Its Summer! - the Fever Cricket Thread. (Part 1)

We should beat the Windies.

Now that Bracewell has gone I can finally get back to supporting our national cricket team properly again.

So who's gonna be the eleven for the first test against the Windies? I reckon:

Bell
McIntosh
How
Taylor
Flynn
Ryder
Oram
McCullum
Vettori
O'Brien
Martin

I doubt they'll throw Franklin in yet... unless Oram is still crocked, and I really doubt they'll go for two new openers - but I hope there's at least one... and keep in mind this is the first test in nine days time, not what I'd like to see as a best eleven (well, it's a relative term lol).

My prefered Test XI:

How
Guptill
Taylor
Ryder
Fulton
Oram
McCullum
Vettori
Franklin
Southee
Mills

You need someone who bats for time as opener. If Redmond gets another shot then I'll scream. Bell is the only opener in the country that can bat for sessions at a time, not in 10 minute lots.

I'm stumped over Ryder and Taylor though. Jesse just doesn't have the temperament to stick around and guts it out, always gets frustrated and goes for his shots when perhaps he should knuckle down. Same for Taylor and McCullum. The only batsmen out of the current lot that seem to be able to try to bat for long sessions are Oram (when he's back) and Vettori

Big calls need to be made in order for this side to properly progress. Guptill is young as has plenty of talent. Haven't seen McIntosh play but if he's doing the goods then maybe him and How to open wouldn't be so bad, anyone but Redmond really (not Bell though).

Anyway it's just my prefered side, not too bothered if anyone agrees or not.

I wonder if bracewell will go back to Undertaking?? NZ cricket hasn't been as good since the 1992 World Cup here.

I just hope they make some calls and if they do that these young guys are given a chance... our test cricket issues are a lot deeper than one or two changes can fix...

Is it time they let some of these 'hitters' stick to the forms that suit that type of batting? It wasn't that long ago there was a lot of talk about specialist test and one day players (Aussie had several) and that was before T20 came along. Given the focus (read: cash) that the IPL has put (understandably) on that form of the game - is it realistic to expect inexperienced players to be able to adapt to test cricket? Particularly given their relative inexperience in first class cricket...

The talent of these guys is undeniable, though effective test batsmen are often not the most talented, aggressive, fluid, attractive, etc... often they are as boring as (cricket) bat poo with a very restricted range of shots. Being an effective test batsmen is much more of a mental issue than one of scoring quick runs and smashing boundaries... Edgar, Wright, Marsh, Langer, Boon, etc...

The opportunities, particularly in NZ are limited... realistically there's little chance for us to develop test batsmen (crap wickets, very few games, lack of competition, etc) so it isn't surprising we struggle...


But... what are we gonna do about it?

Bee-yutch and moan. Our favourite pastime. Just watch us.

Anyone know when the squad for the West Indies is announced? I'm thinking Redmond out, Bell in. And Franklin has to be considered as a genuine all-rounder who could bat at 6. Another century on the way for Wellington (95*). Should be a very interesting selection.

Got the 100 (105*) Vettori has said that Franklin will most likely be coming back im guessing at 6 given his form remember hes unlikely to bowl much.

Another excellent knock, 160 this time. New Jake Oram perhaps? simon_hampton2008-12-03 18:06:40

Jimmy Franklin FTW.

I went down the the Basin on Monday and watched that first day between Welly and ND. Biggest thing I noticed was the difference in Franklin's bowling action. He seemed to have changed it a lot to deal with the stress it puts on his body. Also, maybe I wasn't seeing in clesarly but he was getting some fairly decent swing with the older ball. As pace was never his thing (be interesting to know just how fast), consistent swing would be a vital weapon for us.

My team for the first test against WI
How
Bell (though I think they will pick Redmond)
Ryder/Flynn
Taylor
Flynn/Ryder
Franklin
Oram
McCullum
Vettori
OBrien
Martin/Southee

I think Southee needs a bit more work yet, Martin would edge him out for me because the WI strength is in its left handers and he is quality against Lefties. With Franklin in it gives us a bit of variety in the attack and it looks like a more solid batting lineup with Franky in there.

One last chance for Redmond on home turf I reckon 

Is the first test in Napier or Dunedin?

Dunners

Thats good, I'm very keen to get to Napier for the second test and if the Napier test was the first test it would have been in school time.

The Wellington all-rounder, making a comeback this season after a long-term knee injury, scored 160 in Wellington's first innings total of 520-7 dec against Northern Districts at the Basin Reserve yesterday.

For the most part it was a grafting innings but he unleashed a barrage of big hits, including one which put a thunderous dent into the roof of a car driving along Rugby St late in the day.

Test team

I'm thinking the same as a few others but it makes me cringe. I reckon Redmond will get another shot, maybe for one test anyway.

Whats the track like in Dunedin?

I've never seen it

Wellington wrapped up an innings and 12 run win against Northern this arvo... James Marshall got 105*.

I'm now not sure we'll see Franklin play against the Windies, at least in the first test for the following reason. His batting has been to the forefront which is magnificent, but they've selected him as a bowler in the past and probably won't drop a batsman for him. With Oram back, we've got an allrounder. I'd like to see Jimmy play, he'll probably make the squad but may carry drinks. Royal2008-12-04 18:48:11

Im pretty sure Orams out for this series but they reckon that Franklin is the future for their middle order batting issues in tests.wellyphoenixfan2008-12-04 23:47:26

Sinclair should be playing instead of Redmond. How many other players eligible for NZ have scored 2 test double tons.

People always go on about how he doesnt get on with people...Well Bracewell has departed and Sinclair can't be too hard to get on with... He captains CD.

Oram is playing for CD today so i'm sure he will be available. Unless he gets injured again.

Oram is available

Oram in
Franklin in
McIntosh in
Gillespie in

Martin out
Southee out
Redmond out
Fulton out

Versus the twelve that played in the last test... so we have:

McIntosh
How
Flynn/Ryder
Taylor
Ryder/Flynn
Oram
McCullum
Franklin
Vettori
Gillespie
O'Brien

Patel twelfth man (???)

I like.

Same although I think Franklin will be ahead of McCullum and that gives us very deep batting because Gillespie can bat (abit).

why is martin being dropped? is he injured?

Yes... he's unable to hold a cricket bat.

A bit surprised Martin was dropped...stoked to see Oram and Frankiln back in though.

Martin really hasn't been on song of late though, he took 1 for 100+ against the aussies, really didn't impress too much against bangladesh if I remember correctly. Heard the coach on the radio this morning say it was a form thing. Especially given Gillespie is seen as the fastest bowler in NZ right now regularly hitting the 140km mark. Martin hasn't hit that for a wee while.