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#2685976 3-Apr-2021 12:29

tdgeek:

I said "IMHO he is NZ's best batsman by a margin. Kane close second."

Im standing by tdgeek on this one, in sentiment.

Whilst I can't say Conway is NZ's best batsman in Tests just yet, he is easily NZs best batsman in international white ball and 1st class cricket, and imo will over take Kholi as the best batsman in all 3 formats of the game, in fact he just jetted into the ICC top 10 T20i overtaking Kholi to #4 in the world, within 14 matches.

IMO he is a no brainer to be selected to either open or replace Nicholls in the Eng tour and then the WTC in Test Cricket.

Id go with having him opening, hes plenty good enough to, plus NZ will not be bogged down in the scoring putting all the opening pressure on Latham. The only reason I would not drop Nicholls, who was dropped into form himself with 6 dropped catches in his ~140 vs WI just when his spot was on the line, then twice in the following test, is because Nicholls is less of any issue than a solid opener to pair with Latham. Don't get me wrong, Blundell is a good #6/7 keeper, but he should not be in the team when we have much better options. It also gives the team a solid Wicket Keeping option once Watling retires. Once Taylor retires I expect Conway to move to #4 and GP to Keep for NZ at #6. We have a lot of options forming for another opener but at this stage I expect Will Young will either open once that occurs or will replace Nicholls once Nicholls real form becomes clearer to a very "old guard" selector in Larsen who needs things to cost NZ world cups etc before he take notice.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/newzealand/content/player/379140.html

We have few players with his 1st class experience and average, his t20i avg of 60 is a reflection of his domestic prowess, but like all good players it is an improvement once stepping up to internationals (look at Marnus L's Test career vs 1st class etc) ODI's early days, AVG 75, I expect that to drop to high 50s in time.

Conway's statistics are one thing, but his play is another. He is a combination of Finch and the Big Show Maxwell, he has every shot in the book, but he doesnt try to be cute too often which is reflected in his average, he can play late like Williamson, so he has a very good idea, or he can play agreesively and in front like Taylor/Kholi. He knows how to weight and rebuild an innings which is one of his best features, but he also knows when to play back seat, which he did very well for Wellington this year letting Finn Allen set the world on fire, and once Allen was eventually out, Conway would take over, which makes them the future white ball openers for NZC imo. But Guptill's class shone through and rightly so he was selected. I don't know what NZ's beef is with Munro, but he was in the BBL All Stars team and should have been a no brainer selection for NZ T20i's, at bare minimum to see where he was at. But similarly Larsen stuffed up not selecting George Worker who is another ex BC player who was 3rd in the domestic t20 runs scoring but more importantly by far our best boundary hitter (and long at that). The other factor that makes Conway our best batsman is his selflessness, he is the biggest "its all about the team" player going around, ahead of Kane.

Conway will be selected to tour Eng, Im 99.9% sure, Id say 100%, but it is Larsen and he knows how to lose NZ important cups by selecting the wrong people for the wrong format of cricket or just not selecting people at all. If Conway is not selected, it is a monumental balls up and I will be blaming not winning the ICC WTC on that decision and Larsen, "again". But I think even Larsen is aware of Conway's ability to win matches.

These are my Test and White Ball teams

Conway
Latham
Williamson C
Taylor
Nicholls
Watling K
Mitchell
KJamiesion
Southee
Wagner
Boult

T20i

Allen
Conway
Guptill
Munro
Taylor
Phillips K
Mitchell
Jamieson
Southee C
Sodhi/Fergusson (Pitch dependant, in Ind then Sodhi, elsewhere Lockie)
Boult

Fantastic by the NZ women to stop the continual hammering by Aus, could have won the 1st T20 but Gardner got lucky, dropped twice, and it was her scoring big in a few overs that turned it for Aus, scorecard looked easy, but the reality was very different. Then to square it up one the last ball with a bit of luck was payback, rained out 3rd match, I think was fitting, a drawn series.

BUT now the ODIs start. Aus have a much deeper and better batting lineup, NZ have a very strong bowling outfit, the pick of the bunch for me is Jess Kerr who is getting more swing than the men at the moment. 1st ODI 11am tomorrow. Can't wait.

TeaLeaf

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#2685981 3-Apr-2021 12:41

Handle9:

Jamieson will learn a lot, especially as he has recently started to have his first bits of adversity. Every player goes through this the good ones are the ones who are able to adjust and keep rolling. It's a bit of a shame that he will have a ton of pressure on him because of his salary but at least that means he'll play a lot.

Yep. KJ copping a LOT of flack from Aussie punters on the internet and how his IPL team will be poopn themselves. Typical KBW stuff over a player they don't know much about or respect and is new, and clearly a touch of jealousy.

IMO he came back brilliantly in the ODIs with a very low run rate.

