Sting in the tail key to third test win

Fast bowler back in the game

Photosport

TIME TO GO: James Franklin may be disappointed when New Zealand confirms its line-up for the third test against India in Wellington.

Related Links

Resurgent Black Caps earn respect Exhausted Black Caps need break Harper replaces Doctrove for final test

Relevant offers

Opinion

Bok block to free-flowing rugby? When does sport stop being sport? Time to whistle up a better spectacle Crusaders always worth a punt, Chiefs at ridiculous odds John Terry hits a skanky low New format needed for under-19 tournament This numbers game is all very confusing The alternative Halberg Awards' winners' list Stop clock to speed up rugby Cheating drama on and off the course

OPINION: New Zealand must make one of their biggest selection gambles in recent times when the third test against India starts at the Basin Reserve on Friday.

A rehabilitated Tim Southee has been included in the 13-man squad for the must-win test and now he must play at the expense of James Franklin. Yes, a bowler for a batting all-rounder.

It might sound ludicrous to suggest lengthening New Zealand's tail on the basis of one substantial total (619-9) on a featherbed, but the third test has to be won, not to mention that fresh legs will be vital after the marathon effort of the bowlers in Napier.

Such a tactic would see the carefree Southee at No 8, followed by Jeetan Patel, Iain O'Brien and Chris Martin quite some tail. But the upside is that Brendon McCullum and Daniel Vettori are not out of place one spot up the order.

Franklin will feel hard done by after scoring a half-century in Napier but the selectors seem more influenced by how the runs are made than by how many are scored, given both Jamie How and Aaron Redmond have been dropped after knocks over 50.

Franklin's half-century was a mixed bag. He is also yet to take a wicket in two tests, though he caught the eye putting in the hard yards on the final day in Napier.

The obvious course of action is for offspinner Jeetan Patel to make way for Southee, but Patel looked more likely to get a breakthrough than Vettori in Napier and deserves another run.

Of course, plotting such a path is based on Southee having made a full technical and mental recovery from his pasting for 105 runs from 10 overs in the third one-day international against India in Christchurch on March 8. It was noticeable his action had gone to pot. He was wide on the crease, his back foot was in a bad position and limiting his greatest strength his ability to swing the ball.

The feedback is that his rehabilitation has been good. Bowling coach Vaughn Johnson has worked one-on-one with him and, according to national selection convener Glenn Turner, the 20-year-old swung the ball in the State Championship match between Northern Districts and Wellington, which ended yesterday.

This time last year Southee used swing on debut to slice the top off England's lineup in Napier and he was also among the early wickets against Australia at the Gabba in November.

As for his headspace after such a towelling by the tourists, only time will tell, but he has a farming background and does not appear a man who takes life too seriously. He has generally bowled on the big stage without batting an eyelid.

Through all this we are overlooking the inclusion also of Kyle Mills in the squad. Mills is a handful in good bowling conditions but on flat wickets he struggles to make an impression.

Basin Reserve groundsman Brett Sipthorpe is happy with the test strip. He predicts it will suit the batsmen, but a result is possible.

"Draws have been few and far between here in recent times [eight results out of the last nine tests] so there is no point doing anything different," he said. "The pitch is similar to the one we used for the England test last summer, except it will be better for batting.

"Last year the pitch never dried out so it seamed a little bit for the whole test, but this time the weather forecast is great."

There will be bounce for the bowlers prepared to work hard. Last year Stuart Broad and Jacob Oram did that with some success.

"The catch-22 with seeking bounce is you need to leave grass on and then you get seam. That can be dangerous," Sipthorpe said.

What a disappointment it will be if New Zealand wait for things to happen. Better to go down fighting than having not tried at all.

Newest First

Oldest First

Prakash2007   #11   08:07 pm Apr 02 2009

Whichever way, I dont think Kiwis can get 20 wickets in 5 days unless and until the pitch is a Monster. Franklin, Martin, Southee, O'brien- they are same kind of bowlers and offer no variety. There was one Gentleman by name Shane Bond.. How I wld have loved to see him in action against the Top 5 Indians..

