NZ under GrahamB (story)

[GrahamB]

NZ Squad to visit England 2008

Opening Batsmen
P.Fulton (captain)
M.Bell
J.How

Other Batsmen
G.Hay
M.Sinclair
I.Robertson
T.Weston
R.Taylor

Keepers
C.Nevin
B.McCullum

Allrounders
J.Oram
G.Elliott
B.Hiini

Pace Bowlers
A.McKay
A.Adams
M.Mason
K.Mills

Spin Bowler
D.Vettori

In selecting the squad, I looked first at a test lineup with a backup player in each department.
I then looked at which of those players would fit into my ODI plans and selected the rest to fit the gaps.
Nobody over the age of 35 was considered for selection and last season's form had to justify selection. Second team averages helped also.

[aus5892]

Good luck, good to see our first story here!

[GrahamB]

Good luck, good to see our first story here!

Cheers mate. Will post during the week, but I've got to run the NZ Junior Chess Championship for the next four days.

[Blocky]

Well, I play as NZ too.

And one season in, despite getting something like 36-40 wickets at 25 and around 600 runs at 40, Vettori decides he's going to retire.

WTF?

[Themer]

Whats wrong with that many people retire after a very successful season thus going out on a high, E.g Hussain scored a century against NZ and quit mid series

[Blocky]

Howabout

A: The fact that he's only 29-30

B: The fact that he was supposedly captain (although the game thinks Jamie How is a better fit?)

[GrahamB]

Three Day Match v Kent

The NZ playing eleven:

P.Fulton (capt)
M.Bell
G.Hay
M.Sinclair
I.Robertson
B.Hiini
C.Nevin (wk)
J.Oram
D.Vettori
A.Adams
A.McKay

[GrahamB]

Three Day Match v Kent (Day 1)



Kent won the toss and elected to bat, but this was looking like a bad decision when we had them reeling at 74/7 before lunch, with Jacob Oram in devastating form with the ball.
Kent's long batting order saved them however, as Martin Van Jaarsveld found a staunch ally in fellow South African Ryan McLaren. These two added 145 runs for the 8th wicket as Kent battled through to 239 all out.
Jacob Oram finished with an impressive 6/41 and was easily the best of the bowlers.

In reply, NZ lost both Fulton and Bell late in the day to finish at 64/2.

[GrahamB]

Three Day Match v Kent (Day 2)



Two of New Zealand's debutantes held sway on Day Two to put their team in control of the game.
Brandon Hiini smashed his way to a quick 50 before settling down to go on and make 146. In partnership with Iain Robertson, 228 runs were added for the 5th wicket.
Robertson was more circumspect in his knock, but ended the day unbeaten on 96.

[GrahamB]

Three Day Match v Kent (Day 3)



Gone were the cloudy conditions from earlier in the match and the Kent side weren't going to capitulate again! After NZ declared with a lead of 200+, the home side batted out the rest of the day to secure a draw, despite losing Robert Key early on with a broken arm trying to fend off an Andre Adams bouncer.

Some good batting signs from the opening match, but only Oram impressed with the ball.

[GrahamB]

Three Day Match v Essex (Day 1)



We went into the second match of the tour with the same playing eleven as for the game v Kent. With it basically being an intended shadow test lineup, the aim was to give these players as tough a workout as possible before the first test.

Captain Peter Fulton led the way with a century before Robertson and Hiini again took centre stage with an unbeaten fourth wicket partnership of 169. Robertson now with two consecutive centuries in his first two innings for his country! Can Hiini follow suit on Day Two?

[GrahamB]

Three Day Match v Essex (Day 2)



Robertson and Hiini continued on their merry way on the second morning and the declaration came just after lunch with both having gone past 150.

However, batting proved to be just as easy for the Essex batsmen as they go into Day Three looking well placed to gain a draw.

[GrahamB]

Three Day Match v Essex (Day 3)



Essex managed to avoid the follow on thanks to a useful innings of 39 from number nine Alex Tudor.
Andre Adams showed returning form with a three wicket haul, but Dan Vettori is still out of touch.

In our second innings, I changed the batting order to give some batting time to those that needed it. Greg Hay and Matt Sinclair didn't take advantage of that opportunity and I'll be hoping they get a good innings under their belt in the final warmup game against the MCC.

[GrahamB]

Three Day Match v MCC

In form players were rested for this final warmup match in order to give those that needed extra game time a go.

M.Bell (capt)
J.How
G.Hay
M.Sinclair
T.Weston
R.Taylor
B.MacCullum (wk)
K.Mills
A.Adams
M.Mason
A.McKay

[GrahamB]

Three Day Match v MCC (Day 1)



After winning the toss and choosing to bat, the home side limped through to a paltry 134 all out.
Andre Adams continued his recent form, picking up 4/36 plus putting another batsman out of the match with a wicked rearing delivery that fractured his forearm.
Kyle Mills put in a late bid to make the test side ahead of Michael Mason and Andrew McKay with 3/21.

Both NZ openers fell cheaply, but Greg Hay and Matthew Sinclair righted the ship with a century stand. Both were looking good until Hay fell to an unfortunate runout.

NZ look to be on track for a morale boosting win heading into the first test.