*Official* New Zealand in Bangladesh Thread

[Tim]

Im strongly against the idea of Fulton opening. He's a #3, #4 or #5. I really would hate to see yet another talent get wasted batting out of position.

 

[bryce]

same here, opening is a specialist postition and it's foolish to bring someone who has never opened in domestic level in to open at international level, i hope bracewell is not trying to counter the lack of quality openers in NZ by using makeshift openers and trying to convert them into 'full-time' openers.

 

[Kent]

Better than him not playing at all though, surely.

When injuries happen mid-tour, players can't just dig in their heels and say 'I'm a first-drop and that's it'.

 

[bryce]

but when selecting your tour squad you should make sure you have adequate back up in specialist areas bar injury, which i thought was mccullum who has opened a bit for otago & canterbury aswell as NZ as you all know.

 

[Kent]

Although McCullum will have to wait for either Fleming or Astle to get injured or retire before he gets another shot for the BCs.

Bracewell must think McC will be better served concentrating on the role he's been playing nicely for us in the mid-to-lower order.

 

[Macka]

McCullum has been playing very well down the order in ODIs, I think he is doing a good job there for us. I'd have a problem with Fulton opening against any other team, but it's good to see him get a game.

NZ squad to tour Aussie has been named, no changes from the Bangladesh squad. Looks like Sinclair will open against the Aussies. I'm not sure what Wiseman is doing in the squad, or if we'll have enough to bowl the Aussies out once, let alone twice in 5 days. Let's hope I'm wrong.

New Zealand squad:

Stephen Fleming (captain), Mark Richardson, Mathew Sinclair, Scott Styris, Nathan Astle, Hamish Marshall, Brendan McCullum, Jacob Oram, Daniel Vettori, James Franklin, Kyle Mills, Paul Wiseman, Ian Butler, Chris Martin.

 

[Will Scarlet]

It's a sad day for NZ cricket when under-performing bowlers like Butler and Mills have to be included in a squad for an Australian tour because of injuries. As much as I hate to say it, "Butler should be included in the starting line-up". Starting with Mills seems a waste of time. The GABBA track looked fairly flat in a recent OD match though.

Maybe it's time to beg Cairns to come back for one more summer, and ask him to play each game as though it is his last.

Hopefully How, McIntosh, and Papps can get some good scores in club cricket in the next few weeks.

 

[Mingster]

same here, opening is a specialist postition and it's foolish to bring someone who has never opened in domestic level in to open at international level, i hope bracewell is not trying to counter the lack of quality openers in NZ by using makeshift openers and trying to convert them into 'full-time' openers.

Oh calm down.

Fulton has been given a chance to open, it's better than him not playing at all. This is more than likely going to be a one-off situation.

 

[bryce]

Oh calm down.

Fulton has been given a chance to open, it's better than him not playing at all. This is more than likely going to be a one-off situation.

haha i just want to see fulton fufil is potential and don't think opening is doing him any good, if he does well then i doubt it will be a one-off.

 

[bryce]

btw when is michael papps due to recover from injury ?

 

[Macka]

Yes I hope Fulton does so well that he forces them to drop Harris or McMillan. Good to see Astle bowling again too! Not sure about Papps' injury, I thought he was going to be fit for Australia?

 

[Will Scarlet]

I'd like to see Fulton take his chance, however it occurs. It is time for Harry to retire. Lest we not forget his contribution to NZ OD cricket in the last 13 years.

 

[meatspx]

Our bowling line-up against the Aussies looks dodgey.

Vetorri is shaping up to be the key - seeing him bowl in the ODI Natwest final against the WI he was finally looping the ball, and his arm-ball was coming out right. Getting a load of wickets against Banglesesh would increase his confidence - I'm hopefull he will bowl well against the Aussies.

I have not been a fan of Vettori for a long time (he should have not been picked against SA and England) - but we really need him now. I'm not sure how the Australians will play him though - they thoroughly respect him and perhaps if he's lucky they will play him initially with caution - this will let him get into his work. If I was in the Australian team I would be target him and belt the living daylights out of him (and Wiseman for the matter if he's picked).

Chris Martin is a destructive bowler when in form - I'd pick him depending on his early tour form. If he's bowling fast and with the correct seam position - then he should play. If he doesn't look good - then leave him out of the team, as simple as that.

If Chris Martin does not play then Butler should take his place. The less said about Mills the better. Franklin/Martin/Oram/Vettorri/Styris/Astle (each in form - and NOT injured) isn't great - but it will have to do.

Looks like Sinclair will be opening - hopefully he'll crack a hundred. It's better than having McMillan in the middle order struggling against McGrath & co on that off-stump line. In an ideal world Styris and Astle would be at 5 & 6 respectively - but it looks like Marshall will bat behind them.

My test team:
Richardson
Sinclair
Fleming
Marshall
Styris
Astle
McCullum
Oram
Vettori
Fraklin
Martin or Butler

Should NZ play another bowler instead of Marshall or Sinclair? I think it might be best to play defensively.

 

[Tim]

I just want NZ to pick 4 bowlers who will at least put some effort in. I don't want to see them give up after 15 overs because it's getting too hard.

The squad overall is not a surprise. There just aren't any options until the new domestic season kicks off. Then we may see some fringe players put their hands up i.e. How, Taylor, Sherlock etc.

 

[Kent]

IMO, NZ's best chance will be for the Aussies to think "Where's Cairns? Where's Bond? Where's Vincent? What a let-down this is after the final frontier..."

As Agarkar showed in Adelaide, you don't have to greatest bowler in the world to benefit from the Aussie approach sometimes.

 

[bryce]

i thought papps would of been selected, or is he not fit or does no one have a clue ?
meatspx - thats a fairly likely line up but expect marshall to bat at 6 rather than 4.

 

[Tim]

Papps is still injured.

I think NZ can hang in there with the bat against Australia, it's just whether they can take 20 wickets...which I don't think they can.

 

[Kent]

i thought papps would of been selected, or is he not fit or does no one have a clue ?
meatspx - thats a fairly likely line up but expect marshall to bat at 6 rather than 4.

That J. Millmow article I posted said he did play club cricket on Saturday, but spent all day in the field.

I'd be surprised if Marshall plays in Brisbane actually. Bracewell still sounds keen on Oram at 6 and picking 5 bowlers to work as a group without a genuine spearhead.

 

[Smudge]

That J. Millmow article I posted said he did play club cricket on Saturday, but spent all day in the field.

I'd be surprised if Marshall plays in Brisbane actually. Bracewell still sounds keen on Oram at 6 and picking 5 bowlers to work as a group without a genuine spearhead.

Sounds destructive...

I'm still not convinced of Oram as a test-quality 6, although I predict McCullum will do a fair bit of floating in this series and may end up more at 6 if Bracewell takes the 5 bowlers approach. In saying that, we could have some long days in the field, so perhaps 6 won't be a feasible option.

 

[bryce]

i'm not convinced a lenghtened bowling attack will make much difference if any at all....... i would love to be proved wrong.