He stated his intention is to become the world #1 Test AR, he then went on to state he wants to do this by proving himself in the sub continent. Personally I dont see why he won't be successful in Tests there. He has the most control of his swing, but unfortunately due to his supreme wicket taking with that out wide of the crease and terribly high out of line of sight in swing yorker, he has dropped his outswing somewhat, which is a shame because he had beautiful shape on both. His other money ball is the bouncer off a good length, which destroyed Ind in his first test and broke a few fingers, its a frightening delivery at low 140s to have just below chest high off a good length when a player is on the front foot. I hope his come back in the ODIs has taught him how to deal with the T20s a bit. Every player gets taken too now and then as well, one bad series doesnt make him a bad t20 player. And thats not forgetting how good he is with the bat, fantastic technique and when he does hit a 6, its usually 90m+, he is a bit like Guptill. I think he will go well. In the tests hes averaging 8 against left handers, that is the key, currently averaging 13 overall from memory, 50 with the bat, but that will drop to low 40s high 30s. In 6 test matches he is #6 AR, it is completely possible he could over take #1 AR Jason Holder, within 9 tests, by conclusion of the WTC. Especially given he will be using the Duke, which I cant wait to see that booming in swinging yorker with the Duke.

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#2685982 3-Apr-2021 12:45

TeaLeaf:
tdgeek:

I said "IMHO he is NZ's best batsman by a margin. Kane close second."

Im standing by tdgeek on this one, in sentiment.

Whilst I can't say Conway is NZ's best batsman in Tests just yet, he is easily NZs best batsman in international white ball and 1st class cricket, and imo will over take Kholi as the best batsman in all 3 formats of the game, in fact he just jetted into the ICC top 10 T20i overtaking Kholi to #4 in the world, within 14 matches.

IMO he is a no brainer to be selected to either open or replace Nicholls in the Eng tour and then the WTC in Test Cricket.

Id go with having him opening, hes plenty good enough to, plus NZ will not be bogged down in the scoring putting all the opening pressure on Latham. The only reason I would not drop Nicholls, who was dropped into form himself with 6 dropped catches in his ~140 vs WI just when his spot was on the line, then twice in the following test, is because Nicholls is less of any issue than a solid opener to pair with Latham. Don't get me wrong, Blundell is a good #6/7 keeper, but he should not be in the team when we have much better options. It also gives the team a solid Wicket Keeping option once Watling retires. Once Taylor retires I expect Conway to move to #4 and GP to Keep for NZ at #6. We have a lot of options forming for another opener but at this stage I expect Will Young will either open once that occurs or will replace Nicholls once Nicholls real form becomes clearer to a very "old guard" selector in Larsen who needs things to cost NZ world cups etc before he take notice.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/newzealand/content/player/379140.html

We have few players with his 1st class experience and average, his t20i avg of 60 is a reflection of his domestic prowess, but like all good players it is an improvement once stepping up to internationals (look at Marnus L's Test career vs 1st class etc) ODI's early days, AVG 75, I expect that to drop to high 50s in time.

Conway's statistics are one thing, but his play is another. He is a combination of Finch and the Big Show Maxwell, he has every shot in the book, but he doesnt try to be cute too often which is reflected in his average, he can play late like Williamson, so he has a very good idea, or he can play agreesively and in front like Taylor/Kholi. He knows how to weight and rebuild an innings which is one of his best features, but he also knows when to play back seat, which he did very well for Wellington this year letting Finn Allen set the world on fire, and once Allen was eventually out, Conway would take over, which makes them the future white ball openers for NZC imo. But Guptill's class shone through and rightly so he was selected. I don't know what NZ's beef is with Munro, but he was in the BBL All Stars team and should have been a no brainer selection for NZ T20i's, at bare minimum to see where he was at. But similarly Larsen stuffed up not selecting George Worker who is another ex BC player who was 3rd in the domestic t20 runs scoring but more importantly by far our best boundary hitter (and long at that). The other factor that makes Conway our best batsman is his selflessness, he is the biggest "its all about the team" player going around, ahead of Kane.

Conway will be selected to tour Eng, Im 99.9% sure, Id say 100%, but it is Larsen and he knows how to lose NZ important cups by selecting the wrong people for the wrong format of cricket or just not selecting people at all. If Conway is not selected, it is a monumental balls up and I will be blaming not winning the ICC WTC on that decision and Larsen, "again". But I think even Larsen is aware of Conway's ability to win matches.

These are my Test and White Ball teams

Conway
Latham
Williamson C
Taylor
Nicholls
Watling K
Mitchell
KJamiesion
Southee
Wagner
Boult

T20i

Allen
Conway
Guptill
Munro
Taylor
Phillips K
Mitchell
Jamieson
Southee C
Sodhi/Fergusson (Pitch dependant, in Ind then Sodhi, elsewhere Lockie)
Boult

Fantastic by the NZ women to stop the continual hammering by Aus, could have won the 1st T20 but Gardner got lucky, dropped twice, and it was her scoring big in a few overs that turned it for Aus, scorecard looked easy, but the reality was very different. Then to square it up one the last ball with a bit of luck was payback, rained out 3rd match, I think was fitting, a drawn series.

