Yeah, get Conway in there. And Young
While I like the whole "it's a settled test lineup" talk in general...
Profound limitations were exposed in Australia (not just the players, the nuffies in charge too)...
While there's a lot to like about Blundell (not to the extent of the all encompassing man love that Larsen has for him) I question the sanity of anyone arguing he's a test opener in the long term and a better option in that role than Young. Having him as batting and keeping cover in a test tour of Australia while Raval stunk up the joint to biblical proportions said more about our talent puddle and Larsen's blindness than anything else.
Then, anyone that thinks Conway isn't better than Nicholls is similarly questionable - harsh on Henry, but this is test cricket and Conway is flat out better - I'd like then both there, and then CDG in dependent on conditions.
Then the real question becomes should the test keeper be Watling, Blundell or someone like Phillips or Seifert. With a top 6 of Young, Latham, Williamson, Taylor, Conway and Nicholls a more assertive option with the bat, Blundell, becomes perhaps the right choice... again, hard on BJ but that might be the reality. Phillips needs to keep more to be a challenge, or wait for Taylor to retire... and Seifert just doesn't seem to translate batting wise to this level (yet anyway)
In our conditions, I don't see why Southee, Boult, Wagner and Jamieson aren't enough - certainly a token spinner that doesn't bowl is just a waste, and when that spinner is Santner and he does bowl it's more a waste. Patel can play overseas as needed.
Test cricket soon, exciting
