West Indies tour of New Zealand

[irottev]

Sinclair's had his chances. He's one of those players who is great in domestic and can't make the step up in international. He started so well, i'm not sure what went wrong. Must be mental because he has the skill. He's proven that.

Opening-wise, they're obvously looking at a few players in the New Zealand A tour coming up. Guptil, Redmond and Watling are in the squad and they open for their domestic sides. Will be interesting this A series!

 

[Jakester1288]

I am anxious about this series but I think that the West Indies will be the ones to win this encounter. The first test will be a cracker and I can't wait. I look forward to seeing Chris Gayle belting the New Zealand bowling attack over the fence for six in the Twenty20's. It will be soooooooo exciting. Is anyone else looking forward to watching the series?

I'm looking forward to it as much as other diehard fans out there are. It will be a top series, and in my opinion very close. I will be following it on live streams, because I don't have Austar or any form of T.V that allows me to see this particular program.

Now to the Cricket. I am looking forward to this series. I have little to no interest in the Twenty20, however I am liking the looks of the ODI's and Tests, for pure entertainment value. The test matches should be fairly close, and the bowling will be what sets the two teams apart. Whoever can bowl the most consistent will win the tests, and whoever can control the power hitters and make one hell of a lot of runs with the bat will win the ODI's.

Carn New Zealand, your bowling should get you home. But if Chris Gayle fires in the ODI's they should win for sure.

 

[westindies2007]

In my opinion WI have better batsman than New Zealand. Chanderpaul, Gayle and Sarwan are going to be the key if WI want to win this.

My WI Test XI would be something like this.

1. Gayle*
2. Marshall
3. Chanderpaul
4. Sarwan
5. Brendan Nash
6. Bravo
7. Ramdin/Baugh+
8. Sammy/Roach/Powell
9. Taylor
10. Jaggernauth
11. Edwards

You really take this out of my head.
I would give Pekins a play for the test, I don't know why, but i think he will be a big thing.
but I perfer benn over Jaggernauth. and i would choose Baugh or browne to wick

 

[Crew of Black]

Matt Sinclair's International career is over, he deserves no more chances.

I'm of the belief that Redmond will probably be dropped, though I hope he proves me wrong and hits a few hundreds against Australia.

Guptill & Watling are the next in line, Guptill had a great emerging players tournament & Watling has made a few big scores in domestic cricket, also both of them are under 25.

But i'll throw in a wildcard by the name of George Worker, 19 yr old Central Districts Opener. A few things I like about him, he's a left-hander, which adds variety to a batting order that only has one left-handed specialist batsman who bats all the way down at 6, I think the lack of variety in the top 5 has been the biggest problem. He is one of the most consistent U/19 player in the country as well. Though he's only had a handful of games, if he gets some good early form through the early rounds of the domestic comp, I say we throw caution to the wind and select him.

My predictions

Test: 1-1
ODI: 4-1 NZ
T/20: who cares let's get drunk

 

[westindies2007]

My predictions

Test: 1-1
ODI: 3-2 WI
T/20: 1-1

Nice Tournament

 

[Howsie]

Matt Sinclair's International career is over, he deserves no more chances.

I'm of the belief that Redmond will probably be dropped, though I hope he proves me wrong and hits a few hundreds against Australia.

Guptill & Watling are the next in line, Guptill had a great emerging players tournament & Watling has made a few big scores in domestic cricket, also both of them are under 25.

But i'll throw in a wildcard by the name of George Worker, 19 yr old Central Districts Opener. A few things I like about him, he's a left-hander, which adds variety to a batting order that only has one left-handed specialist batsman who bats all the way down at 6, I think the lack of variety in the top 5 has been the biggest problem. He is one of the most consistent U/19 player in the country as well. Though he's only had a handful of games, if he gets some good early form through the early rounds of the domestic comp, I say we throw caution to the wind and select him.

My predictions

Test: 1-1
ODI: 4-1 NZ
T/20: who cares let's get drunk

Worker? I don't think so lol. Four first-class games and only averaging 25. Plus he is weak off his back foot, he isn't a very good puller.

 

[King Pietersen]

New Zealand have some quality players, they just need to fill the gaps where there's crap. If you look at the current line-up (or what I see to be the current line-up):

Redmond
How
McCullum
Taylor
Ryder
Flynn
Oram
Vettori
Mills
Southee
Martin

I think the only real problem area is the position of Redmond. They bat low, with Vettori, Mills and Southee all capable of hitting some runs down the order. Good bowling options, swing from Mills, Southee and Martin, Accuracy and consistency from Oram and spin option in Vettori. McCullum has to bat up the order, he did it brilliantly in England, and I'd have him in at 3. Jesse Ryder also gets into the team at 5, not sure where he bats in FC cricket, but if he's good enough to open, get him in there, and then possibly bring in James Marshall or the State Championship leading run scorer, Neal Parlane. He's got a decent FC record, and had a good season last year. I think NZ look a better side on paper than many make out.

