Redmond, McIntosh
Ryder, Hay, Flynn, Todd
Griggs, Watling
Patel, N.McCullum
Hiini, Southee, Gillespie, McKay

Redmond (6)
McIntosh
Ryder (4)
Hay
Flynn
Todd
Watling (+)
Hiini (3)
McCullum (5)
Southee (1)
Gillespie (2)

I think I'm happiest with these combinations. Ryder is a decent 2nd change bowler if required and Redmond or Flynn can fill in with a few overs if necessary. McKay comes in for McCullum on a good seaming deck (or a non-spinning one)

You're comfortable with leaving Patel out of the starting XI?

Hmmm... Well, I guess with the more strong batting line up above, it would be easy to select the better bowling of Patel over the better batting of McCullum. That said, Patel isn't a bad batsman. He won't score you many runs, but he can certainly hang around.

Redmond (6)
McIntosh
Ryder (4)
Hay
Flynn
Todd
Watling (+)
Hiini (3)
Southee (1)
Patel (5)
Gillespie (2)

Yes, I think that's preferable to the XI with McCullum at #9.

I'd suggest we switch Patel and Gillespie around but other than that I'll happily sign off on this squad and team.

Actually ignore that, I've just seen Patel bats ahead of Gillespie for Wellington so Patel at 10 is fine.

Speaking of Wellington they're being hammered in the state final, 14-4 in chase of 234, I wouldn't have picked canterbury to win at the start of the season but there you go.

As I recall, even Dave Nosworthy was expecting Canterbury to struggle this year given they've lost all their experienced players - leaving Papps (and Myburgh) as the most experienced! They do have some good young bowlers it seems and some useful batting depth. Even Corey Anderson hasn't played that much this year. Now, if they can just keep their young quicks free from injury, we may find Hamish Bennett making the WAT A Team next year.

Of the A Team players featuring in the final, Hiini's had a decent game with the bat on a tough batting surface and he's bowled solidly enough. Gillespie had a good second dig with the ball, ripping out the Southerners' top order... Both have been overshadowed somewhat by Bennett and Davidson though.

So that ends the New Zealand WAT A Team selection for another year... Now to pester for some interviews... Do you want to write an article on the team we've selected, sittingduck?

Wellington's now 119/5 with Neal Parlane and Woodcock at the crease, Parlane is on 60-odd so I guess we can't rule out a Wellington win just yet. They're abotu half way to the total with two sessions to play.

Re the article, it would make sense to write one given my occupation wouldn't it, I'll put something together on Sunday.

That'd be great. Give me a PM if you'd like to get involved in doing some of the player interviews too. It might be good (experience, fun??) if you interviewed the Auckland and Northerns players at least, but its up to you and we don't want to give you a conflict of interest!!

And as for the final, Wellington only need to draw in order 'to win' as they finished as minor premiers in the league. Its quite a good format to have a Pura Cup style finals day - shame all five days have been played mid week as I'd have gone along if any of it was on the weekend.

How's the article going sd??