Zinzan
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Okay chaps, while we're still 100 days out let's see your selections assuming you were forced to select a 15 man squad (and starting XI) today.
The major consideration for me was not just to select a NZ side/squad that would be solid, conservative & consistent, but one that was a little more high-risk with players that give us the best possible chance to win big games, particularly at the back-end of the tournament.
My starting XI (assuming a typical NZ ODI pitch playing 1 spinner)
Jesse Ryder - Prospects aren't looking great now obviously, but he's so critical to the cause for mine. We need a Maverick like him at the top of the innings to have any chance of lifting the cup, not to mention the value his medium-pace bowling would provide. Also a very agile in the field. Can understand people saying, '*** him' now, but I'm still holding out hope he'll be there.
Kane Williamson - He's good enough to open & doing so allows NZ to play their best 6-7 batsmen. Additionally, I just love the prospect of Kane and Jesse opening & not just for the left/right combination, but I can see their contrasting styles making it difficult for opening attack to know where to bowl. Superb fieldsman.
Ross Taylor - The way Taylor's played his 50 over cricket in the last 12 months or so suggest he's well suited to 3 & once again his promotion allows another middle order batting option in the top 7.
Corey Anderson - Anderson and McCullum can interchange between nos 4-5 depending on the left/right combination. He's in the side primarily as a batsman. If he can bowl some good overs, that's a bonus, but isn't good enough as an ODI bowler to be relied on to do so.
Brendon McCullum * - There's an argument for him to open again, but can't see he or Hesson doing it & also he can utilize the PP batting at 5, so relatively happy with this.
Colin Munro - I'm sure this will be a surprise selection for some and I concede it's a risky one, but once again I'm selecting a side to give us the best chance of actually lifting the cup. Munro averages 28 with a SR of near on 100 and is palpably the best at the reverse-shots in the country. His selection also means continued alternation of left and right-handers. Fine fielder & not the worst for 1-2 overs if the pitch spins more than expected.
Luke Ronchi + - So encouraged by his performances against SA recently, provide great value at 7.
Nathan McCullum - Although Vettori may still shade him ever-so-slightly with the ball, I'd still give NcCullum the nod if playing the one spinner since he's so much better in the field than Vettori. His fielding probably saves NZ 5 runs or so per innings whereas Vettori's probably costs the same. Solid no 8, although frustrating with the bat at times.
Tim Southee - To open up in the first game, but has both Henry and Boult nipping at his heels.
Adam Milne - Keeping with my philosophy of selecting a side to go all the way and win this thing, Milne is an absolute must for me. I would give him an early chance to open in the first game. It's not just that he's 150K + either, the guy really seems to have matured from a couple of years ago. Another good athlete in the field.
Mitchell Mcclenaghan - Our no 1 ODI bowler atm & so much to love about his attitude. The only trade-off is his sluggishness around the park.
12th man- Guptill for his fielding.
Remaining 4 players to make up the squad of 15.
Matt Henry - Possibly unfair to select Milne ahead of Henry given his consistency in the last 12 months, but a solid replacement if other fast bowlers aren't performing.
Daniel Vettori - He's a must in the squad. Can keep the pressure on NcCullum if he's not performing and is a must if we play two spinners. Unfortunately a genuine liability getting around the field these days.
Trent Boult - Unproven at ODI level, but I'd really like him in the squad as an option if there is likely to be plenty of swing about.
Martin Guptill - Gets in by the skin of his teeth, mainly due to his experience & fielding (not sure of the sub/12th man fielding rule these days). If my Ryder stand-by, Latham is required I'd probably start Latham ahead of Guptill to keep the beautiful left/right combinations going.
Note: B McCullum is the back-up keeper if Ronchi is injured, so no need for Watling.
Now for Jesse Ryder's almost inevitable replacement;
Tom Latham - Obviously a contingency is needed for Jesse.
Unlucky to miss out ...
Jimmy Neesham - There's probably both a decent argument for Neesham to be either the stand-by replacement for Ryder or making it as a backup batsman in the squad ahead of a bowler like Boult, especially given his all-round qualities. However, as much as I like Jimmy, his ODI bowling is too much of a liability at this stage of his career and Latham would be more likely to succeed against the new ball as Jesse back-up.
