Our middle order just has no substance, without Styris and Oram.
Watling looked all at see, 14 balls without scoring against very average bowling that McCullum was taking apart.
I wasn't watching when Elliot came and went, so can't really comment on that, he has done some decent stuff against Aussie in the past, so I can't really comment.
Stewart shouldn't be there if Vettori is batting above him. FFS, Vettori at six in ODI's, wtf is next. Get rid of Stewart as they obviously have no faith in him to stick him down there, and he didn't exactly look that great at the crease, all be it it was a very tough situation to come in at. His running was shocking, almost had three run outs, before he actually got run out.
Solutions, I'd bring in Williamson and Redmond. Williamson is by far supreme to Watling at the domestic level, they've played against the same bowling on the same pitches, and Williamson has done much better, therefore I'm not sure why Watling has just jumped above him. I've also had a bit of time for Redmond, not sure why, I'd like to see Guptill there at the WC though.
McKay and Southee both bowled very average. McKay picked up a couple of cheapee's at the end, so his effort should really show no wickets. Both of them went at well over five an over, against a very very average BNG batting order.
Credit to BNG, I'm not going to use the D/L system as an excuse, everyone bar Dan and Bazza played flingen useless, so we deserved to lose.
Yes Taylor made 42, but he still looked pretty average, playing and missing, and only finding the fence twice. Mills was alright, but at times still got smashed by average batsmen. Nathan McCullum done a decent supporting role.
This is what I'd play for the next match:
1. B. McCullum
2. Ryder
3. Williamson
4. Taylor
5. Elliot - He's done well in the past, so hopefully he can come back into some form before the WC, otherwise Styris will move in here when he's fully fit.
6. Redmond/Stewart/Watling - We don't really have a proper number six, Oram and Vettori should both be at seven and eight. I would like to see Guptill batting at three, and Williamson move down here for the WC, stupid selectors for dropping Guptill.
7. Vettori
8. N. McCullum
9. Mills
10. Tuffey - Yes, I'd have him there ahead of Southee and McKay.
11. Southee/McKay/Bennett - I'd like to think Southee could develop here before the WC, but that doesn't seem likely, as he's still getting smashed. Therefore just trail and error. I'd look to play Oram here for the WC though.