I know it’d be a huge call to move him, since he’s the best keeper/bat in the world, but would shifting Watling to open and bringing Blundell in to keep be an option for NZ? Watling has done a lot of opening in his career and is very technically correct. Raval is just a walking wicket at the moment.
Although if Raval is going to find form anywhere it’ll be on the highway at the MCG.
Additionally, I don’t know what purpose Santner has in the NZ XI on Australian pitches. Can’t score runs, can’t take wickets, can’t keep it tight. You’d be better off playing four quicks and an extra batsman, or better yet putting Will Somerville on a plane to Melbourne because he actually know how to bowl on our decks.
Nicholls is presumably another option to open - but 3-7 is our strength, messing with that to fix the cluster f**k selection policies just seems double stupid
You've hit the nail on the head though, not having any batting cover (literally none, Blundell is capable but a specialist keeper) is f**king geniused (and some have been saying that for a while) and Santner while a handy cricketer is a limited overs spinner and a spinner in NZ conditions because they don't take wickets - Astle is not a great option - Somerville at least knows Aust, and Patel is the best spin bowler in NZ
But with Ferguson going down, they had the chance to pick a bat and fix the obvious problem - but they're too stupid to... with Boult, Southee and Wagner fit, they all play, no question... Henry is clearly next - Jamieson will be there as a net bowler only - just dumb - bring him over as a net bowler if that's important and add a top order bat FFS
Jesus this is infuriating...
Then again, I see Siddle's been called up, and you have Wade at #5, so guess you can empathize!
