Openers? Where does this leave McCullum?

I want to get a few things off my chest first before I, like an Italian football lover would, dive into the main argument of this opinion piece.

Lethal: Dale Steyn  (Gallo Images)

The Black Caps have just suffered one of their most embarrassing test series loses since I can remember, 2-0 to South Africa. Yes, this South African team is the best in the world. The quality of their batsmen match the deadly nature of their bowling attack. They recently won a series away in Australia as well. Still, that is no excuse for losing two test matches by an innings. That is no excuse for losing ten wickets for 45 runs in the first match, no excuse for another notorious batting collapse in the second test match, and no excuse for hardly lasting three days in the first match and not making it past lunch in the fourth day.

Let me make one thing clear: I did not expect the Black Caps to win either of those matches. I expected them to, perhaps, draw one. Sadly, what was missing, or at best only seen rarely, was one thing: fight. This team did not fight. They were brought to their knees figuratively, and, in Jeetan Patel's case, were literally scared of the bowlers. Do you think the South African's had any sympathy for their helpless opponents? I do not really care. What I do care about, and want to see, is some fight, even if it occurs in a losing performance.

Like the fight Nathan Astle showed when he scored 222 not out vs. England at Jade Stadium in 2002, when the Black Caps were certain to lose. Like the fight Stephen Fleming showed when he scored a century at the 2003 Cricket World Cup against South Africa, in a sudden death match, to knock-out the hosts of their own tournament. Like the fight Chris Cairns showed to overcome an injury to guide his team to victory in vs. India in the final of the 2000 ICC Knockout Tournament.

Fighting spirit: BJ Watling defends against South Africa

Back to the recent series against the Proteas, credit to B.J. Watling (ironically born in South Africa) for refusing to give up his wicket. I have been skeptical about his position in the team in the past, but his performance in that second test illustrates that he has that fighting instinct I want to see from all of our batsmen. He even received some praise and kind words from South Africa's lethal fast bowler Dale Steyn. Dean Brownlie also fought hard in that first test to score a century. Having said that, he was dropped a couple of times, but still proved he can fight.

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Now to the main issue.

New Zealand coach Mike Hesson has hinted that captain Brendon McCullum is not a guarantee to open the test batting during England's tour to New Zealand next month. McCullum himself was non-committal. Tony Veitch on Radio Sport raised a very interesting point on his breakfast show on Wednesday morning (January 15) and it deserves some analysis: Can McCullum warrant his position in the test team?

On the surface, it is hard to fathom that our newly appointed captain might not be deserving of his position in the team. But if we look at the current situation, it makes you wonder what, if any significant role (captiancy aside) he can play as a player, not as a leader.

McCullum refuses to wicket-keep in test matches and sights the long hours on the field in test matches as putting a strain on his back. I say fair enough to that. As long as you can justify your selection based on another component of cricket. McCullum does not bowl at all and now, since his position at the top of the batting order is seriously under question, if means he will have to prove his worth in the middle order.

The problem is that the New Zealand test team already has a plentiful supply of middle order batsmen. Firstly, there are Dean Brownlie and BJ Watling - the later possibly opening if push comes to shove. Kane Williamson has been out of form of late but his young talent is too good to ignore. Stick with him and it will pay off over the next decade, for sure. Williamson has essentially had to play as an opener recently with the continuing failure of the openers. Ross Taylor seems likely to return for the upcoming England series following his short-term exile and it was confirmed today that Ryder will meet with NZC in late January to discuss a return to the national side. Daniel Flynn will probably make way for those two guys. Please, this time Jesse, be on your best behavior and no one will have any ammunition to use against you.


So as you can see, there are some very astute batsmen there already and between them there is very little experience when it comes to opening the test batting. They do not need to be sacrificed in that position. McCullum did alright in seeing off the new ball in South Africa on some occasions, but that might not be enough to justify a position at the top. Ryder does open for Wellington in the HRV Cup Twenty20 competition, but international test cricket is a whole different kettle of fish.

In jeopardy: If McCullum does not open, there might be no space for him in the middle (3 News)

Martin Guptil has really struggled as an opener in the long form of the game. I reckon the selectors still persist with him for the time being, but if he fails to do anything against England then he probably needs to be dropped from the test team. Do not get me wrong, he is a valuable asset to the limited overs sides.

Many have been calling for former Australian representative Luke Ronchi to be called up to the national team. Born in New Zealand, Ronchi is now eligible to play for the Black Caps and has been in great form for Wellington so far this season. Additionally, he is arguably the best glove-man in the country at the moment. Again, he is a middle-order batsmen.

Where does all this leave McCullum? There is no way New Zealand Cricket (NZC) and Hesson are going to drop their newly appointed captain, even though I think (here comes the main argument of this article) he is not performing well enough to warrant selection. McCullum might be a great leader, but perhaps NZC misssed the point that McCullum does not wicket-keep in tests anymore and based on current batting form is far down the pecking order.

Therefore, here is my proposed test team for the England tour. Not entirely what I want, but what I think the selectors will go with. Choices in bold.

Possible recall? Aaron Redmond (Getty Images)

Openers (1 and 2 in the batting order): This is a tough one. Hesson has suggested that Watling might not be used in this role. Guptil? There is no room for him in the middle and I think the selectors will give him one last chance in tests against a top-tier nation. Jamie How, Tim McIntosh, Peter Ingram? Probably not. They have all been tried before with not much success. Matthew Sinclair? He has been tried before and failed consistently, but continues to perform at domestic level. I have always been a fan of his. I say, maybe give him one last crack at international cricket. Sadly, that will not happen. On current form in the Plunket Shield (four day domestic cricket), Otago's Aaron Redmond is the best performing opening batsmen in terms of total runs scored, at an average of 53. Michael Papps and Peter Fulton are not far behind but have better averages, 69 and 72 respectively. McCullum will be retained, but needs to do something special to get the public back on his side.

Middle order (3-7): Taylor and Ryder return. Watling and Brownlie remain. Williamson at three.

Lower order (8-11): Assuming Daniel Vettori returns, he will bat at eight and be used as the spinning option. If not, Bruce Martin should be given the nod. He is the best performing spinner at domestic level this season - 22 wickets (second highest) in 5 matches at an average of 27. Tim Southee returns from injury and Bracewell and Boult retain their spots to complete the trio of fast bowlers.


1. Guptil
2. McCullum (saw off the new ball well, but Hesson has different ideas it seems. Should be retained though)
3. Williamson
4. Taylor
5. Ryder (if unavailable, then Ronchi)
6. Brownlie
7. Watling
8. Vettori (if unavailable, then Bruce Martin)
9. Southee
10. Bracewell
11. Boult

More personal choice of team:


1. Redmond (deserves a recall after great domestic form)

2. Watling (has that fighting spirit, even though Hesson says Watling wont be used in this role)
3. Williamson (worth persisting in, make him captain and breed him while he is young!)
4. Taylor (possible co-captain? Hesson did say he wanted to retain Taylor as test captain)
5. Ryder (if unavailable, then McCullum returns and holds on to the captaincy)
6. Brownlie
7. Ronchi
8. Vettori (Bruce Martin if injured)
9. Bracewell
10. Southee (rumored to be a possible vice-captain)
11. Boult

Extended squad: Colin Munro, Neil Wagner, Chris Martin, Peter Fulton, McCullum.

Overall, McCullum has to open if Ryder and Taylor play against England, otherwise there is no room for him based simply on playing value. Deep down, I hope he goes out and scores a truckload of runs vs. England to overcome all the public scrutiny.