New Zealand vs Zimbabwe, Only Test, Napier, 26-30 January, 2012

Media going potty over Sam Wells' selection into the team.

It's supposedly a John wright selection and it goes against the "pie chart" selection policy.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/6023063/New-look-NZ-cricket-selection-policy-revealed

A bit of a Pattinson (the senior) selection as even the folk from Dunedin have not much of an idea about who he is.

Carn you Bots.

Possibly a green-ish pitch for the test.

BJ Watling has been confirmed as NZ's keeper and they may play four pace bowlers and Vettori at 6.

Not getting much from Zimbabwe.

Watling doesn't even keep wicket in first class cricket. Strange that NZ have suddenly chosen him to keep in a test match.

I don't know why they dropped Young in the first place.

Young was sh*t. Dropping him was a no-brainer. I don't know why Brendan McCullum doesn't stop acting like a c*ck and wear the gloves again. Having him as the keeper would improve the balance of the side so much. Yes he has a bad back now and then, but maybe quitting the IPL would remedy that?

Young was sh!t with the bat. He's more than a decent keeper.

McCullum had had a surgery in his right knee after some torn cartilege and dropped keeping in FC cricket. Best to avoid the risk and not do a Freddy.

It would be better for New Zealand if he stopped keeping in ODI and T20 cricket and only kept in the proper stuff.

Don't think that would be wise, simply because of the number of deliveries that a keeper has to crouch and stand in FC and test cricket. He's also not the sharpest keeper in the world and his batting has come a long way since he dropped keeping.

If he has such a serious problem with his knees, I'd like him to completely drop keeping.

He might suddenly find himself struggling to hold his spot in the test side as a specialist batsman. His record isn't THAT great. Take away Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, and his test average is around the 30 mark.

Nobody really pushing him for McCullum's place and Grant Elliott seems to have fallen out of favour as well.

Just heard that Keegan Meth and Ray Price are injured. Shingi to make his debut with Graeme Cremer for Price.

Aye, I don't rate McCullum really, but there doesn't seem to be anyone better out there. They'll just have to stick with him.

Cremer's better than Price IMO, although a little less wily.

More attacking as a spinner, not quite as good yet but definitely a better bat. Zimbots fell short due to their tail last time around. Radiosport reporting a green pitch anyway.

Is there any other sort in NZ?

Early night tonight. Also hope the match is telecast live here, not holding my breath.