A good portion of the New Zealand season has passed now. Its time for your preliminary suggestions on who will make the 2007-8 team. Is there anyone that you've seen who's sticking their hand up for A Team selection??

Just to jog people's memories last years team was....

1. Peter Ingram (Central Districts)
2. Aaron Redmond (Otago)
3. Ross Taylor (*) (Central Districts)
4. Jesse Ryder (Wellington)
5. Brandon Hiini (Canterbury)
6. Grant Elliott (Wellington)
7. Stu Mills (+) (Wellington)
8. Bradley Scott (Otago)
9. Graeme Aldridge (Northern Districts)
10. Mark Gillespie (Wellington)
11. Jeetan Patel (Wellington)

I havn't had time to look at stats and ages just yet but I would say Taylor will be close to playing five tests ( I think he's played four). If he's not picked for the England series he's a definite selection as is Patel. I'll have a think and come back with some other names Andy. Hopefully I can get some Aucklanders in there this time.

Also, no Stu Mills this year after he prematurely retired to pursue a career in Law. Aldridge and Ingram may be pushing the over 30 boundary and of course Matty Bell no longer qualifies for special dispensation since he has been recalled to the Test team.

On the batting side of things I’ll suggest a few – Greg Todd, Greg Hay, and Neal Parlane – Jesse Ryder has had a poor season with the bat but I think he’s got so much potential he must be considered anyway. Taylors only played two tests (i don’t know why I thought he’d played more) so he has to be in there I would think.
At keeper I suggest Bevan Griggs from ND, but does anyone know if Kruger van Wyk is eligible? I guess he needs to be here a certain number of years although I think he’s committed to NZ hasn’t he.
In the allrounders category Tim Lythe is a possibility while Brandon Hini warrants reselection with figures of 17 wickets at 20.5 this season.
As far as bowlers go Aucklander Andrew McKay has easily the best bowling average this season of those who are eligible with 15 wickets at 13.8. Mark Gillespie has only played one test so although he hasn’t played domestic cricket he seems to be the likely long-term replacement for Shane Bond
Patel’s still eligible to be our spinner and there’s also Tim Southee and Bradley Scott who should be looked at.
No openers sprang to mind but I'll suggest this as a starting point...
1. (opener)
2. (opener)
3. Todd/Ryder
4. Taylor
5. Hay
6. Hini/Lythe
7. *Griggs
8. Scott
9. Gillespie
10. Southee/McKay
11. Patel

Hmmm. I like your basic selection there Sittingduck. The middle order is really the competitive area. Taylor and Ryder are the class options, with players like Broom, Hay, Nicol and Redmond as available middle order options.

The openers once again are looking poor. No one who is eligible has really stood up. Redmond and Todd Astle, and possibly Shanan Stewart - none of whom have really done much - are the only young opening options available at the moment.

As for the bowling attack, I'd say Southee and Hiini are must-haves. Hiini has been relegated down the batting order for some reason this year, but his bowling his improved as a result. Youngsters like Corey Anderson will have their time in the future, and for the meantime Gillespie and Scott have to be in the mix.

My only question with Ryder is are we meant to make the selection based more on form this season? I think he's averaging about 20 for the four fc games played so far. Although he might pick up in March when four day cricket resumes.

Hmmm... That's probably a key debate to have at the end of the season. Ryder was playing well for Naenae earlier this season, but I think he picked up an injury early on which has damaged his season to date. Hopefully, he'll come back into form later on and put the question to bed, but at this stage, other people may be ahead of him in the queue.

Still a long way from season's end but if i'd say of those three Astle looks the most likely to step up to test cricket considering he is consistantly picked for A tours and development sides (and seems to do well in them, particularly in Australia).

Considering the habits of the NZ selectors though shouldn't we be looking at promising number fours to fill the opener's role

Latest news is that Southee has been called up to the 20:20 squad and Ryder to both the ODI and 20:20 squads.

Southee is an absolute must given his performance in the 20/20s, particularly the second game.