Black Caps' selectors spin wheel again

In response to #12.

Mate if you want to try the numbers game Flynn has a first class average of only 31.90. The only reason he has an average of 35 in tests is that he has a few not outs. He is yet to score big. And he has (until this coming series) been batting low in the order and mostly being exposed to the part timers. That aside I agree he has much potential and for the time being we should stick with him.

In reponse to #8

It is stupid to go saying.. if you take away Redmonds two top scores he has a bad average.. he has only played 7 tests. Redmond was one of our only players to score 50 against the aussies and he did it against the quicks with a new ball. McCullums 50 was worthless in the context of the game.. I bet his average in the last 7 tests hardly higher than Redmonds and once again he isn't facing the new ball!

"Dump the competent and retain the incompetent.

Nothing changes in NZ cricket."

Gee shows how much of a fan you are, and shows what you think of NZ cricket.. Negative, plain and simple.. There is a few people like that who are going to say that every time to be honest.

As for the team I like the inclusion of Mark Gillespie he performed in south africa getting 5fer on debut and did well getting 6 wickets in the last test vs england at the basin, like the inclusion of franklin inparticular and oram definately, don't know about Redmond being dropped to be honest it seems we drop our openers just as they come good. Good luck to McIntosh though! Don't like the dropping of southee but good luck to the guys should be a good series, alot of new things to look foward to i guess.

very true, i think redmond needed more chances he had only just come into the test side... martin doesnt deserve the spot in the team franklin can do his job with a ball and he can bat. i disagree with chris ^^ i think patel might b a key bowler for the nz side depending on the wicket of corse!

First class batting averages

How 33.66 McIntosh 34.03 Flynn 31.90 Taylor 37.17 Ryder 40.96 McCullum 33.46 Redmond 32.12

FULTON 43.84

Also, Franklin should be our back up all rounder not opening bowler. His Wellington coach admitted as much. He'll bat at 9 so the runs he's scored don't mean anything. You pick bowlers to take wickets and batsman to score runs. By the way, There's no way we'll play 2 spinners in Dunedin before xmas. Patel is there because otherwise Southee would be carrying drinks rather than playing first class cricket. Finally, If the bowlers can't take wickets at the University Oval they should follow Mark Richardson's lead and turn themselves into opening batsmen that concentrate on not getting out rather than making the highlights package. We could use a couple.

They have had there chance, there not up to test cricket standards...

I think that dropping Redmond for McIntosh is harsh, he is not consistant and will be another Bell/Sinclair. Sure if Redmond failed at home then try that but give the man a chance.

I also think dropping Southee was harsh he deserved to be there with his performances however Gillespie, Franklin, O'brien all definately deserve to be there so can understand the decision, really Gillespie should of been in Aussie for Martin. As with no7 i really do agree he should know how to get his front foot forward and block a ball, i mean hell i could bat better than him...

At 35 Martin's not great value, can't bat, average at best in the field & will never be a match winner with the ball !

Glenn, there is absolutely no way you can compare the likes of Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar to Aaron Redmond, Tim Southee or Chris Martin. Of course you dont see them being dropped they are elitists of the game, they have proven themselves to be class over and over again.

Southee's all class but has been used heavily of late and is probably still a little young, he needs a break.

Redmond's a bunny and is the equivilent to an aussie number 7/8

Martin's a skinny rake - congrat's too him though, as im sure no other 60 kilo man in NZ can bowl mid 130's. However, maybe he should hit the gym for a month or two and put on a bit of muscle which may get him up round the 140's consistently.

Pretty happy with the squad although i struggle to deal with O'brien as one of our 'quicks'

Bring back Simon Doull......

Agree with you on Flynn. I would have liked to see Ingram and McIntosh open and How drop to 3. However, Flynn has been our 2nd best performing batsmen of recent times (behind Taylor) so that could have been pretty harsh to drop him completely.

In response to 5. Martin clearly looks short of a gallop, and it has been well noted that they said to him you are our no.1 when you are firing on all cylinders, but you are not. For that I have no issue with them dropping him and giving him time in domestic cricket.

Redmond had England, Bangladesh and Aussie to prosper. Before the 2nd test against Aussie, if you take out his 1 innings of note (79 v Bangladesh) he had an average of about 8. He could have been given a chance in NZ conditions, but realisticly he hasn't shown anything that would suggest he is international standard.

Fulton I feel sorry for, but he should never have come in against Aussie. He was on a hiding to nothing, and really should have gone back to NZ to build form in domestic cricket.

Where is Matthew Bell or Matthew Sinclair? They are perfectly good openers or even down to 3 or 4. It's about time Tim McIntosh got a chance and if we were going on form I would actually have James Franklin in the middle order doing. I have never been a Chris Martin fan as he can't bat and in todays cricket you need to know how to block a ball or at least get caught out from having a swing, he might as well go out there with no bat!

Shoulda kept Redmond. Patel's gonna be useless on an NZ wicket.