Where would Colin Munro rank in the scheme of things? Even ignoring the fact he can roll the arm over, a first class average of 48.20 (at a strike rate of 93) with the bat is hardly anything to discard without consideration. We've seen players get picked for the Black Caps with far worse records than that before.
Seen too little of Nicholls to comment, but looks reasonably organisd.
Who else is impressing domestically?
For List A, that is kicking off presently. So we get to see.
In the Georgie Pie Super Smash this year - Munro was light years ahead of everyone again this year. Lots of runs, brutally scored. Wasn't opening the innings, but was often batting so early he may as well have been.
I am a Munro fan, so I watched him in Africa for the Black Caps with great attention (bar Sky not showing the South Africa games).
He was put far too low down the order to do anything substantial. But its T20WC next year and he surely has to play in that unless he bombs his list A summer. So he has another chance to impress in internatoonal colours.
He is in the mix for limited overs - but many fans dislike him intently (especially for tests) - because he is very aggressive onside - he pulls and mid wicket drop kick flicks from outside off stump like a little South African version of Viv Richards and he likes clearing the ropes not going along the carpet leading to frustrating caught dismissals. His SR in FC is very high. Too high for a lot ofbpeoples liking.
The domestic players who are knocking on the selection door for pyjama were M Bracewell and Nicholls. Nicholls pulled away from Bracewell this year. Raval if he has good ODI campaign could be in the mix but for the fact that Tom "I score slow" Latham has the inside running.
Will Young from CD is in a fight for the test spot with Nicholls. Ben Smith possibly but he is an opener and seen as possibly replacing Guptill's spot. I hope Raval comes into that debate soon. There is Dean Brownlie scoring big runs as an opener (but has trouble with really good spin on turning tracks hence moved to opener).
Bahrat Popli, from India - got a few FC runs this year (and 79 in a trial match against Sri Lankan test squad). But needs a longer period of scoring. Devicich had an okay Super Smash and has been in the pyjama team before.
The unluckiest one of all is Scott Kuggeligjn, who was looking good for a pyjama gig this year as a bowler (rest Tim and Trent policy) and lower order hitter (just got a FC ton) but he has legal dramas off the field which I think thwarts his chances of selection. He bowls at good speed and can be a real handful. Ignore that economy rate, he is learning to be a good death bowler in recent times.
They need to finish trialing George Worker who is the current squad. He needs to give the selectors a reason to drop him to give the next person a shot. Worker has a power on side game with a limited amount of shots. Clears the CD boundary with ease - but yet to be proven against an international attack in a proper sized ground.
Then there is the Milne issue. His bowling just gets better and better, as does his batting. The question is - does he play test cricket where his 150 kph bowling that has plagued him with injuries could wreck him, or stay as a pyjama pro. Much debate about that issue around the traps. His ecnomy rate is now below 5 at 4.9 in ODI. He might be the fastest "economy" bowler around in world cricket.
Then there is the leggies Todd Astle and Ish Sodhi. Ish is in with a shot of pyjama and Todd Astle is snapping at the heels of Craig and Santner for test.
