Pick NZ 'A' team

[Tim]

I know NZ 'A' don't kick off their series against Sri Lanka 'A' series until Feb but I thought it would be interesting to see who everyone picks now & then see what the squad turns out to be next year.

This is obviously for NZ'landers but anyone else is welcome to have a go.

Squad of 14 in batting order:

Tim McIntosh (Auckland)
Craig Cumming (Otago)
Michael Papps (Canterbury) +
Peter Fulton (Canterbury)
Rob Nicol (Auckland)
Jesse Ryder (Central Districts)
Kyle Mills (Auckland)
Joey Yovich (Northern Districts)
Tama Canning (Auckland)
Bruce Martin (Northern Districts)
Michael Mason (Central Districts)

Subs:
Jamie How (Central Districts)
James Franklin (Wellington)

 

[Kiwi]

Looks good however I would put Bevin Griggs in as the Keeper and play Papps as just a batman. That would mean maybe Fulton would drop to the reserves with How not in the squad. Also Richard Jones may be given a shot at the 'A' team as I can't see him getting a go in the Black caps for a while
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I think if this series goes ahead which I don't think it will due to major money problems within NZ cricket, you will see maybe a more academy look with Ross Taylor, and Niel Broom in the team if they show any small bit of class in the state teams. Both are in great form in club at the moment with Broomy scoring an amazing century first match. Of about 95 balls against an attack that included players like Bond, Wistinki(sp?), Taylor, Burtt, etc.

Also a long shot but guys like Simon Allen and James hill already have it easier as they are in the selectors minds because of the academy.

 

[Tim]

Yeah I was close to putting Neil Broom in but I think Nicol & Ryder would get picked ahead of him.

I was also thinking about Jones, but looking at his average of 33 & then some of the other younger players coming through I don't think he'll ever play a test for NZ.

 

[Richard]

Wistinki(sp?)

Wisneski?

 

[Kiwi]

Yeah thats the one. I just know him as Wazza and I don't think everyone would be following me if I put that. And I didn't have time to look it up.

Another one who will be very close this year to the A team is richard Sherlock. Bowling bloody fast but may have to adjust him length a little from the indoor off season training

 

[Tim]

Yeah i've heard that Sherlock is quick, but do you think NZ Cricket would select a player who's played no FC cricket?

I think Michael Mason has to be one of the seamers, he's been 12th man for NZ for the last 2 seasons now.

 

[Langeveldt]

Well, the only people i can visualize from that list are Kyle Mills and James Franklin.. Ive completely lost track of NZ cricket and are glad they are touring England soon! Hopefully see some new faces!

 

[Kiwi]

Sherlock could be selected if he plays well in the NZ Academy games against all the NZ first class teams.

That team is the Academy Boys.

Ross Taylor
Bevin Griggs
Niel Broom
Peter Fulton
Mark Orchard
James Hill
Simon Allen
Richard Sherlock

Plus

Mark Richardson
Wade Cornilus(sp?) - Canterbury Fast bowler who didn't play last year through stress fractures
Jesse Ryder
Bruce Martin/Jeetan Patel.

Should make for some bloody good games.

 

[Craig]

Does anyone believe that McCallum is becoming a more specialist 'keeper? The way I see it, he started off like Adam Gilchrist for NSW as a batsman and then took on the 'keeping resonspbility (my spelling has gone haywire).

For me I believe he is next in line.

I have a strange feeling that Andre Adams would be in the frame.

 

[Kiwi]

McCullam used to be more of a keeper, then had knee problems and so had to drop keeping for a little while. He concentrated on batting then so he could stay in the game. Now his knees are fine, and he is concentrating on doing an Adam Paoroe or Mark Boucher Role rrather than that of a Gilchrist.

 

[Ming]

I know NZ 'A' don't kick off their series against Sri Lanka 'A' series until Feb but I thought it would be interesting to see who everyone picks now & then see what the squad turns out to be next year.

This is obviously for NZ'landers but anyone else is welcome to have a go.

Squad of 14 in batting order:

Tim McIntosh (Auckland)
Craig Cumming (Otago)
Michael Papps (Canterbury) +
Peter Fulton (Canterbury)
Rob Nicol (Auckland)
Jesse Ryder (Central Districts)
Kyle Mills (Auckland)
Joey Yovich (Northern Districts)
Tama Canning (Auckland)
Bruce Martin (Northern Districts)
Michael Mason (Central Districts)

Subs:
Jamie How (Central Districts)
James Franklin (Wellington)

Funnily enough, nearly two years on. That side still looks like a NZ 'A' side. Yovich is in fine form, and it looks like he's got his bowling sorted out although he's still got his fair share of no ball problems. Mason is bowling well again after injury, and from the radio it sounds like he's back to bowling a demanding line and length.

My 2005 NZ 'A' Test XII:

1 M Papps
2 J How
3 M Sinclair
4 P Fulton
5 J Ryder
6 R Taylor
7 G Hopkins+
8 J Yovich
9 A Adams
10 K Walmsley
11 M Mason
12 J Patel

 

[Right arm fast]

id replace walsmley with ewen thompson

 

[Ming]

Hmm....Walmsley's been in very good form in the past two seasons and I'm not sure Thompson is much more than a typical NZ medium pacer taking advantage of green pitches.

 

[Right arm fast]

thompson can also bat though and he cant be too bad he got a 7 for last season and a couple of centuries

 

[Ming]

Who cares if Thompson is a half batter, in Test/4-day cricket you need specialists, and you should pick your best bowlers. And in my mind Walmsley is a more potent bowler than Thompson.

 

[SouthernMan]

Why put a 31 or 31 Walmsley into a New Zealand ''A" team it would hold no benefit for our cricket long term, I would love to see someone like Mark Gillespie or James McMillan get a chance. Also Aaron Remond could go close if he play consistently in the four day comp.

 

[Smudge]

Jimmy has got to have a season of injury-free and well-performed cricket before he is even considered for higher honours. If it's not his back, it's his ankles. It's a shame as he's a demanding and quick bowler when he's right.

 

[SouthernMan]

That he is, I remebr watching him about three seasons ago at a onedayer where he was coming off three paces and hitting the 140's. But he has never been able to put a season together. But if he can finish the season injury free don't be suprised to see him playing for the ''A'' team as from what I have heard he is rated highly at the top.

 

[Smudge]

I remember facing him at senior club level in Dunedin a few years ago. I packed an extra pair of underpants that day but made the stupid mistake of dancing down the wicket and hit him back over his head for 2 (I was batting at 11).

Wrong move...

 

[SouthernMan]

Maybe you should have just acted like a good lower order batsman and taken a big swing and a miss. Have you seen who has been scoring quite a few runs for Otago U19's? From all accounts a very good chance of making the national squad.