ANENDRA SINGH
WILL Mathew, Mark and Peter still be there if the Black Caps tour side is named tomorrow?
More importantly, will the selectors rob Peter of a tour to put Daniel or Martin on the payroll?
A lot has been written and argued about who should be in and should be turfed out, including Caps coach/selector John Bracewell. The post-mortem examination from the series-losing test in Napier last week clearly exposed the tender underbelly of the New Zealand batting line-up.
As exciting as it was, new kid Tim Southee's rush of blood to the head was commendable and what any team would embrace from a rabbit who had been dropped from No.9 to No.10.
But, seriously, it's Twenty/20 cricket at its best and not a yardstick, by any stretch of the imagination, of where the Caps' batting ability is at.
If anything, it was a timely distraction from the top-order's shortcomings.
It's interesting that former Kiwi batting maestro Martin Crowe is reportedly emphatic that Braces and Mathew Sinclair's heads must roll.
It's a shame that Sinclair, given the opportunity recently to display his prowess, is under-achieving. Ironically, when he was at his prime the selectors continued to spurn his advances. Yes, ``Skippy' could be lippy, but then so could Crowe.
All that now comes to nought. What matters is whether the selectors will opt for experience over youth.
Former England internationals who were in Napier last week offered a refreshing, impartial view on what shouldn't happen on the tour.
Angus Fraser, lamenting the Kiwi media's knee-jerk reaction every time the Caps failed to fire, said the selectors would be ill-advised to axe batsmen such as Matthew Bell and Sinclair. He rightly pointed out that the selectors must persist with them.
Fellow ex-international Mike Atherton felt the relatively inexperienced Central Districts pair of Jamie How and Ross Taylor should be the foundation for building a solid innings for New Zealand.
While it was a formidable run chase, the Caps' lack of mental fortitude was evident as they failed to show patience with two days to bat.
It would be good to blood fresh faces such as Martin Guptil, Peter Ingram and Greg Hay, but I'm not sure the England tour should be their starting block.
Do you have an opinion? To contribute: email sport@hbtoday.co.nz, fax 06 8730811 or write to PO Box 180, Hastings.
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