NZ squad and the pitch for Napier test

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The selectors will have a wildcard to factor in when choosing their 12 for the second test at Napier - a fungus-infected McLean Park pitch. They'll have another, increasingly familiar, factor too - the wishes of captain Dan Vettori.... More... Cricket: Vettori wants Oram back for Napier test 4:00AM Sunday Mar 22, 2009 By Dylan Cleaver The selectors will have a wildcard to factor in when choosing their 12 for the second test at Napier - a fungus-infected McLean Park pitch. They'll have another, increasingly familiar, factor too - the wishes of captain Dan Vettori. Last night he made it clear he wanted the experience of Jacob Oram back in the side. What Vettori wants when 0-1 down in a three-match series, he should get. In all likelihood there will be few changes, though Vettori made a big play for Oram's inclusion, even if just as a batsman. "Jacob, he brings so much to the table," Vettori said. "He's got five test centuries. Nobody else can say that going around New Zealand domestic cricket at the moment. He's also a very good bowler ... "You could consider him just as a batsman. If he's got form under his belt, that'd be good enough for me. Also, 10-12 overs, with Jesse as well, the two of them could come together quite nicely as a fifth bowler." Oram was bowling for Central Districts at Pukekura Park yesterday and got through a 15-over workload, picking up the in-form Shanan Stewart. He would take either James Franklin's or, more likely, Kyle Mills' place in the side. Just what surface greets Vettori and co in Hawke's Bay promises to be intriguing. A fungal disease has affected the grass on the wicket block, causing small patches to die off. A New Zealand Cricket spokesman confirmed there were issues surrounding the state of the pitch and that turf managers had been working on the block, but the official word was the problems were "cosmetic". The result was that the intended pitch has not come up to standard and they have moved their attentions to an adjacent strip. "The test strip was reseeded after the West Indies match, but the regrowth has been subject to a small amount of fungal disease," the spokesman said. "The impact is mainly cosmetic. The groundsman has moved the strip slightly to one side so that the affected areas are well outside the playing zone. The grass cover is consistent and NZC is confident the strip will be in top condition." No serious thought had been given to moving the test from Napier. Cricket in Napier is known for two things: it is a proven drought-breaker and it is usually played on the flattest test wicket in the country. If there is a chance the wicket might be variable or patchy, conventional wisdom would suggest that necessitates the inclusion of a second spinner. However it may not be as simple as picking Jeetan Patel, the second-best spinner in the country. A tail of Iain O'Brien and Chris Martin - the pick of the bowlers from Hamilton - and Patel might be one rabbit in the hutch too many. Dropping either Martin or O'Brien would be a tough sell so you either have to pick Patel and live with the fact your top order is going to have to fire, or pick a second spinner who adds depth to the batting. Nathan McCullum is the obvious candidate, having been in the set-up before, though he is seen primarily as a limited overs option. More radical would be Northern Districts' teenager Kane Williamson. He has been in form with both bat and ball of late in the State Championship but the gulf between that level and facing the Indians is vast. It might be a season or two too soon but it will happen. The side is due to be named tomorrow and with the current team picked for this Hamilton test only, the selectors can take a blank-canvas approach. O'Brien has a side strain and Daniel Flynn a bruised hand, but both are likely to be available for selection.

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Kiwis in spot of bother over fungus at Napier track More... Kiwis in spot of bother over fungus at Napier track Hamilton (PTI): Down 0-1 in the three-match Test series against India, New Zealand are in for more trouble after it was revealed the track at McLean Park, Napier, venue for the second Test scheduled to start from March 26, has been infected by fungus. A fungal disease has affected the grass on the pitch, causing small patches to die off. A New Zealand Cricket spokesman admitted there were issues surrounding the state of the pitch and that curators had been working on the block, 'New Zealand Herald' reported. With the pitch not up to standard, curators have not shifted their attention on an adjacent strip. "The Test strip was reseeded after the West Indies match, but the regrowth has been subject to a small amount of fungal disease," the NZC spokesman was quoted as saying by the newspaper. "The impact is mainly cosmetic. The groundsman has moved the strip slightly to one side so that the affected areas are well outside the playing zone. The grass cover is consistent and NZC is confident the strip will be in top condition," he added. However, he said no thought was given to moving the Test from Napier.

[Rajan]

indications for a 3 day test?

[gs]

indications for a 3 day test?

