Thursday, 9 February 2006

Karl on ... the NZ team to play the WIndies

The NZ team to play the West Indies in the first two one-dayers has been announced. The squad is Stephen Fleming (captain), Daniel Vettori (vice captain), Nathan Astle, Shane Bond, James Franklin, Peter Fulton, Jamie How, Hamish Marshall, Michael Mason, Brendon McCullum, Jeetan Patel, Scott Styris, Lou Vincent.

On the injured list are Andre Adams, Kyle Mills and Jacob Oram. Coming back into the side are Michael Mason and Nathan Astle. Following only one match in the series against Sri Lanka, Chris Martin has been dropped.

Ross Taylor hasn't been named, although John Bracewell commented that "With a return to form of many players at domestic level there was fierce competition for top-order batsmen. It was very much a case of deciding who to leave out rather than who to select", indicating that Taylor must have been considered.

I think the side looks well-balanced, although I think Martin is unlucky to be dropped in favour of Mason. I rate Martin as a better bowler, although the selectors may consider him more favoured to the test arena rather than ODIs. The batting attack has a good balance of dashers and stroke makers, while the bowling attack of Bond, Franklin, Mason, Vettori and Patel has good variety.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is bullshit. Where the hell is Jesse Ryder?

Anonymous said...

probably in the pub getting hammered

Anonymous said...

Jesse has gotten over that, mostly, or he wouldn't last long in the wellington team.

But on the field hes shown nothing to put him ahead of Taylor and a few others. He has the potential, the basic skills and ability to face sheer pace is proven, just needs to get it sorted tween the ears.