By John Day
The Black Caps need to give up on Martin Guptill.
The brilliant one-day opener is an extremely hard worker, a great fielder, and a handy part-time spin option, but just can’t foot it in Test cricket.
His average of 29.14 over 45 matches proves this, as do his recent scores against the world’s best teams.
Guptill’s last nine knocks against Australia, India, and South Africa have produced just 117 runs at an average of 13, including three ducks.
These are the teams that Guptill should be measured against, and he’s come up well short.
Now is the perfect time to pursue other options, namely Luke Ronchi.
The 35-year-old isn’t a long-term solution, but must replace Guptill in the remaining two tests against India after making 38 and 80 in the first test loss in Kanpur.
Ronchi’s promotion to opener would allow the selectors to recall Henry Nicholls, who at 24 years old has a much brighter test career ahead of him than Guptill, who’s just about to turn 30.
Guptill’s World Cup double-century against the West Indies was the worst thing to happen to the troublesome test match opening slot.
After being put out to pasture, Guptill’s incredible knock at Westpac Stadium against the white ball saw him back in the test team.
How does that make sense? Simply put, it doesn’t.
Comparing limited overs and Test cricket is like using sevens to pick your All Blacks team.
The past 18 months instead should’ve been used to build up Jeet Raval’s test career, not trying to rebuild a player who is clearly a limited overs specialist.
Other changes also need to be made if the Black Caps are to bounce back in the second test in Kolkata.
Pace bowler Neil Wagner is an absolute trooper, but even his aggression and commitment won’t help the team in Indian conditions and I’d replace him with Jimmy Neesham, assuming he can recover from a rib injury.
Batting and spin is what wins test matches on the sub-continent, so here’s my team for the second test:
Tom Latham, Luke Ronchi, Kane Williamson(c), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, BJ Watling, Jimmy Neesham/Doug Bracewell, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult, Jeetan Patel.
Newshub.