Absolutely, expect vicious banana swing from innocuous Ryder :winky:

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Napier Test: NZ Selectors likely to stick to same batsmen New Zealand have three days to figure out how to get back into their test series against India.Should it be a switch to a spin focus among the bowling attack, or re-arranging the fast-medium order?Is allrounder Jacob Oram,... More... Selectors likely to stick to same batsmen 4:00AM Monday Mar 23, 2009 By David Leggat New Zealand have three days to figure out how to get back into their test series against India. Should it be a switch to a spin focus among the bowling attack, or re-arranging the fast-medium order? Is allrounder Jacob Oram, a favourite of captain Dan Vettori, a must to return to bolster both departments? And does a No 9, 10 and 11 of Jeetan Patel, Iain O'Brien and Chris Martin instil confidence? All these and more issues will have been in the national selectors' minds yesterday as they look ahead to the second test starting at McLean Park in Napier on Thursday. They'll want to avoid doing another chorus of the deckchair shuffle. As coach Andy Moles pointed out yesterday, "A week ago they were deemed the best players in the country. For the continuity of the side and the growth of the team it's important we don't have massive change to the team." New Zealand lost the first test by 10 wickets inside four days in Hamilton on Saturday. They were so far behind the eight-ball at lunch on day one that they were on a different table for the rest of the test. And what are India's problems right now? They extend to pondering whether to go for the murgh tikka or the lamb korma for dinner tonight. Put your shirt on them fielding the same line-up at Napier, unless the fungal infection which has forced a shuffling of the pitch a metre sideways demands two spinners. So while the Indians will arrive in Napier supremely confident, it's New Zealand who must now force the issue. Expect the selectors, Glenn Turner, John Wright and Dion Nash, to stick with the same batting lineup from Hamilton. Although three of the top six missed out in Hamilton, opener Tim McIntosh may have been stiff in the second innings, and Ross Taylor - despite a shortage of test runs recently - is in for the long haul. James Franklin, unlucky in the first innings, out to a dreadful shot in the second, looks too high at No 6 - and the giant frame of Oram is hovering over his old job again. Of the fast-medium candidates, Kyle Mills is most vulnerable after a disappointing test, down on pace and low on containment at times. Unless the selectors go for a wildcard, the obvious alternative is Tim Southee, who bagged five Canterbury wickets for Northern Districts in the first innings of the game after his century mauling in the Christchurch ODI last month. He swings the ball, got five wickets on debut against England in Napier last summer and gets top-order batsmen out. But if spin is in, that means either Patel, who took five wickets for Wellington against Otago on Friday and got five against the West Indies in the last test on McLean Park in December, or Otago's Nathan McCullum, a tighter option. Patel has the inside running, but another longer shot contender put his hand up at Eden Park yesterday. Northern Districts' allrounder Kane Williamson hit 111 and 95 against Auckland, and he's a tidy offspinner. The national under-19 captain is a favourite of both Moles and at least one of the national selectors, who view him as a 'when' not 'if' test player. His time might not yet have come, but it's not far away. There are injury niggles over fast-medium Iain O'Brien (side strain) and batsman Daniel Flynn (bruised hand), and that means cover is expected to be named in the squad today. Whoever they settle on, Moles was emphatic yesterday that things would get better. "I can promise you the Indians will face a lot sterner examination than they did in the first test," he said, with one of those quotes he'll hope doesn't return to bite him.

[cowboysfan]

more like vicious turn-expect 2 spinners if the pitch is not fixed.

[Dirty_South]

more turn :woot:

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Injured O'Brien and Flynn retained for second Test Jacob Oram, who made himself unavailable for the first Test because he was not yet confident of playing a five-day game after recovering from injury, was not considered despite captain Daniel Vettori being keen to have him in the squad. More... Injured O'Brien and Flynn retained for second Test Cricinfo staff March 23, 2009 Injured players Daniel Flynn and Iain O'Brien have been retained in the New Zealand squad for the second Test against India starting on March 26 in Napier. However Jacob Oram, who made himself unavailable for the first Test because he was not yet confident of playing a five-day game after recovering from injury, was not considered despite captain Daniel Vettori being keen to have him in the squad. Offspinner Jeetan Patel returned to the squad after being released to play for Wellington in the State Championship match against Otago where he took 6 for 137. Coach Andy Moles had indicated on Sunday that Patel would play in Napier. Glenn Turner, the head of the selection panel, said Oram was excluded because he was yet to regain full match fitness. "He's only had a couple of days in the domestic competition, and after talking with him we agree he'd benefit from more game time to get up to the fitness level needed for the Test side," Turner said. The only omission from the first Test squad is uncapped bowler Brent Arnel, who was not considered after picking up a side strain during a State Championship match. O'Brien also suffered a side strain during the Test but was hopeful of recovering in the next couple of days. No cover has been called for Flynn who bruised his hand in the match. The two are expected to be available for selection. New Zealand squad: Daniel Vettori (capt), Daniel Flynn, James Franklin, Martin Guptill Tim McIntosh, Brendon McCullum, Chris Martin, Kyle Mills, Iain O'Brien, Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor

