I went to the Australia V New Zealand practice game the other night, and the crowd was especially Australasian, go here for my write up.
Jimmy Franklin just standing there
aussie v kiwis in the crowd
cricket with balls
just another bullshit cricket blog
Tagged with james franklin …
Franklin, 6, fuck me?
I was harsh on Austrlalia for putting Andrew McDonald at 6.
Or in the team at all.
But Andrew McDonald at 6 is a vastly superior option than Franklin.
James Franklin who averages 31 at NZ first class level, compared with McDonald’s 38 at shield level.
Franklin is a bowler who bats.
McDonald is a none entity who all rounds.
But even on my drunkest day, which is not today (although i have had a shot), I would never put James Franklin in at number 6.
He is an emergncy number 7, and a handy number 8.
There is no doubt he can bat, but that is like putting Mitchell Johnson at 6, and the only person who has suggested that is Shane Watson.
Enough said, and then some.
To be fair, the kiwis position at 6 for shit house at lunch is nothing to do with this, but i felt the need to talk about it anyway.
No flowers from the perfect boyfriend
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.