Obviously there's a fair bit of cricket to be played in the next 100 days, so plenty of things may happen, but what would your team/squad be today?
The major consideration for me was not just to select a NZ side/squad that would be solid, conservative & consistent, but one that was a little more high-risk with players that give us the best possible chance to win big games, particularly at the back-end of the tournament.
My starting XI (assuming a typical NZ ODI pitch playing 1 spinner)
Jesse Ryder - Prospects aren't looking great now obviously, but he's so critical to the cause for mine. We need a Maverick like him at the top of the innings to have any chance of lifting the cup, not to mention the value his medium-pace bowling would provide. Also a very agile in the field. Can understand people saying, '*** him' now, but I'm still holding out hope he'll be there.
Kane Williamson - He's good enough to open & doing so allows NZ to play their best 6-7 batsmen. Additionally, I just love the prospect of Kane and Jesse opening & not just for the left/right combination, but I can see their contrasting styles making it difficult for opening attack to know where to bowl. Superb fieldsman.
Ross Taylor - The way Taylor's played his 50 over cricket in the last 12 months or so suggest he's well suited to 3 & once again his promotion allows another middle order batting option in the top 7.
Corey Anderson - Anderson and McCullum can interchange between nos 4-5 depending on the left/right combination. He's in the side primarily as a batsman. If he can bowl some good overs, that's a bonus, but isn't good enough as an ODI bowler to be relied on to do so.
Brendon McCullum * - There's an argument for him to open again, but can't see he or Hesson doing it & also he can utilize the PP batting at 5, so relatively happy with this.
Colin Munro - I'm sure this will be a surprise selection for some and I concede it's a risky one, but once again I'm selecting a side to give us the best chance of actually lifting the cup. Munro averages 28 with a SR of near on 100 and is palpably the best at the reverse-shots in the country. His selection also means continued alternation of left and right-handers. Fine fielder & not the worst for 1-2 overs if the pitch spins more than expected.
Luke Ronchi + - So encouraged by his performances against SA recently, provide great value at 7.
Nathan McCullum - Although Vettori may still shade him ever-so-slightly with the ball, I'd still give NcCullum the nod if playing the one spinner since he's so much better in the field than Vettori. His fielding probably saves NZ 5 runs or so per innings whereas Vettori's probably costs the same. Solid no 8, although frustrating with the bat at times.
Tim Southee - To open up in the first game, but has both Henry and Boult nipping at his heels.
Adam Milne - Keeping with my philosophy of selecting a side to go all the way and win this thing, Milne is an absolute must for me. I would give him an early chance to open in the first game. It's not just that he's 150K + either, the guy really seems to have matured from a couple of years ago. Another good athlete in the field.
Mitchell Mcclenaghan - Our no 1 ODI bowler atm & so much to love about his attitude. The only trade-off is his sluggishness around the park.
12th man- Guptill for his fielding.
Remaining 4 players to make up the squad of 15.
Matt Henry - Possibly unfair to select Milne ahead of Henry given his consistency in the last 12 months, but a solid replacement if other fast bowlers aren't performing.
Daniel Vettori - He's a must in the squad. Can keep the pressure on NcCullum if he's not performing and is a must if we play two spinners. Unfortunately a genuine liability getting around the field these days.
Trent Boult - Unproven at ODI level, but I'd really like him in the squad as an option if there is likely to be plenty of swing about.
Martin Guptill - Gets in by the skin of his teeth, mainly due to his experience & fielding (not sure of the sub/12th man fielding rule these days). If my Ryder stand-by, Latham is required I'd probably start Latham ahead of Guptill to keep the beautiful left/right combinations going.
Note: B McCullum is the back-up keeper if Ronchi is injured, so no need for Watling.
Now for Jesse Ryder's almost inevitable replacement;
Tom Latham - Obviously a contingency is needed for Jesse.
Unlucky to miss out ...
Jimmy Neesham - There's probably both a decent argument for Neesham to be either the stand-by replacement for Ryder or making it as a backup batsman in the squad ahead of a bowler like Boult, especially given his all-round qualities. However, as much as I like Jimmy, his ODI bowling is too much of a liability at this stage of his career and Latham would be more likely to succeed against the new ball as Jesse back-up.
Obviously there's a fair bit of cricket to be played in the next 100 days, so plenty of things may happen, but what would your team/squad be today?
