Blaze said:
I think Papps and How are our future. Cumming and Marshall are both not up to it technically and so now I think it's time to see if Papps has fixed his back foot problem and to see how How goes. We have got nothing to lose because ATM the two openers we have got are not up to it.
you do not see if he has fixed his technique at intnl level - that is what the domestic comp should be able to tell you................and atm it tells us that he can't buy runs last season....
I'm not sure that James is a natural opener - probably seems to be more in the Hamish mould and therefore better suited to the middle order - same old story of having too many middle order players trying to cover too many positions & roles...........
perhaps another disadvantage for the Cumming / Marshall partnership is that each would be better feeding off a more aggressive partner & playing an anchor role.............
all 3 have played a similar handful of Tests and while Papps has a couple of half tons to his credit, his average & SR fall between that of Cumming & Marshall...............
IMO the current openers should be given a full season to show their wares, primarily because not only are they a new combo, but also new to the arena as well - a very tough call for them both to get it right straight off.................
and secondly because there are no stand out alternatives & apart from his batting woes, Papps brings no more experience at this level than the incumbants so you would perpetuate the current weakness.............
the coach & selectors should have had the balls to tell Fleming that he was to take on the role & open because of his ability & experience, and that he has been coming in early for the past couple of seasons anyway..............
