Good on John Wright and New Zealand Cricket for finally having some balls and trying something new. That's right, I'm talking about the inclusion of Otago all rounder Sam Wells in the test squad to take on Zimbabwe on Thursday. The next step is for Wright and captain Ross Taylor to actually include him in the playing eleven.
New Zealand cricket is stale at the moment and has been for years. New blood is needed and good on Wells for finally getting a chance. Who cares if nobody actually knows much about him or has seen him play? He averages 38.10 with the bat in first class cricket, has had nine 50s and two 100s in 21 matches and 34.27 with the ball taking 33 wickets. Wells scored 65 for the New Zealand XI against Zimbabwe in the warm-up match earlier this week so deserves his shot.
Rob Nicol, the Canterbury Wizards opener, should be another to get a shot in the national side, at least in the T20s where he and Auckland's Martin Guptill have been by far the best batsmen. I heard some debate over this in the final between Auckland and Canterbury on Sunday, one particular commentator asking where he would fit in the batting lineup? I'll tell you where. Anywhere. In Jesse Ryder's spot seems the best option. Ryder should not get picked for any national side at this point. Why? He hasn't played a game in how long? He shouldn't even be considered.
While I'm talking to you New Zealand Cricket, pick Kruger van Wyk over BJ Watling as your test keeper please. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realise that Watling is not actually a keeper. I don't care if he was at high school or not. And, he can't bat. He has shown us this on the many chances he has had in New Zealand teams. Van Wyk scored 61 in the same warm-up match and averages 38.66 in first class cricket while Watling has a piss poor record in test matches scoring at just 24.50 and 12.84 in one dayers. Not a fair comparison? Okay his first class record is also not as good as van Wyk at 33.07. Give the 31 year old a shot.
We need to keep blooding these new guys, Dean Brownlie, Doug Bracewell, Wells and van Wyk for the good of cricket in this country. One win over Aussie doesn't mean we are contenders in World cricket. In fact in the first test against Australia this season, we bowled Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey back into form. They were done. Had it. On their way out. Until we dished up a few pies for them to wack. India has New Zealand to thank for Ponting and Hussey's fine performances.
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| Richie Benaud, Wide World of Sports commentary captain. |
One last thing. Sky Sports, sort out your television coverage of cricket in New Zealand. Nobody wants to listen to Simon Doull. To put it politely, he is a tool. Smithy, tick. Rigger, tick. Macca, tick. That's it. Take a page out of the Wide World of Sports team's coverage. Super slow mo and emotional build ups are where it is at. Marvellous.
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