Thoughts on the current NZ ODI squad

[crabs]

NZ have just wrapped up a series win against England, yet before the series alot of people thought it would be all doom and gloom for the Black Caps with Fleming, McMillan, Bond and Astle not featuring (and also adding the fact that NZ got whipped in the 20twentys.) Styris's form seems a little sluggish to say the least and am wondering if he is having retirement thoughts also for the ODI's.

The main thing that has struck me about this series win was the fact that NZ seems to have solved the problem of the top order batting. I like the fact that McCullum and Ryder can go for it at the top and when one of them does get out Jamie How comes in and plays the anchor role. However the two problems the NZ team seems to have is lack of a spearhead strike bowler and no one in the lower order batting that can finish off the innings.

For the strike bowler, Southee seems to be the obvious choice. For someone to bat in the middle/lower order (a role previously held by McMillan and McCullum) I think once Lou Vincent is mentally back on track this role could really suit him. Jacob Oram in my opinion should be played a little up the order. He bats really well when the team in under pressure and finds himself batting before the 40th over. When he comes in late though (around the 45th over) more often than not he seems to give his wicket away due to not having enough time to get his eye in.

Anyway, this is the team I would choose for the upcoming tour to England for the ODI series.

McCullum
Ryder
How
Taylor
Styris
Oram
Vincent
Vettori
Mills
Southee
Martin
12th man Patel (depending on pitches)

[Andy Mellon]

Hopefully Jesse'll be back in time for the tour to the UK as he put his fist through a window in a Christchurch pub last night, tore some tendons in his hand and is expected to be out for three months.

Ask Will Jefferson how much a similar accident set his career back. Not sure whether Jesse'll come back the same player, to be honest.

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Andy Mellon

Not sure whether Jesse'll come back the same player, to be honest.

He'll not be back at all if the selectors have any guts: seems hehas a historyof being a prize ****- cricinfo cite his refusal to attend a training camp for a 30-man World Cup squad, his refusal to play for New Zealand A last year and a sacking by Ireland after failing to turn up for a Friends Provident Trophy match against Surrey.

Combine this with the obvious lack of professionalism in his training (evidence: obesity) and it strikes me that he's a lost cause best abandoned right now.

[Aurelius]

He'll not be back at all if the selectors have any guts: seems hehas a historyof being a prize ****-

Well, plenty of bad boys redeem themselves. Look at Ponting. Although I don't like him in any way, shape or form, he's obviously not the borderline alcoholic he was ten years ago. Ian Botham used to smoke weed and was charged with assaulting a passenger on a plane- were the selectors being gutless by selecting him?

Combine this with the obvious lack of professionalism in his training (evidence: obesity) and it strikes me that he's a lost cause best abandoned right now.

I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for now. Apparently, he's lost a bit of weight, and seems to have got his act together fitness wise. I remember Shane Warne having a problem with his weight, but that was something he worked on. And even though Ryder may be overweight, I'd hardly call him "obese."

[sittingduck]

Originally Posted by Andy Mellon

Hopefully Jesse'll be back in time for the tour to the UK

I'm pretty sure he's gone from the tour. Such a stupid mistake from the young guy.

Who will drafted in as the replacement? I'd like to see Vincent back in the side but he's not one of Bracewell's "boys" so I dunno. Noone else really springs to mind.

[Navdeep]

Originally Posted by Aurelius

Well, plenty of bad boys redeem themselves. Look at Ponting. Although I don't like him in any way, shape or form, he's obviously not the borderline alcoholic he was ten years ago. Ian Botham used to smoke weed and was charged with assaulting a passenger on a plane- were the selectors being gutless by selecting him?



I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for now. Apparently, he's lost a bit of weight, and seems to have got his act together fitness wise. I remember Shane Warne having a problem with his weight, but that was something he worked on. And even though Ryder may be overweight, I'd hardly call him "obese."

Well said, hope he is given another run by the selectors as the opening stand for a change looked quite impressive,e although as said he does need to get in fitter shape.

Also stated on the thread, id like to see Lou V back in the team, big fan of his, maybe lower down the order at 7 as was stated, although i think hes too good to bat so low. Id also like Oram up the order. For me, this side should play England in the summer, barring any more injuries:

Ryder(if fit)/Vincent
McCullum (WK)
How
Taylor
Styris
Oram
Flynn
Vettori
Franklin(if fit)/Southee
Mills
Martin

Flynn should be given a chance, might as well. Yeah he got a 0 on debut, he could hit a ton next game, need a run of 1-2 series to test his wits against itnl class. Id also have Gillespie/Mason as cover for the seamers as ones injury prone, 1s young and raw and the front line seamers could drift out of form. Also Patel in use for the option of a 2nd spinner. Maybe some experience as cover for the bat, Sinclair? (only if used effectively).

[sittingduck]

Originally Posted by Navdeep

Maybe some experience as cover for the bat, Sinclair? (only if used effectively).

You have to have Peter Fulton in the squad going to England. Yes he's in poor form at the moment but his class is unquestioned and as they say form is temporary.

He shouldn't have been rushed back into the ODI side, he only had a couple of domestic games before returning and didn't perform too amazingly in them with the great benefit of hindsight maybe he needed more domestic cricket under his belt. I guess if he's not in the test team he'll have some four-day stuff before going on the england tour where he can hopefully find some form.