Australia tour of New Zealand 2010

[CG123]

They wouldn't call Matthew Sinclair up and not play him, same with Ingram. Both the radio commentators at the ND game reckon they'll go with six batsmen and four bowlers, so Patel and most likely Brent Arnel will miss out.

I was just going by the article on the NZ cricket website:

Selector, Mark Greatbatch, said Sinclair has been brought into the squad as cover for the top order batsmen; ?We felt we needed a cover top-order batter, rather than cover for our middle order, so Neil is a little unlucky in that respect.?

Greatbatch confirmed that Daniel Vettori will bat at six; ?He has been very successful there over the last half-dozen tests. It also gives a very good balance to our side. It enables us to play the five bowlers we are looking for, whether that is four seamers and one spinner, or three seamers and two spinners in our squad, we have the ability to be flexible.

 

[Howsie]

Yeah I just read that. Fully prepared for us to be bowled out for less then 100 with that batting line-up.

 

[aussie1st]

Some players just step up on the international stage though. So i wont really stress of Nannes doemstic OD form in the FRC. Based on the what i've seen of him on T20s i be surprised if he struggles in ODIs. He would be just as effetive as Bollinger with the new white-ball - while being a better death bowler than Dougy.

Same thing goes for Tait. We know what he can do when fully fit in ODIs as he displayed in the 2007 WC. His fitness is the main thing, if between now & the 2007 WC he proves he can bowl 10 overs well without breaking down he has to go to the WC. Even if Lee returns. He like Nannes would solve the death bowling issues.

I prefer going by FRC form, the fact he kills it in the Big Bash but not the FRC is showing something. The opposition is basically the same, the pitches are the same the only thing that has changed is the length. Its the same case as Warner hes killing it in T20 but his FRC form has been poor so the selectors were right in skipping over him until he starts performing in that form of the game. Also Nannes did get taken to at the death in the 2nd T20I whereas Bond and Southee were top notch in the same position.

Same goes for Tait, hes not going to be playing 10 overs for Australia since the selectors have their bowlers who they are happy with. The fact Harris got picked over him and Nannes despite having no FRC form shows just that. So the only way he can show he can bowl 10 overs is to bowl well for SA. If he bowls like he did this season he will continue to be skipped.

When AUS won the Champions trophy in India 2006. The second spinner wasn't that important. Playing two spinners probabaly will depend on the conditions at various grounds in IND/SRI/BANG during the WC though. But looking at the IPL in India in the last 3 years i haven't seen to many turners. Even so Hopes & his off-cuters on those surfaces can be fairly effective too.

Still Ponting had 2 spinners available to him which is the main thing. Of course it will depend on conditions but I see Smith's batting alone being more than valuable.

 

[irottev]

Yay, Sinclair made it. They're probably just going to fearsome tweak him around again but og well. If he scores some runs he could cement a spot.

I'd play:
Watling
McIntosh
Sinclair
Taylor
Guptill
Vettori
McCullum
Tuffey
Southee
Arnel
Martin

I can see Ingram playing instead of Sinclair though even though his technique is horrible. Patel shouldn't be in the squad. He's ████.

 

[TumTum]

Time to take a break from cricket for 5 days, till next time

 

[irottev]

I might take a 2 week break. This test series aint gonna be pretty. I'm just going to expect the worst and then if we draw or win a game i'll be thrilled.

 

[angryangy]

I'd open with Tuffey. What's the worst that can happen?

 

[irottev]

I hope you mean open the bowling. Hahahaha. Chris Martin for opener IMO. He'll be fine. He can't hit the ball so he won't edge it. Just has to watch the straight one which isn't bowled as often early on. Best idea ever. Plus he can make use of the nice hard ball. He might gather a few runs.

 

[drainpipe32]

Hmm, why go back to Sinclair?

If they don't pick Williamson now, and he fails later they've only got themselves to blame.

 

[Iridium]

Sinclair in the squad huh? Oh yea, NZ is going to be absolutely destroyed. Sad to say it, but going on past matches and the current squad, it's true.

 

[irottev]

All you Sinclair haters. GTFO haha.

 

[drainpipe32]

Oh yeah, he wouldn't love a 34 year old with a test average of 32.55?

A good domestoc batsman, but his time has passed for Test cricket.

 

[ajdude]

Northern Districts v Auckland at Whangarei, Mar 12-14, 2010 | Cricket Scorecard | Cricinfo.com

Fair call in not calling up Williamson, he only made 192, not 200.

 

[angryangy]

If they don't pick Williamson now, and he fails later they've only got themselves to blame.

How does that logic work, exactly?

 

[TheGreemSim]

Northern Districts v Auckland at Whangarei, Mar 12-14, 2010 | Cricket Scorecard | Cricinfo.com

Fair call in not calling up Williamson, he only made 192, not 200.

Yes, completely understandable.

I hope Arnel gets a chance and I think we need to find another back up spinner. Patel with an average of 40 just isn't good enough