Guptil's issues are purely mental imo. Was reading some interesting stats on him how he averages over 40 when NZ bat first, but when they bat second he drops right down to around 20 and if NZ bat in the 3rd innings he's about 24.
For an opening batsman who in theory should have the hardest job opening the innings against the new ball in the best seam conditions he does remarkably well. My theory is that he allows the game situation to dictate how he plays far too much and lets that get into his headspace. The worst thing that can happen when Guptil is scoring reasonably freely is for someone to go out at the other end. Feels like the guy retreats into block mode no matter how bad the ball is and then gets himself out soon afterwards.
Flynn and Franklin I just don't rate at all, but don't know enough about the domestic scene to say who should be in there instead. Van Wyk, meh, but he's doing an OK job with bat and gloves at the moment.
There's nobody else... Brownlie next cab off the rank... Neil Broom has an impressive first class record still, I think, but they've bypassed him
Flynn's a hard wee bastard, but also seems to be stuck between being a nuggetty grafter, and a free flowing stroke-maker...
With more experience and perservence - with the likes of Guptill, McCullum, Williamson, Taylor, Flynn, Brownlie, (and perhaps Ryder) Southee, Boult, Bracewell we have the makings of a decent team
