According to the New Zealand Herald, James Franklin is Jacob Oram’s stand by at the moment.
Franklin is a better bowler than the Perfect Boyfriend, but obviously the Perfect Boyfriend is the far superior batsman.
New Zealand would rather have Oram, but Franklin is an able replacement.
My only problem is a small one.
Why isn’t Jacob playing?
According to my “research” Jacob has played the last 7 games for New Zealand.
2 twenty20s and 5 one day internationals.
He was fit enough to play in all these games, but not the test series.
Surely big Jake could have been rested for these 7 games, in preparation for the test series.
This test series is probably going to get more press coverage than any series New Zealand has ever played in.
The world will be watching to see if India is the real deal, or demons at home and teddy bears away.
They should have their best players on the field.
So who made this decision?
Surely the selectors would want their best player.
Moles doesn’t seem to, like Bracewell did, ignore the tests to do better in the one dayers.
For marketability alone Justin Vaughan would want Jacob front and square for this series.
Obviously Daniel Vettori would want Oram’s amazing control to slow down the Indians, plus his batting average of 37 is more than handy.
So is this Oram’s decision?
Cause if it is, the boy needs to be smacked around the ear a few hundred times.
I often get on Oram’s case, but the reason is simple, I love the way he plays bats, and I’d like to watch him play the highest form of the game.
Instead we see him make cameo appearances, pull out of series, and generally defend the accusations he is soft.
I don’t want him to defend the accusations he is soft, I want him to throw an Oram Orgy in the middle of the ground.
I want him to slap Khan out of the attack, I want him to lift Bhajji out of the stand.
I want him to make New Zealand a better team.
From what i have read it was his decision, he doesnt think his body can stand the rigours of 5 days.
But i dont think he needs to bowl, because Ryder can fill the role of the 4th seamer, so it shouldnt be that tough for him to stand in the field for a day and a half with his hands in his pockets.
I think he should give up being an allrounder and just play as a batsman.
The thing is; how would anyone know if he can play for 5 days?
I really hope Frank comes off; that’ll be about the only thing that could stir something up inside Jake.
I thought Oram was dropped for not scoring a run in ages. In addition to Franklin having scored a butt load of runs domestically (I know, I know) recently, there has also been some talk that we (NZ) are looking to change up the ‘sameness’ that our attack has had (i.e. RH over-the-wicket, 130-135kph).
However, the first change up experiment was Thompson, and we know what happened to him…
We all know that the perfect boy-friend is too, for the lack of a better word, delicate to withstand the rigours of a five day game of sheer balls
[...] The Black Caps’ Test squad is markedly different from the limited overs side, with Arnel, Franklin, Flynn, McIntosh and (somewhat controversially)Martin all coming in to the side for the longer [...]