Only Test: New Zealand v Zimbabwe at Napier Jan 26-30, 2012

[Meth]

Test squad: Ross Taylor (captain), Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Dean Brownlie, Martin Guptill, Chris Martin, Brendon McCullum, Tim Southee, Daniel Vettori, Kruger van Wyk, BJ Watling, Sam Wells, Kane Williamson.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricke...t-squad?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

so...

McCullum
Guptill
Williamson (given that he's batting at 3 in the warm-up)
Taylor
Waitling
Vettori (Wright has already said he'll probably bat at 6)
Brownlie
Bracewell
Southee
Boult
Martin

 

[Wilson1]

Test squad: Ross Taylor (captain), Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Dean Brownlie, Martin Guptill, Chris Martin, Brendon McCullum, Tim Southee, Daniel Vettori, Kruger van Wyk, BJ Watling, Sam Wells, Kane Williamson.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricke...t-squad?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

so...

McCullum
Guptill
Williamson (given that he's batting at 3 in the warm-up)
Taylor
Waitling
Vettori (Wright has already said he'll probably bat at 6)
Brownlie
Bracewell
Southee
Boult
Martin

No way Watling will bat 5 if he is keeping also. Brownlie will bat 5 instead.

 

[Meth]

Fair point.

The top order will have to perform because the potential for runs drops fast from 8. I know Bracewell and Southee can bat a bit (I'll never forget Southee's debut where he murdered Panesar), but the top 4 need to step up. I'd like to see Taylor score a big ton

 

[Timbo]

You wouldn't bat Brownlie that low. He was comfortably your best bat in Australia.

I wouldn't be surprised if they left out a quick and tried to get both Watling and Van Wyk in there, slide Guptill to 3 and open with Watling and McCullum. Van Wyk at 7 or 8 with the gloves.

 

[African Monkey]

If our batsmen can't score runs against this popgun attack then they never will. You could find club cricket bowlers that are more potent than these guys.

 

[Meth]

He sure was Timbo.

Pre-Australia, he made his Test debut v Zimbabwe and batted at 6 and 8 (after a night watchman). In that Test Waitling batted at 5 and 6 and Vettori at 7

 

[Meth]

If our batsmen can't score runs against this popgun attack then they never will. You could find club cricket bowlers that are more potent than these guys.

Taylor failed on Saturday

LRPL Taylor* b Meth 7 34 11 1 0 63.63

 

[African Monkey]

You wouldn't bat Brownlie that low. He was comfortably your best bat in Australia.

I wouldn't be surprised if they left out a quick and tried to get both Watling and Van Wyk in there, slide Guptill to 3 and open with Watling and McCullum. Van Wyk at 7 or 8 with the gloves.

We want to play four seamers though so I doubt that we'll leave out a quick. The talk has also been that it'll either be Watling or Van Wyk that'll be left out.

 

[Meth]

Incidentally, Van Wyk failed on Saturday as well. If this match was a fair dinkum showdown between Van Wyk and Waitling for a spot, and providing Waitling isn't making a meal of it behind the stumps, it seems that Waitling will have a spot and Van Wyk will not.

If we were going to drop a seamer, it would be Boult and I think Wells would come in at 8. But that's unlikely.

 

[JB]

Also the talk is their preparing a green top for Napier (lord you know you're in trouble when u have to doctor the pitch in your favour against Zimbabwe??)

Tbh, like Robbie Hart, Lee Germon and Tony Blain before them, i cant see Young, Van Wyk, or Watling as our next long term keeper/batsmen. Just keeping the seat warm for when young Tom Latham is ready imo.

 

[African Monkey]

I don't see a problem with preparing green tops tbh. We need to start playing to our strengths and making it tough for overseas sides to adjust to conditions wise.

 

[JB]

^^^I dont mind them as such either. But really, Zimbabwe?

 

[African Monkey]

^^^I dont mind them as such either. But really, Zimbabwe?

I get your point but I do feel that the opposition shouldn't matter tbh. Sme conditions for all I say and good practise for when we play South Africa.

 

[JB]

S'pose. Personally (in the perfect world) i like a variety of pitches around the country rather than having to go out and manufacture one. Long term i dont think it'll develop our players by having green tops everywhere. But in saying that i have no problem in playing (especially the stronger touring sides) on pitches that favour your strength's.

Incidently Basin Reserve for mine best pitch in the country. Something for everyone.

 

[Meth]

Zimbabwe nearly beat us in November. Bracewell's heroics saved us some blushes.

 

[African Monkey]

Zimbabwe nearly beat us in November. Bracewell's heroics saved us some blushes.

They did. They should have beaten us if Taylor and Taibu didn't lose their heads. We also should have scored a lot more runs on that flat track against a very average attack.

 

[Meth]

There's nothing to gain in not seeking to win this game by all means, including preparing pitches in our favor. Losing to Zimbabwe would be even worse than our losses to Bangladesh- and we all know how embarrassing those blemishes have proved to be.

 

[African Monkey]

Yes it would be. We shouldn't have too much trouble in winning having said all that.

 

[JB]

Zimbabwe nearly beat us in November. Bracewell's heroics saved us some blushes.

True. Personally though, against Zimbabwe, i'd prefer our batsmen just apply themselves better and our bowler's hit their length's before looking at doctoring the pitch.

 

[Meth]

True. Personally though, against Zimbabwe, i'd prefer our batsmen just apply themselves better...

Yes.

I'd rather that in general. Guptill, McCullum, Ryder and Taylor are unquestionably talented, but there are major question marks hanging over their ability to apply themselves to an innings.