Its Summer! - the Fever Cricket Thread.

That is probably the worst situation to be aggressive in.

Yeah to be honest the difference is probably McCullum does it at the top of the order where he's not trying to save the game. That's why he wants to open, wants the license to play the way he wants. Haddin needed to play smart but...

Apparently there's some confusing in south african as to whether the touring team is in fact austria and not australia. Punters are wanting tickets refunded.

Another cost-cutting scandal - Plunket Shield playing 2 rounds of matches in Christchurch. Good for Chch, bad for everyone else.

I think he would be. McCullum is a nonsense.

Vettori playing for the Knights today which is pretty cool. Been a while. Downey262011-11-14 12:47:55

Yup, our batting is so weak he'll be at 5 too :). Boult v McKay today for BlackCaps spot. We had them on the ropes early but seem to be letting go, 49-3

Anyone know what Crowe scored playing for Cornwall Seconds???

Got out almost straight away on the second day, may have been 19? Playing for cornwall firsts next week despite that

Timbo runs through Wellington taking 7 - all out for 162. Good start for the Knights!

He averages 16 with the ball v Wellington. Kano on 112n.o, him and Brad put on a new ND record stand v wton for the 2nd wicket. Gonna get 2 points at worst from this game

Tim and Kane are certainties. Possibles we're probably looking at Brownlie and Boult still. Watling, McKay and Patel likely to miss out I would think. Hope Southee doesn't agrivate that knee, needs to be 100% before considered. TopLeft072011-11-15 12:02:11

Pretty much agree with your team there, and the comments, - Brownlie or Ryder will be a bit of a debate, I'm not sure who I'd go with at the moment, while it should be Boult, I am 100% behind Thunder on this one

ND with limited batting stocks (Vettori at 5) needed that partnership to be fair. A couple more early wickets and they'd have been in a bit of trouble - not that Wellington have given them anything to worry about. I guess that shows what faith they have in their top order.

You think they'll play Vettori at 6?

Canterbury just declared with Andy Ellis on 97n.o, wtf is up with that?

Saw that, off 70 balls as well!

Very odd. I wouldn't like to see only 3 quicks - tbf Brownlie Gup and Kane would get tonked by the Aussies. Just gonna have to make a call - Brownlie or Ryder? I'd probably go with Brownlie at the moment

If Ryder is fit they pick Ryder. End of.

Yeah I was just basing that on the fact he was above Young in Zimbabwe. Maybe Young at 6 but I really don't have that much faith in him. I'd rather Franklyn or Brownlie there but it's just not going to happen because we're playing two keepers. Unless of course we do play three seamers which is probably more likely. But then our fifth bowling option is a bit grim though to be honest. TopLeft072011-11-15 12:25:27

You'd give the lad one more slog, surely

Kane on 190 at tea

Moments like this when the Radio Sport lack of commentary really irks me. Didn't listen all day every day but always tuned in if I saw a milestone approaching from scoreboard on Net

Yep we used to tune in when watching the Firebirds at Basin and we'd get all the other updates as well. Won't be the same this summer without Rockin' Ron Snowden commentating our games for us.

And there it is.....

Agreed. I think having Vetorri at 6 with 4 seamers (it is the Gabba, no way we take 2 spinners) leaves us a batsman short.

kane on 251no good effort

252n.o at end of day. Best ever knock by an ND player. would love to see him get 300 but prob best to declare

As a Wellington and NZ supporter I say let the kid bat and score 500. Please don't declare!

Drop Brendan McCullum.

never drop him

He's causing us our biggest selection problem by having to play a specialist keeper and he's not exactly scoring runs. If we didn't have that problem we could either have Brownlie in at six with Young out or Nicol opening with McCullum out. I would rather the former but I realise neither are likely.

Our certainties are:

Guptil
McCullum
Williamson
Taylor

Vettori
Bracewell

Martin

Both Ryder and Southee under small injury clouds but more than likely. Young is the other who is likely but in an ideal world I'd put Brownlie in at six with McCullum taking the gloves.

Talks of Boult having a slight edge on McKay but I would wonder if they are happy with just one rookie bowler in Bracewell. Nicol in with a shout for a tour spot. Mills and Franklyn also in the mix for
back up positions. Who have I missed? Ian Smith this morning saying take Tarun Nathula, I can't understand that. You don't traditionally use two spinners over there and he's basing it on one performance.

Cant McCullum see that him not keeping is causing all sorts of selection issues?

Why would he care? It's all ME ME ME with him.

I'm halfway down TL's road of thinking too. If he isn't keeping, he's there for his runs. If he isn't scoring runs, his name needs to be put up on the block. Players should be picked on merit not name or hype.

He needs a hard word imo. Even a bit of public ridicule from the likes of Ian Smith - an ex keeper who likes to have his say - to get the ball rolling.

maybe getting dropped would be the wake up call he needs?

That's the main reason behind my call for it to happen. Although I could see him turning his back on us if that did happen, go play for NSW and an IPL team for the rest of his days. Afterall he is bigger than NZC.

I was against McCullum giving up the gloves to start, but I think you guys are actually being unfair. If he keeps he can't open (I hope you guys accept that). His batting average when opening is 51, so he is scoring runs as an opener. If we give him the gloves, he moves down to 6 or 7 where Young is, and that requires another opening batsman to come in (WHO? - How?), or we sacrifice Williamson or Brownlie as the other opener, which (a) won't work and (b) is unfair on that person.

I guess the other option (although I think it less likely) is to pick Franklin at 6 as a batting all rounder/4th seamer. That to me is his best position, but I would probably still take Brownlie.

Yeah Franky at 6 is an option they will be considering.