Posted by   on (February 25, 2013, 1:11 GMT) - Featured comment

Bruce Martin? 10 wickets for 691 runs, so far in 2013. Zero wickets from his last 2 first class matches. He must be being picked to hold up an end, as he hasn't exactly been in the form of his life for some time. I have a feeling we'll be playing 4 seamers anyway, though you never know.

Rutherford is a promising young player, as is Latham, but right now they haven't actually proven themselves ready. We have a habit of picking players before they are ready, and then punishing them later once they are ready (ie Redmond, should never have played when he did, was a terrible pick, now he's ready he doesn't get picked due to his poor form for NZ when he wasn't ready to be picked anyway).

Rutherford has averaged about 40 this season while his opening partner Redmond has averaged about 55. I think a lot of Rutherford's runs were due to some mentoring at the other end, would have loved to see him get a few more hundreds before getting thrown in the fire like this.

To be completely honest I am very happy with this team. Yes I would love to see Guptil and Vettori playing but sadly we can't have them. Watling shouldn't open and deserves his spot down at number 6 or seven as he has proven over the past year. Fulton isn't a bad option, and has just edged out Redmond (unlucky for him). Fulton has made the most. As for the Rutherford vs Lathem debate: Rutherford has had a better run in domestic cricket averaging around 6 runs higher per innings and converting more scores into 100's and further.. Latham deserves a change but has a lot of time left in his career, however I don't think he is ready to be a test opener. The one thing missing from this team is an allrounder to bat at number 8 and be our spin bowler or 4th seamer. My team: Fulton, Rutherford, Williamson, Taylor, McCullum, Brownlie, Watling, Bracewell, Southee, Boult, Wagner/Ellis or Franklin (at 8 not a batsmen)

I'm sorry but what ever happened to picking the most in form players available?

Fulton makes sense and I have no doubt that Rutherford will be a good player, but on domestic form Redmond, Papps, Raval & How are all ahead of him at this time and should have been rewarded accordingly.

I have no issue with Martin being picked, he's been the best performed spinner this season, 32 wickets in 10 matches @ 40.40 with an economy rate of 3.16 is streets ahead of Nethula 22 wickets in 8 matches @ 36.95, economy of 3.53 and Sodhi 20 wickets in 10 matches @ 44.80, economy rate of 4.07.

If Ronchi was fully fit (hamstring) I'd of gone with him over Watling and given BJ first crack at openning due to his impressive batting in South Africa. No offence to BJ but Ronchi's a better batsman and keeper. And as mentioned elsewhere what happens when Ryder comes back with McCullum taking himself out of openning? Could Ryder potentially open the batting? I suspect not...

Two new openers - how fab! Nice to see BMac picking his own spot again after making such a fuss over wanting to open. And what happens when Ryder comes back? Utterly selfish decision by the captain and coach.

The reason we loose so many tests are our batsman are too aggressive and our bowlers are too defensive. We have to swap this around some how, we pick too many holding up an end type bowlers like the vettori's, martin's, arnel's, instead of go for the throat types, then we pick our batters on the back of limited over form and wonder why they dont have the temperment or technique for test cricket. My team if fit 1. T.LATHAM 2. D.BROWNLIE 3. K.WILLIAMSON 4. R.TAYLOR 5. B.MCCULLUM 6. CARL. CACHOPA 7. B.WATLING 8. T.SOUTHEE 9. I.SOHDI 10. A.MILNE 11. T.BOULT. Of coarse straight swap with cachopa once ryder comes back, lathams talent is worth the punt, the best player of quick bowling and worst player of spin opening in brownlie and sohdi actually turns the ball.

For once, its not a bad team. Lacks a real fast bowler, but hey those who can are all injured, so its not worth discussing. No one seems keen on young Rutherford, but in the tests I think he'll take his time. He seemed to get out in the ODI's when he thought he had to score faster. I think now is a good a time to put him in. Redmond has an average technique and has had a couple of chances to shine and hasn't. The middle order does look allot more solid and hopefully can score a few runs. Taking 20 wickets will be an issue, but if it swings we may do OK. Bruce Martin is an interesting call, should have played the last test in SA, but now can't take a wicket to save himself. Sodhi might be worth an experiment if Martin fails. I am also glad the selectors have finally realized Franklin is not a test standard player and that Flynn isn't either. sadly it took a while for the penny to drop. Although not anywhere near as good as he was as a bowler, we will miss Vettori's all round ability.

With the injuries I like this team - Fulton is a temporary selection and just edges out Redmond. Don't agree with calls for Flynn he has had so many chances. and barely averages 25. The English will bowl short to both Fulton and Rutherford who will need to patient and wear them down if they can. At least with McCullum and Taylor in the middle we have a bit of strength there with Bronwnlie and Williamsom as well. Martin is the next spinner of the block, they seem to be going through each and every spinner in the country and give them a couple of tests, drop them and then on to the next one. What are they going to do when they run out of different spinners to select - though Patel had to go, just wondering about what has happened to Astle and Nethula?

I don't have anything against Fulton, but we need someone who will put pressure back on the English bowlers. I can see Two-Metre-Peter fighting hard but don't expect to see runs flowing from his bat.

I would have gone with Flynn and McCullum to open. I know McCullum should bat at 5 but under the circumstances (no Guptill or Ryder at the top of the order) I would have left him opening just for this series.

Williamson, Taylor and Brownlie are obvious choices at 3, 4 and 5. I'd have Latham batting 6 with Ronchi at 7. Bruce Martin is just going to try and hold up and end - he's a temporary solution to the "Vettori issue" which will hopefully be sorted out in month or two. My seam attack would be Southee, Boult and Gillespie.

Rutherford needs more time. I'd like to see him (and Bracewell) playing in England for a season, to expose him to that professionalism of week in-week out County Cricket.

Good selection, on the whole. Fulton (along with Ryder) was a standout batsman in the first half of the Plunket Shield (the season was divided by the T20 tournament), after reinventing himself as an opener. He would have played in South Africa if he had not been injured. He has continued to perform well in domestic cricket and deserves his place. I would probably have gone for Redmond over Rutherford, but can understand the desire to blend youth with experience.

After touring South Africa (without playing), BP Martin is next in line for the spinner's spot once Patel has been (deservedly) dropped. Still, I'd be tempted to go in with four seamers (+ Williamson), since that is where NZ's strength lies -- just don't think NZ are ever going to spin England out.

Tom Latham is the surprising selection, since he hasn't been opening for Canterbury and hasn't had a great season overall. Still, he'll probably be carrying the drinks. There is no doubt he is an exciting prospect for the future.