Even if conditions suit seam bowling, you really wouldn't need five seamers would you?
It depends how seamer friendly the conditions are TBH?. Look at the recent England vs South Africa test @ Jo'Burg. SA picked 5-seamers in what was extremely seamer friendly conditions.
Plus what decade is this team picked for, New Zealand in the last five years really wouldn't be called a seamers paradise. If where picking these teams now to play in this decade Vettori would offer a lot more then a 5th seamer.
It is being picked for modern times, with the hypotetical notion that the pitches in New Zealand would be like historical/traditional NZ pitches.
War added 8 Minutes and 53 Seconds later...
Best team for a Home test match.....I would have to disagree not a huge change but a definite change in the lineup. The first 4 is good but I would definitely put Mohammad Yousuf in for Asif Iqbal, I think Yousuf is easily better than Iqbal and Mushtaq and with Pakistan's strong bowling attack you wouldn't really need another all arounder. So I would put Yousuf at 5 and put Mushtaq at 6. Really however, you are on spot with basically the whole entire lineup for a test match in my eyes.
Well firstly i think its debatable whether MoYo is a better batsman than Iqbal. Mohammad Yousuf unfortunately although he is quality player has been one of the premier "Flat-track Bullies" of the 2000s era. He has never really dominated a quality pace attack in this 2000s era. Even Zaheer Abbas & Saleem Malik would be ahead of MoYo in the pecking order TBF.
While Iqbal made runs - tough runs in a quality bowling era. Iqbal also is picked as a batsman - rather than a "all-rounder". Him being able to bowl is just a bonus. So his all-round package makes him a more valuable asset in the PAK ATXI than Yousuf IMO.
BTW, How in the world is Ricky Ponting not in the Australia XI. He should have a reserved spot I don't understand how he is not on the side makes no sense.
The reason i left Ponting out is because IMO, if he is playing he has to bat @ # 3 or 4. But since Bradman & Chappell have those positions locked down, he can't play for me since the likes of Border & even S Waugh suite the # 5 position better than Ponting.
It comes down to personal preference though.
War added 1 Minutes and 9 Seconds later...
:laugh Didn't even notice that. That's a laughable selection if ever I've seen one. Be like the England selectors picking Matt Prior in ODi's........
Why is this laughable ATM?
