Comments on: Having my say http://crucket.co.nz/2009/04/having-my-say/ Dedicated to the best little cricket team in the world – New Zealand's Black Caps Wed, 12 Oct 2011 07:42:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Suhas http://crucket.co.nz/2009/04/having-my-say/comment-page-1/#comment-1537 Suhas Sun, 12 Apr 2009 00:44:11 +0000 http://crucket.co.nz/?p=647#comment-1537 Franklin needs to be cut some slack. It's been only a short while since he started rebuilding himself as a "batting all-rounder", and he played two decent, crease occupying innings over the series, and seemed to improve his bowling by the time the third test arrived. He needs to be looked at as a player feeling his way into an unfamiliar role, not someone with eight years of experience to call on. Having said that, I do have a problem with his selection in the first place. Considering NZ went into this series with one of the most inexperienced top five lineups ever, against the number 2/3 side in the world, what were they thinking by trying to blood Franklin in a new role here? While Franklin may yet be a long term prospect (yes, I am fully aware of the irony in that statement) as a test no.6, this was the wrong series to give him a go. If Jacob Oram had played purely as a batsman he would've probably contributed more to the team. So too Grant Elliott, who at least had some one-day form behind him. Given how well Jesse Ryder bowled, I'm not sure the kiwis would have been worse of playing the extra batsman at number six - Aaron Redmond, perhaps, with his legspinners providing extra variety? Franklin needs to be cut some slack. It’s been only a short while since he started rebuilding himself as a “batting all-rounder”, and he played two decent, crease occupying innings over the series, and seemed to improve his bowling by the time the third test arrived. He needs to be looked at as a player feeling his way into an unfamiliar role, not someone with eight years of experience to call on.

Having said that, I do have a problem with his selection in the first place. Considering NZ went into this series with one of the most inexperienced top five lineups ever, against the number 2/3 side in the world, what were they thinking by trying to blood Franklin in a new role here? While Franklin may yet be a long term prospect (yes, I am fully aware of the irony in that statement) as a test no.6, this was the wrong series to give him a go. If Jacob Oram had played purely as a batsman he would’ve probably contributed more to the team. So too Grant Elliott, who at least had some one-day form behind him. Given how well Jesse Ryder bowled, I’m not sure the kiwis would have been worse of playing the extra batsman at number six – Aaron Redmond, perhaps, with his legspinners providing extra variety?

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