The team for the Sri Lanka series has been named.
The squad is: Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, Shane Bond, Craig Cumming, James Franklin, Jamie How, Chris Martin, Michael Mason, Brendon McCullum, Iain O'Brien, Jacob Oram, Mathew Sinclair, Daniel Vettori.
The changes from the last test match against South Africa in April are:
- no Papps, Styris or Mills (all injured).
- returing to test cricket are Sinclair, Cumming, Mason and O'Brien.
So Cumming is the favoured opener, Sinclair makes it ahead of Marshall and Fulton, and O'Brien comes back on the weight of good domestic form.
Sinclair deserves to come back. I also hope that Iain O'Brien isn't a player who is sensational at domestic level and can't step up. He's a good medium-quick who seems capable of bowling well internationally.
One of the 13 is to be dropped from the starting 12 - I'd pick it to be between Mason and O'Brien with the other to be 12th man.
Saturday, 2 December 2006
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
Six pace bowlers in a squad of 13? It seems to me that someone is being covered for an injury, so Mason or O'Brien might be in with a chance of getting a game.
Batting looks very thin indeed. I dont think either Cumming or How have what it takes at this level. At best im thinking they could grind out 30 odd in some sort of anchor role. I dont know why players who attack (ala Ryder, Taylor) arent given chances at test level. Look at the success of players similar like Peiterson or Ponting. Sure theyre now well established but they had to start somewhere and their attacking finess hasnt curbed over time.
Never was a fan of SInclair but he deserves his place in the side given current form. Have a feeling it may be his last roll of the dice at international level. Glad Marshalls out - talented but needs to go back to domestic and work on his form/confidence.
Bowling looks okay. I have yet to see O'Brien play so thatll be interesting. Good luck to the guy, we need another reliable medium pacer to back up Bond. Martin blows hot and cold but glad to see him there. Think hes a little underated. Wheres our spin backup? Thought Patel did well in his limited test opportunities thus far.
Still a bit miffed that Vincent cant make the cut at all (once again, last score against Sri Lanka: 200+!!?). Hate to keep harking on about it but ill be glad when Bracewell bids farewell to the coaching job. Ill always support NZ 100% but i dont think hes been good for the team or the game. Anyone know if his contract is up after the World Cup?
I'm a fan of Sinclair ever since that fantastic debut against the West Indies.
There was an interesting interview with Bracewell on 3 News last night - he said they deliberately picked a test side as tests are a precious commodity for NZ at the moment. He said to not take this as any indication of what the one day side will be, so I think Vincent is still going to be in.
We seem to be in that drearily familiar situation of having plenty of batsmen in decent but not devastating form.
six place bowlers and still no place for Mark Gillespie? I thought he would've been ahead of Mason in the pecking order. I only vaguely remember seeing O'Brien bowl against the Aussies a year and a half ago, but I guess Bond, Martin, Franklin will start and that's fine.
Not all that happy about Peter Fulton's omission - he looked the best of the young batsmen last season. Sure, he disappointed in the champions trophy but should've been given a longer run. Hope to see him back for the ODIs.
The omissions of Fulton and Gillespie are the biggest surprises for me. I like the fact that two specialist openers have been chosen, but the bowling attack does look odd. I honestly can't believe Michael "Worst Test Performance Ever" Mason has made it back in. Surely that is a typo?
Post a Comment