Hodge, is added as an allrounder, and Alick, should bowl,.

if hope is ok to wicket-keep, Imlach sit. If not, Layne sit. Both batting and bowling, gets a boost.

The experiment with Hope keeping in Test must be stopped.

Hope is your best batsman so let him concentrate on doing that please.

@Massy

Specialist wicket keepers, are a thing of the past. Imlach, is just a fill-in for now.

@Edrich

At the moment ALICK seems to be a specialist at NOTHING…as do others in that top order not named Hope.

I'd test this theory

Tage

Greaves

Alick

Hodge

Hope

Imlach

Chase

Roach

Phillip

Sheilds

Seales

But in all honestly, if there is any change that management will make will be Hodge for Alick and that's a big IF. Cause this draw was almost like a win so you don't change a winning team but you tweak it. And with Chase's recent contribution, I'd put him to come in just before Roach

@positiveg

Actually, this is probably the best team from the squad that we have in NZ. I support it. Alick bats at No 5 after Hope. Hodge comes in at No. 3

@Edrich

We are not going back to Hope as Keeper. The Man has done so well without the gloves. Hodge for Layne is the only change I would make. Hodge probably bowls as fast as Layne lol.

Give Imlach the series. Then after that find another batsman/ wicketkeeper not named Hope!

We just had a historic draw there is no need for drastic changes.

@voiceofreason

I agree that there is no need for drastic changes but to reduce the bowling attack, especially when Mitchell is coming into the NZ batting line up, will likely be a very costly move. Hodge for Athas and Phillip for Layne.

@voiceofreason

Changing Athanaze for Hodge is not drastic. It was noticeable that the lefties struggled to the natural righthand bowler movement. Hodge bats very well vs seam/swing and bounce. They will not drop Campbell this Test maybe next Test if he does not pull of his usual one score over 50. So it could be -

Tage

Campbell (wont drop him now) ( also known to spin a few)

Hodge ( known to spin a few)

Hope

King ( should bat no higher)

Greaves (4th bowler/ seamer)

Chase ( could bowl more overs if needed)

Imlach

Roachie (pacer)

Seales ( pacer)

Shields ( pacer)

@Scar

Your pace bowling is a bit thin especially in NZ. This is not India.

If you want King in the mix, you must drop one of the openers, otherwise King stays out at least until the third test.

Hodge coming in for Alick is a more likely scenario. The batting line up needs reshuffling a bit.

Tage

Campbell

Hodge

Hope

Greaves

Chase (playing only because he is captain)

Imlach

Roach

Anderson Phillip (replacing Layne)

Shields

Seales.

Actually when the two other Josephs return, there will be no place for Warrican in the team.

They may as well appoint another VC (A Joseph).

These will be our best four-prong until Roach decides to retire.

Chase should no longer captain this team and Hope should really consider captaining the team if he does not want to keep wicket. I would consider bringing back Josh DaSilva since he will strengthen the batting at #7

At that point the team would be as follows with a few Caveats

Tage Chanderpaul (Bring back paint if failing consistently)

John Campbell (Bring back paint if failing more than putting consistent scores on the board)

Brandon King (Unless Alick can come good with at least a century and a fifty this series)

Kavem Hodge

Shai Hope

Justin Greaves

Josh DaSilva (better bat than Imlach)

Alzarri Joseph

Kemar Roach

Shamar Joseph

Seales

@voiceofreason

If You read my post carefully, I said, if hope agrees to wicket keep, Imlach sits, if not Lane sits.

@Massy

Absolutely.

It works with Hope concentrating on batting. And as the saying goes, if it works, don't fix it.

The added benefit, despite the detractors, is that Imlach is comfortably the best gloveman in the region. A few more runs from him would obviously be welcome but his main duty is behind the stumps and he is very good at that. The extra runs from Hope more than compensate.

@embsallie

Where is Motie?

@Edrich

The bowling attack stays

Layne had a bad game ...he will step up

Shields will play...we must show trust in him

The batting is of question excluding Hope n Greaves

It Alick players we send the wrong message to player so I see King coming ...this to is questionable cause still don't look like a test batsman

To be honest any change or non change in the batting will be questionable

The only shock would be that they drop the captain ...play both Alick n King

I would not give hope captain thou would not put that extra pressure on him....I will let Roach captain for the next 2 test matches

That's my take