New Zealand's Tour Of India Aug-Sep 2012

[ferg512]

Don't get me wrong because I've always thought that McCullum shouldn't be opening in Tests or ODIs (I don't care where he bats in T20Is), but atm I think that this top four is the way forward for us. If you drop McCullum down to 5/6, then the problem that we've had over the last several years is just going to come back where we have a new opening combination every series.

The only alternative I see atm is if they want to go with a Guptill - Watling combination, which I don't think they want to do because Watling should be next in line for the gloves after van Wyk since he's already 32.

I've never really rated either Flynn or Franklin, but they were both promising this series. Long term though Franklin is not going to be there, but maybe Flynn could be. That would mean that we only have one more batting orientated position to fill, which if Ryder can sort himself out he can slot right into.

Therefore we have:

1. Guptill
2. McCullum
3. Williamson
4. Taylor
5. Flynn
6. Franklin -> Ryder
7. van Wyk -> Watling
8. Vettori/Patel -> Nethula?
9. Bracewell
10. Southee
11. Boult

Thats actually a decent looking side and I can understand there really isn't anyone else to open so McCullum probably needs to stay there its just he would be so much more valuable to have at 5 or 6 but I know we don't really have that luxury. I would like for us to stick with Flynn hes still young-ish and has a future in the team like you said unlike Franklin. I'm surprised at some of the negative overseas reaction to us being proud of the way we played in that match. We aren't celebrating a loss but its a big deal for us to compete like that considering how dismal we have been in the last 10 months.

India should be a little worried with how close we actually got in the end. They are lucky they have players with the class of Kohli and Dhoni who could get them home in the end. Whats the general opinion in India regarding the batting order? I've heard a lot of talk about Sehwag going down the order which seems a possibility but what do you do with Gambhir and Raina? Raina must be on the verge of being dropped after the shot he played in the second innings and although he got a 50 in the first innings he didn't look very comfortable for the majority of it.

 

[Epic]

Sadly no one is on the verge of being dropped, sadly.

T20 tomorrow, my XI:

1. Virender Sehwag
2. Gautam Gambhir
3. Virat Kohli
4. Suresh Raina
5. Yuvraj Singh
6. MS Dhoni
7. Irfan Pathan
8. Ravichandran Ashwin
9. Harbhajan Singh (no choice)
10. Zaheer Khan
11. Ashok Dinda

 

[AbhishekS]

Are Ashwin and Harbhajan the only two spinners in the squad?

 

[SaiSrini]

Sadly no one is on the verge of being dropped, sadly.

T20 tomorrow, my XI:

1. Virender Sehwag
2. Gautam Gambhir
3. Virat Kohli
4. Suresh Raina
5. Yuvraj Singh
6. MS Dhoni
7. Irfan Pathan
8. Ravichandran Ashwin
9. Harbhajan Singh (no choice)
10. Zaheer Khan
11. Ashok Dinda

Thats a good team but for one change (and another batting order change)

Sehwag
Gambhir
Kohli
Yuvraj
Dhoni
Raina
Irfan
Ashwin
Harbhajan
Zaheer
Balaji

Balaji impressed in the IPL more than Dinda did (though Dinda initially impressed, but he faded away). Dinda can be more expensive if he doesn't get his lines right. Balaji had converted himself into a more of tight "line and length" bowler with good swing and seam movement. And he is experienced too.

----------

Are Ashwin and Harbhajan the only two spinners in the squad?

We have Piyush, but no one wants him to play obviously!

 

[Epic]

We have Piyush, but no one wants him to play obviously!

Yeah, it's almost like they picked the squad in a way that Dhoni has to play Harbhajan.

 

[jacobfelix]

The local dailies have said that rains might play spoilsport at Vizag as it has been raining from Friday morning....

 

[Epic]

Ffs, raining now.

 

[Ahmad94]

Going by cricinfo, the rain has slowed down, so hopeful for a game

 

[jacobfelix]

The much hyped Yuvraj's return game washed out......

 

[Satan666]

OMFG! Waz looking forward to this game solely due to Yuvraj carting the ball around, next one then!

 

[Epic]

Terrible time to have cricket in India tbh, but ey, it's a packed schedule.

 

[SaiSrini]

Terrible time to have cricket in India tbh, but ey, it's a packed schedule.

These are the unscheduled and forced breaks that the players should enjoy.

 

[jacobfelix]

OMFG! Waz looking forward to this game solely due to Yuvraj carting the ball around, next one then!

The next one also might end up washed out what with the weather report saying that the depression is moving towards Chennai....

 

[Prithvi]

From when will India use the new T20 apparel? Forgot eh?

 

[jacobfelix]

NZ are batting and off goes Nicol....

Sahil's favourite Rohit Sharma also is playing .....he must be glued to the TV set watching his hero in action....