 

[irottev]

Ryder bats at 4 for Wellington mostly. I'd have Taylor 3 and Ryder 4. McCullum can't bat 3 and keep and I'd rather he kept wicket. A lot of these guys are inexperienced. We don't play much test cricket. These 2 test series are kinda pathetic. The England series were good though. We need more like that to improve.

Franklin may be considered as well. Left arm swing bowler and he's as good as Vettoti with the bat. We're OK for bowling, just the top order batting where we need consistent performers.

 

[Spinksy]

Time for a bump to be perfectly honest. I can wait for this series as it's set to be a cracker of a tour and I wish that it was December 5-7 right now if truth be told.

 

[just_cricket]

My ideal test team would be:
1 Jamie How
2 Craig Cumming
3 Daniel Flynn
4 Ross Taylor
5 Jesse Ryder
6 Jacob Oram
7 Brendon McCullum (wk)
8 Daniel Vettori (captain)
9 James Franklin
10 Mark Gillespie* (Plays depending on pitch)
11 Chris Martin
12 Jeetan Patel* (Plays depending on pitch)

How is a definite, and I'd like to see Cumming given another go, as I'm afraid the England series proved to me he's not a test opener. Cumming has a good first class record and has scored some consistent runs against Sri Lanka and Australia. Most 40s and 50s, but better that than 2s and 3s with the odd 70 which is what we'd probably see with Redomd.
If Flynn has a decent tour of Bangladesh his technique is good enough that with enough confidence he could fill the no. 3 spot, and Taylor should always be there, as tests seem to make him bat more maturely and make him knuckle down.
If Jesse Ryder's going to play, I think no. 5 is a good spot, as he can dominate tired attacks and in form he has a great eye and should have a good enough technique for tests.
Oram seems to be finding some form again, while McCullum and Vettori pick themselves.
Franklin is a real asset to NZ when on top of his game, and being a left armer provides variation. He is also no slouch with the bat, with a test century to his name, and a regular spot between no. 4-7 in the Wellington side.
Gillespie or Mills or Patel should play at no. 10, depending on whom the pitch best suits, and eventually we'll find out whether Gillespie can hack it at test level.
Martin has to be there, as he's been NZ's strike bowler since Bond left, and bowls well swinging the ball away from left handers, and on a bouncy pitch he can get the ball to rear up and take the shoulder of the bat.
Fulton has had a good time with NZ 'A' so could be an option, while James Marshall and Greg Hay have also performed well on the domestic scene. I don't really rate Elliot as a test prospect, but Mason could also be a pace option if Mills and Gillepie both fail.

Another interesting fact- Michael Parlane, who played for Wellington last season, has returned to his old region Northland, because he 'doesn't feel he'd have much to do' in the middle order for Wellington, because Stephen Fleming is going back to Wellington, and when Bracewell's gone he will consider playing tests again! Just a rumour, but I do know for a fact that Parlane has left Wellington to play in Northland, because he's playing for a club team I might play against in Men's premiere grade in Northland. I heard from a few of the Cricket Association members that Fleming is coming back to Wellington, but him playing for NZ again is just a rumour...

 

[irottev]

I like your side, especially agree about Ryder at 5. I'd give Redmond the Bangladesh series since he's picked for it and if he fails, give Cumming another go.

 

[just_cricket]

Ryder bats at 4 for Wellington mostly. I'd have Taylor 3 and Ryder 4. McCullum can't bat 3 and keep and I'd rather he kept wicket. A lot of these guys are inexperienced. We don't play much test cricket. These 2 test series are kinda pathetic. The England series were good though. We need more like that to improve.

Franklin may be considered as well. Left arm swing bowler and he's as good as Vettoti with the bat. We're OK for bowling, just the top order batting where we need consistent performers.

Couldn't agree more, man! I love watching australian series because they usually get four or five tests, which means they can have matches in just about every state! We do need more tests- we're not bad at ODIs, coz we play 5 on every tour. Every home tour is two or if we're lucky three tests, and overseas we're so under prepared that three or four tests just gets us demoralised.
I went to the England vs NZ match at the Basin Reserve, and it was fantastic with the series alive and the barmy army cheering their team on in the blazing sun. being young I haven't seen cricket change much but that match was really exciting compared to the matches I watched around 2002-2005 where 150 was a par score. Bring back the four match series!

 

[age of the fall]

My ideal test team would be:
1 Jamie How
2 Craig Cumming
3 Daniel Flynn
4 Ross Taylor
5 Jesse Ryder
6 Jacob Oram
7 Brendon McCullum (wk)
8 Daniel Vettori (captain)
9 James Franklin
10 Mark Gillespie* (Plays depending on pitch)
11 Chris Martin
12 Jeetan Patel* (Plays depending on pitch)

The only issue I have with this squad is the lack of Mills. Not only has he been out frontline bowler since shane bonds "retirement" hes also pretty handy with the bat.

Mason for ODIs too

 

[just_cricket]

oops I forgot about Southee in my team- he'd have to be a possible as well as Mills, as you say. And yes Mason would have to be in my ideal odi team

 

[angryangy]

The second opener is the big issue. Players like Fulton, Patel and Elliott deserve to be in the squad, but none of them really solve the opening spot. Fulton, maybe, but it's a big ask.