Vincents out!!! Really like him, struck by a Shane Bond delivery, and broken his wrist, fully story here.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cric...nd/6493903.stm

Question is...who will replace him? (of course if the ICC allow it, which they should) My guess would be Hamish.

Cant really see Brendom opening again...so an opener has to be called up really.

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Hoggy Hoggy Hoggy...OI OI OI!!!

Argghh! I want to vote for none of the above!

Papps is the form player; but he's not quick enough for ODIs (and I'd still be worried he'd get sconed against Ntini!). Jamie How is not good enough at this level, whilst the Marshall brothers are only good enough to be professional twelfth men.

Can I just highlight how bloody stupid this situation is. Lou Vincent, having finally solved NZ's opening bat problem in the CB series has had his wrist broken by his own player! Sigh.

Why not call up someone who's already at the world cup - I don't mean Mark Richardson - but how's about Geoff Barnett? He's all Kiwi, not Canadian and he's an opener.

Seriously though, I expect Hamish to be called up but I hope someone else does.

I'm not sure that would be allowed... and anyway, if he scored bugger-all runs for Canada, how is he going to be considered for New Zealand?

I would expect New Zealand to stick McCullum back at the top of the order - he has experience there and then the Kiwis can utilise all their middle-order strengths.

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"Being second is to be the first of the ones who lose."
- Ayrton Senna

Would Matthew Sinclair be considered? He is an opener.

Hmmm.....heres my views.

Papps - test players in my eyes, like what has been said, too slow at this level.

How - not great, not too much experience at the higher level, and a tad slow aswell.

H Marshall - like him, not as an opener, but around 4, think he could do the job.

J Marshall - not much experience, could do a job, but wouldnt add too much to the team imo.

M Sinclair - see him more of a test player but, could do a job i guess, getting on a bit, and hasnt played recently internationally has he?

Would still have to be Hamish for me, but whats the squad vs the WI gonna be? luckily for them, they have the Tigers and Ireland as their next 2 games, maybe a chance to rotate the odd player, if they can!

Flem + Fulton?? Taylor (if fit)/Called up guy(Hamish), Styris at 4, Macca, Oram, McCullum, Vettori, Franklin, Bond, Patel/Mason.

What about the possibilities of Danny V opening again? Hasn't got the best record there i think, although im sure has made a century there...or am i dreaming Vs Zimbabwe? Did the job for the odd game back in 03, and doesnt offer much lower down the order in the 1 day game, maybe him opening with Flem, even if he just sticks around for 10 overs or so. 1 thing i really dont want, McCullum, far better player lower down, this would be unfortunate if it wrecked their chances at the trophy, injuries...

Who would the rest of you choose?

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Hoggy Hoggy Hoggy...OI OI OI!!!

I was being a little bit facetious considering the alternatives offered by Navdeep. Personally, Barnett would be a better ODI option than some of those on Navdeep's list.

Unfortunately, the list Navdeep offers will be the list that Bracewell is examining now. I would be surprised if he selected anyone other than Hamish Marshall, considering how he's stuck by him in the past through thin and thinner.

As one out of the left field, Mathew Sinclair is an option, but Bracewell hasn't supported him too much in the past. Sinclair is a class apart from Marshalls, How and even Papps, but he's more a #3 than an opener (in fact, only How and Papps are out and out openers in Navdeep's list)

Given the form Papps is in - something like 3 hundreds in the last 3 domestic games, I'd be inclined to go for him - but he's nowhere near as good a player as Vincent. This is a big loss for NZ.

EDIT: Hamish called up http://content-nz.cricinfo.com/wc200...ry/287216.html

This is pretty academic as I understand Marshall (H) has already been selected. Consider this a protest vote!

Papps has had such a monster season he's streets ahead of everyone, let alone just those on this list. Maybe in Australia someone can average over 90 and still be ignored...

I think what NZ lacks is a stable opening partnership (Duh!), and with the pitches for the world cup so far its looked more important to get a solid start rather than a flyer (I think I just read that somewhere so it must be true...).

Vincent, while in good form at the moment, is pretty volatile and the team could be better served by a Papps-like batsman (provided he doesn't duck into any more bouncers).

There's also Andy M's point that Papps and How are actually the only specialist openers of all those previously mentioned (including Vincent).

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never believe anything until it is officially denied . . .

Now that India has been bundled out of the the WC - I had changed my final 4 as Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka and New Zealand (Taking India's Spot).

With this injury, I think I will swap New Zealand with the West Indies - that will be just to much for the Kiwi's to overcome.

But I will not be to surprised to see them throw egg in my face - all the best to the Kiwi's to come back from this.

Hamish is truly in Bracewell's good books, and really its no surprise to see him selected once again, even though he is not the most deserving candidate. I still stand by with what I said before the squad was selected... bring back Harry !!

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- VVVRulz..

Sorry guys i think i voted too late. hamish marshall has already got the nod.. I am glad to see chris martin has made his way over there.. Maybe they could go with this side???

R. Taylor
S. Fleming (cpt)
H. Marshall
P. Fulton
G. MacMillan
J. Oram
B. McCullum (wkt)
D. Vettori
J. Franklin
S. Bond
C. Martin..
just a thought..

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