Just one kiwi in World XI?

[crabs]

Interesting that NZ is ranked third in the world for One Day Cricket, but only have one player in the World XI squad. Is it because NZ play well as a team and have no real stars or is it just because they don't have a great record against Aussie? Interestingly, NZ always seem to play better against Aussie in Australia then in NZ.

[Andy Mellon]

I reckon Shane Bond would have stood a chance if he'd played any cricket before the selection was made. He looked awesome against the Zimbabweans, and even the Indians. Cairns may have stood a chance a couple of years back, but now I would say that its mainly NZ's team work that sees them perform. Players such as Styris, Astle, Oram, Franklin and Vettori have more than one discipline that they perform in, but their main discipline - either batting or bowling - is done better by other players worldwide.

[Colourful Chaddi]

Its not that suprising that New Zealand have only one player in the world XI squad who is Daneial Vettori who i presume will not play. Shane Bond would have diffinatly played but didn't because of his terrible injuries. The reason New Zealand are no.3 in the rankings is because they play brilliantly as a team with players playing for the team instead of themselves unlike India. New Zealand are like England who play well as a unit but have no world class players.

[ahsan32]

u hit the nail on the head Crabs, the New zealand Side does not have a super star expcept for a Stephen Flemming or Astle in that case, but the real strength of the team is that they play as a unit and thats where they score over the oppositions

[Rachael]

If Flintoff had not been fit then I'm sure Oram's name would have been discussed: not sure he'd make it because in a World XI you shouldn't really need an all-rounder... and I guess he ain't the celebrity figure that the event is looking for. I suspect, however, that the latter is the main reason for any obvious ommissions: many of the NZ players might deserve consideration... as would Chanderpaul... but the "star power" ain't going to be there.

[Colourful Chaddi]

Originally Posted by Rachael

If Flintoff had not been fit then I'm sure Oram's name would have been discussed: not sure he'd make it because in a World XI you shouldn't really need an all-rounder... and I guess he ain't the celebrity figure that the event is looking for. I suspect, however, that the latter is the main reason for any obvious ommissions: many of the NZ players might deserve consideration... as would Chanderpaul... but the "star power" ain't going to be there.

Your are right Rachael, the reason some players missed out on this test was because of their 'star power'. As we all know this series was made by the ICC for money, and they won't get money if they include players like Jacob Oram who don't appeal to the public as much as Sachin Tendulkar and Brain Lara. This is also the reason we saw Shahid Afridi go into the squad instead of Rahul Dravid(before Sachin Tendulkar's and Herchelle Gibbs injury).

[CD Stags]

It is a bit disappointing that there is only one NZer there but im sure any other NZers warrant selection on current form with the exception of Brendan McCullum. He is an outstanding one-day cricketer and i think he deserved a place in the world squad, he's keeping is flawless and he is the perfect one-day batsman, hits 4's and 6's and has the crucial ability to steal a 2nd run when it was never there, incredibly quick between the wickets... Jacob Oram is a guy full of potential but just can't seem to quite play at it.... and Cairns has lost his touch and has been dropped for the tour of South Africa

[Andy Mellon]

McCullum probably hadn't played enough at the time the selection process was being done to warrant selection. It will be interesting to see if this World Series thing happens again if any of the other Kiwi bowlers get in. I'm sure if Shane Bond can stay fit, he'll be in with a chance.

[CD Stags]

If he can stay fit I'd say he's a near certainty

[Victor Frankenstein]

I think it's the same reason that the england test side are no.2 in the world but only have 2 players in the test side, we play better than the sum of the parts in test cricket in the same way new zealand play better than the sum of their parts in the odi's. Just take it as a complement really that you're a good side despite not having any massive star players.

I do think it was wrong not to have had stephen fleming in the test side though, he's the best captain in the world imo, and not too shabby with the bat either, he would have been a better captain that graeme 'one-dimension' smith, and not really that much worse with the bat either, 10-30 runs at worst.