Allan Pinchen   #10   07:01 pm Apr 02 2009

Why Why,is not Shane Bond playing.I`m Aussie cricket lover and boy did I love that guy.What is wrong wrong with the NZ cricket hierarchy !!!!!!!! Do you not pick your best [by a long shot] bowler. He is in the top 3 quicks in the WORLD,play him and with the the team you have at the moment,you will SERIOUSLY CHALLENGE ANY TEAM IN THE WORLD!!!.I throw my hands up and think what if he played in this tour!!!! maybe 2 UP [??] Give the bloke a go......so good for cricket. Just my thoughts,I just love to see genuine quicks with all the tricks!

duncan   #9   08:30 pm Apr 01 2009

Pretty straightforward this time around:

We have to win the test to save the series. We have to take 20 wickets to win the test. We must pick our 5 likeliest wicket-takers at the Basin. Martin O'Brien Vettori Patel Southee

The only debatable bowler is Southee, but frankly franklin is not looking likely at all while Southee good domestic form and early season international form.

Didn't hadlee berk on a few years back how good Franklin was? what a disappointment...always hope he can step up, but..

Keith   #8   04:36 pm Apr 01 2009

The whole NZ cricket mentality for the last 5 years seems to be if we draw we have done really well. NZ cricket has some potentially excellent players but management, coaching and sometimes captaincy has become pretty vapid.

brendon   #7   04:07 pm Apr 01 2009

I'm not sure about having Franklin - If we wanted someone who can bat firstly and can bowl a bit (with only the chance of the odd wicket) then surely Grant Elliot would be a better pick. He's proven, unlike Franklin, that he can score runs at international level.

I'm also concerned that O'brien hasn't been troubling the batsmen but I would still rather him over Franklin when it came to bowling. Plus with McCullum and Vetorri batting at 6 and 7, I dont see the real need for Franklin.

With McCullum and Vetorri at 6 and 7 it gives us the luxury of selecting 4 bowlers (not batters who can bowl). This will allow us to play Patel no matter what the conditions. In my view Patel is one of our 3 top bowlers and should play in every test regardless of the pitch.

Zozza   #6   03:26 pm Apr 01 2009

Tim #3, you have to be kidding mate. Drop O'Brien and keep Franklin? Franklin is a slow, dour, ordinary batsman. He was lucky to survive an early caught behind appeal. And his bowling is just atrociously "pop-gun". Why drop O'Brien when he has been one of our best Test bowlers this summer?

Ross   #5   03:14 pm Apr 01 2009

Guptil MacIntosh Flynn Taylor Ryder Vettori McCullum Southee Patel Obrien Martin

thats a balanced attack both with bat and ball and represents the guys who will give 100% for 5 days.

mike   #4   02:14 pm Apr 01 2009

I agree with Millmow. Franklin is a great domestic player... but a test player he isn't. We need to back our batsmen to score the runs, and give ourselves every chance to take 20 wickets. Swing seems a rare ability worldwide these days - adding to it's effectiveness as batsman are not often exposed to it. O'Brien has to play at the Basin (assuming he's fit) as should Patel. I'm happy to take a punt on being half a batsman short if the alternative is good for a few wickets.

Tim   #3   09:40 am Apr 01 2009

Interesting idea, but I think the better option woud be to bring in Southee for O'Brien who doesn't seem to be troubling the Indian batsmen at the moment. Apart from the 2 lower order wickets he picked up, his figures would have been similar to Franklin's. Franklin then has the advantage because of his batting and ability to catch the ball.

Zozza   #2   08:04 am Apr 01 2009

I am still struggling to figure out why Franklin was picked in the first place. Ordinary. And what the heck was he doing batting above the likes of McCullum & Vettori? Ridiculous.

Ad Feedback