Papps and Oram in SA tour squad

[sittingduck]

Braces has announced the squad for the three tests in South Africa

Fleming, Astle, Bond, Fulton, Franklin, How, H Marshall, Martin, McCullum, Mills,
Oram, Papps, Patel, Styris, Vettori.

Vincent and Sinclair were unavailable for personal reasons.

Good to see Oram back, apparently he's batting number 6. Rather see him at 7, surely his bowling means we need only two quicks plus vettori in the side.

And is Papps really the best we could do as a back-up opener? he averages something like 23 in tests and only 11 against SA. Though i guess with Vincent and Sinclair out who else is there?

[Andy Mellon]

That doesn't look a bad squad, and maybe the Kiwis have a chance to steal a test off the Saffers. It won't be easy, but the Aussies are dealing them a bit of psychological damage at the moment which the Kiwis might be able to take advantage of. A lot will depend on a fully fit Bond and Oram combination with the bowling. Hopefully Franklin will find some consistency, otherwise he might find himself dumped in favour of Martin or Mills.

I'm guessing Papps is there in case Hamish Marshall cannot overcome his poor run of form. I'd like to see Papps given another go; he's young and did look useful in England - although he was pretty unlucky (I think he broke a finger in one of the tests?)

Shame for Ross Taylor that he couldn't get a space in the squad. The experience in a few warm up games would have been invaluable for him. Hopefully he'll find somewhere to develop his cricket in the off season along with other good youngsters like Jesse Ryder. If there are any English clubs looking for overseas players; you couldn't do much better than go for Taylor or Ryder!