***Official*** Sri Lanka in New Zealand

[chaminda_00]

Hmm NZ drop Astle and they still look strong, though in saying that many Sri Lankan batsmen also average 31 and 24. Should be interesting to see what NZ do at the top of the order Fleming and who. I guess you guys have either How, McCullum, Vincent or Fulton. Hopefully not the later, as Fulton could end up being a wasted talent at the top of the order.

 

[Tim]

Well, How is the specialist opener so i'd be pretty annoyed if they picked Fulton to open instead. Fulton is a #3 or #4 imo.

 

[Blaze]

So only 9 out of 20 series he's averaged over 30, hardly consistent. He needs to sort us his game and technique, he would struggle against any left-armer at the moment.

Yet he is still one of, if not, our best ODI batsman of all time?

 

[James90]

I don't think it's right to demote Vincent after his performance in the Chappell-Hadlee. None the less some pretty good selection which have been coming for a long time. It should be a good series.

 

[chaminda_00]

Well, How is the specialist opener so i'd be pretty annoyed if they picked Fulton to open instead. Fulton is a #3 or #4 imo.

How got to make the starting XI first and if you pick the top 5 batsmen (plus McCullum, Carins and Oram) then i doubt How would be one of them. I do hope they don't open with Fulton, cus that could stuff up his career. I think McCullum is probably the best option at the top of the order for you guys ATM.

 

[Blaze]

How got to make the starting XI first and if you pick the top 5 batsmen (plus McCullum, Carins and Oram) then i doubt How would be one of them. I do hope they don't open with Fulton, cus that could stuff up his career. I think McCullum is probably the best option at the top of the order for you guys ATM.

How is opening. Bracewell has already said that.

 

[chaminda_00]

How is opening. Bracewell has already said that.

Well it should be intesting to see how much both him and Malinga have improved in the last two years, cus i think last time they played for their A-sides, How smacked him all around the park. Hopefully the later has improved more.

 

[Tim]

I think the selectors will be banking on the fact that How will like the international standard pitches. His domestic record is ok, but could be better. But he showed a couple of years ago in the State Shield final that if he gets the chance to bat on a good pitch, he'll play all the shots.

 

[JASON]

If Black caps do not win this 4-0 or even 3-1 they should consider themselves in the same league as West Indies and only just above Zimbos. Going by current rankings.

 

[Tim]

I don't think Sri Lanka are all that bad. NZ will still need to play well to win this series if you ask me.

 

[chaminda_00]

If Black caps do not win this 4-0 or even 3-1 they should consider themselves in the same league as West Indies and only just above Zimbos. Going by current rankings.

Current Rankings???

NZ 4th - 109 pts
SL 7th - 109 pts

On current rankings the series should be 2-2, you mean current form right?

 

[JASON]

wow no Astle,cant say im suprised about Macca

The NZ selectors should be credited for dropping Macca who should've long gone.

They also IMO should be congratulated for their strength of conviction in dropping Astle, who has struggled quite a bit and needs a bit of FC Cricket to get back into form.

I think Marshall Hamish is lucky , but if he comes good against SL all will be forgotten.
(And I suspect he will)

 

[JASON]

Current Rankings???

NZ 4th - 109 pts
SL 7th - 109 pts

On current rankings the series should be 2-2, you mean current form right?

No I meant the Teams below SL, WI and Zim are the only ones below SL.

 

[Tim]

NZ Herald writer Richard Boock quite rightly said that perhaps McMillan is the luckiest cricketer to every play.
NZ have been waiting around 6 or 7 years for McMillan to come good and he's never come close to looking like he's in form.

With the addition of the VB Series & Chappell/Hadlee series before the World Cup, NZ are going to get extra time now to get some new players into the team. They had no choice but to drop McMillan at least. James Marshall doesn't look international quality and Astle looks way out of form, but he out of all of them probably is the most likely to get back into the NZ team.

 

[chaminda_00]

No I meant the Teams below SL, WI and Zim are the only ones below SL.

England are also below Sri Lanka after their series with Pakistan...

 

[James90]

England are also below Sri Lanka after their series with Pakistan...

 

[NZTailender]

Vincent is a middle order batsman, and he wants to play there too. They mucked around with him opening and 3 earlier in his career, and he's starting to come good batting in the middle order, and he should play there in this series.

I guess if How performs in these matches, he will get a head start ahead of the others for an opening Test berth.

uh, what?

He opened the batting when he made his Debut in the VB series and didn't fare to well, and got shuffled around. Now he's back as opener and is in brilliant form (how many other NZ batsman have averaged nearly 50 this year?)

In tests though he's more of a number 4 batsman, even though he opened the batting in Zimbabwe.

They should keep him opening the batting in ODI's at least for this series. To move him now would be stupid especially after the way he set up the innings in the last 2 matches vs Australia.

 

[Blaze]

uh, what?

He opened the batting when he made his Debut in the VB series and didn't fare to well, and got shuffled around. Now he's back as opener and is in brilliant form (how many other NZ batsman have averaged nearly 50 this year?)

In tests though he's more of a number 4 batsman, even though he opened the batting in Zimbabwe.

They should keep him opening the batting in ODI's at least for this series. To move him now would be stupid especially after the way he set up the innings in the last 2 matches vs Australia.

Yeah I think he is suited to opening in ODI's. He can take advantage of the field being up and play the dashing role.

 

[NZTailender]

Yeah I think he is suited to opening in ODI's. He can take advantage of the field being up and play the dashing role.

Yeah. And if How does play the first match (I have only seen the Cricinfo reports....no NZ articles about what Bracewell has said or the like) he'd be better off not opening, IMO. Somewhere like 3 or 4 would be better.

 

[NZTailender]

Yes, I like making XI's :P

1. S Fleming (c)
2. L Vincent
3. P Fulton
4. H Marshall
5. S Styris
6. C Cairns
7. J Oram
8. B McCullum (wk)
9. D Vettori
10. K Mills
11. S Bond
SS. A Adams/J How