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New Zealand coach calls for seaming wickets HAMILTON: New Zealand?s coach Andy Moles has called for seaming wickets in the two remaining Tests to counter India?s batting. But the track at the McLean Park in Napier, the venue for the second Test, has suffered a fungal attack, ... More... New Zealand coach calls for seaming wickets Special Correspondent HAMILTON: New Zealand’s coach Andy Moles has called for seaming wickets in the two remaining Tests to counter India’s batting. But the track at the McLean Park in Napier, the venue for the second Test, has suffered a fungal attack, affecting preparations. “Aesthetically, it won’t be pleasing on the eye (sic) but the groundsman is confident it will play well enough,” said Andy Moles. “I believe they have moved the wicket 2-3 feet, so it’s half on the original wicket and half on the surface where the one-dayer was played. We need a typical New Zealand wicket where it nips for about a couple of days so it brings our seamers into the game against their batting attack which is used to the ball being true and turning a bit.” Added Moles: “We’ve seen in the past they don’t like the ball when it goes sideways a little bit — that’s our best way of nullifying their batters. If the wicket is very dry it can turn a lot, which is obviously something we don’t want to experience down there.” Changes in team “New Zealand is considering changes to its squad for the second Test. Jeet (Jeetan Patel) will come back; he is doing well in his game,” said Moles. “I think he scored 44 today (for Wellington) to go with his five-for. We will obviously need cover for (Daniel) Flynn, he has got a bruised left hand, and also for (Iain) O’Brien, who has a side strain. Jacob Oram is a world-class player. I think he got through 15 overs (in the domestic game), I am sure he will come into the picture.” Moles promised a smarter, tougher performance from New Zealand in the remainder of the series. “We have a review process, we travel to Napier, we will have two hard practice sessions, plus reviews on our team and the Indians, on how we can do things better, and I can promise you that Indians will face a lot sterner examination than they did in the first Test match.” New Zealand had net and gym sessions on Sunday, what should have been the final day of the first Test. The side will travel to Napier on Monday. The Indian team departed for Auckland on Sunday. It will practise at the Eden Park on Tuesday before travelling to Napier. The second Test gets underway on Thursday.

[graphic23]

So why did we go to Auckland? According to google maps, it is North of Hamilton, whereas Napier is south of Hamilton. Anyways, I think seaming tracks will definitely keep our openers in check. Dravid's made a living out of playing extremely well on seaming tracks. No need to say anything about Sachin. Laxman should be ok as well. But Yuvraj and Dhoni might not be able to play freely. Should make for a good contest.

[DomainK]

Seaming wickets will be even worse for NZ. Our batsmen are better equipped to handle their bowlers on a seaming track, but can the NZ batters handle ZAK, IS and MP on a seaming track? I dont think so.

[EnterTheVoid]

seaming wickets? 60 / 6 in the pre lunch session ? sure, whatever turns you on

[veer]

whats a fungal attack?

[flamy]

whats a fungal attack?

O Brien, Martin, Mills and Franklin

[Don Sharma]

O Brien' date=' Martin, Mills and Franklin[/quote'] :--D

[Shane]

Doubt, it would make a difference to the final outcome thou, id just love to have one :winky:

[zubinpepsi]

I have so much work to do.. bring on the seaming tracks.. the matches will b over in 2.5 days.. :--D

[Kohum]

O Brien' date=' Martin, Mills and Franklin[/quote'] :haha: :haha: B->B->B->B->B->B->

[cowboysfan]

NZ squad and the pitch for Napier test i think i have enough of the kiwi whining-lets have a shootout in 3 days.if we lose then so be it.

[cowboysfan]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/2283523/Test-pitch-switch-skulduggery-denied Test pitch switch skulduggery denied Central Districts chief executive Blair Furlong denies there is any skulduggery behind a last-minute change to the pitch for the second test against India starting in Napier on Thursday. A well-grassed pitch to the side of the original strip will now be used, but Furlong said the change had been made in the best interests of the game and was not a desperate attempt to doctor conditions to suit the home side. The switch will have the Indians in a frenzy after their horrible experiences on the 2002-03 tour but Furlong said everything was above board. He said groundsman Phil Stoyanoff was unhappy with the patchy nature of the grass and had called in New Zealand Cricket turf manager Jared Carter for a second opinion. Furlong said Carter felt the strip was playable but Stoyanoff felt aesthetically it was not a good look. "It's not a fungus, the grass is just very patchy and the pitch we are now doing has a more even coverage of grass," Furlong said. "It will be a good pitch, it will do something at the start and then flatten out. It certainly won't be a greentop, we don't want a two-day test." --------------- lol at the kiwis.