketkeepers, personally think Hopkins would do OK in tests, its ODIs where he has batting troubles. His time is moving away fast though.

Reckon Oram might get the nod at five and Elliot at six? Oram is probably capable of batting at five and I think I heard/read something that Elliot might be debuting tommorrow. Spose Seddon Park from memory is your typical NZ pitch with plenty of help for medium pacers.

So gutted I'm going to miss most of this game TBH due to school commitments and going away for the weekend.

 

[Somerset]

During the Aus Inida ODI Sky Sports UK displayed the England team as:

Vaughan (C)
Cook
Strauss
Pietersen
Bell
Collingwood
Ambrose (W)
Sidebottom
Hoggard
Harmisson
Panesar

So no real suprises then.

So Strauss gets included, TBH that can't be a bad thing from a New Zealand point of view given his efforts for ND throughout our domestic season. Ambrose getting the keeping birth surprises me a little given Mustard opened in the whole ODI series and made a particularly good fist of it at Napier.

Bowling attack looks quite solid though and New Zealand's batsmen will have their work cut out.

 

[chalky]

Been confirmed now Strauss to bat at 3 & Bell 5.

 

[Smudge]

So Strauss gets included, TBH that can't be a bad thing from a New Zealand point of view given his efforts for ND throughout our domestic season. Ambrose getting the keeping birth surprises me a little given Mustard opened in the whole ODI series and made a particularly good fist of it at Napier.

Bowling attack looks quite solid though and New Zealand's batsmen will have their work cut out.

I think the whole "ball in the face causing a broken nose" incident may have ruled Mustard out...

 

[Somerset]

I think the whole "ball in the face causing a broken nose" incident may have ruled Mustard out...

Haha....ah, didn't hear about that. Probably would've paid to read a few more posts.

 

[Flem274*]

I think the whole "ball in the face causing a broken nose" incident may have ruled Mustard out...

With his ability I bet he takes balls to the face quite often...














I've set it up, go on Volty you know you can't resist...

 

[Smudge]

Too obvious.