BUT now the ODIs start. Aus have a much deeper and better batting lineup, NZ have a very strong bowling outfit, the pick of the bunch for me is Jess Kerr who is getting more swing than the men at the moment. 1st ODI 11am tomorrow. Can't wait.

I agree that should be the test team playing in the final.

For the T20 World Cup in India this is who I would select
1. Allen
2. Conway (wk)
3. Williamson
4. Munro
5. Philips
6. Mitchell
7. Neesham
8. Santner
9. Southee
10. Sodhi
11. Boult

If Jamieson finds form in the IPL then I will add him to the team but I have no clue who he should replace. I would also add Milne and Ferguson to the side as well depending on the conditions. If the conditions are more likely to be spin friendly then this is the team I would expect to play all the matches.

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#2686071 3-Apr-2021 16:22

Isn't being able to catch the ball an important skill for a keeper?

Conway drops 50% of the balls that go through to the keeper off spin. He's really quite bad as a keeper.

TeaLeaf

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#2686083 3-Apr-2021 17:46

Dochart:

If Jamieson finds form in the IPL then I will add him to the team but I have no clue who he should replace. I would also add Milne and Ferguson to the side as well depending on the conditions. If the conditions are more likely to be spin friendly then this is the team I would expect to play all the matches.

Yeah I meant to add that haha, I was going on his form in the IPL and pre WC.

Hes NZ's best AR, but hard to drop Mitchell given him basically carrying Canterbury to the t20 final at #3. NZ has 2 quite capable spin bowlers in Phillips and Williamson, imo if Williamson has to be in the team, he has to bowl and he must not be captain. Phillips if hes Keeper, then he cant bowl, which leaves Conway keeping. Both are very capable keepers, Conway caught some insane catches without the gloves in a number of games. He is more than capable with the gloves but the guy needs to be given them consistently like any keeper. This is part of NZs problem with keepers.

This is how well Lockie did in t20i's this year 15 overs, 10 wickets at 9.4, ER 6.3, Sodhi 38 overs, 26 wickets at 15.45, ER 8.1

They are buy far our 2 strike bowlers in white ball. Sodhi was the international bowler (all countries) white ball this southern hemisphere season, next best was the Indian chap (name alludes my brain fog right now) with 22w.

Will Williamson if selected as captain be a plonker and select silly Santner who is suppose to be an all rounder but cant avg above 30 with bat or below 30 with ball in tests. He is dead weight and if selected in any format an instant weakness. NZ now has so many good players he is not needed. We could select a 2nd 11 now and be in the top 5 in the world imo.

Handle9

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#2686084 3-Apr-2021 18:07

Yeah the guy who was the third highest wicket taker at the past T20 world cup is a weakness.

Sodhi averages 48 in tests. He must be even worse than Santner - unless test stats are irrelevant in white ball cricket.

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tdgeek

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#2686085 3-Apr-2021 18:25

TeaLeaf:

Yeah I meant to add that haha, I was going on his form in the IPL and pre WC.

Hes NZ's best AR, but hard to drop Mitchell given him basically carrying Canterbury to the t20 final at #3. NZ has 2 quite capable spin bowlers in Phillips and Williamson, imo if Williamson has to be in the team, he has to bowl and he must not be captain. Phillips if hes Keeper, then he cant bowl, which leaves Conway keeping. Both are very capable keepers, Conway caught some insane catches without the gloves in a number of games. He is more than capable with the gloves but the guy needs to be given them consistently like any keeper. This is part of NZs problem with keepers.

This is how well Lockie did in t20i's this year 15 overs, 10 wickets at 9.4, ER 6.3, Sodhi 38 overs, 26 wickets at 15.45, ER 8.1

They are buy far our 2 strike bowlers in white ball. Sodhi was the international bowler (all countries) white ball this southern hemisphere season, next best was the Indian chap (name alludes my brain fog right now) with 22w.

Will Williamson if selected as captain be a plonker and select silly Santner who is suppose to be an all rounder but cant avg above 30 with bat or below 30 with ball in tests. He is dead weight and if selected in any format an instant weakness. NZ now has so many good players he is not needed. We could select a 2nd 11 now and be in the top 5 in the world imo.

Mitchell, yes he has grown.

Wlliamson is NOT a spin bowler or any type of bowler. Not even close. Why does he get wickets? He is a useless bowler so lets go hard and the batsmen make mistakes. Its just a strategy.

Is Phiips a grand bowler? If so, he can keep and bowl

Silly Santner? He can bowl, he can bat. Sodhi is the same, but they bowl different, thats a positive.

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#2686179 3-Apr-2021 23:22

What is Santners averages? Yes he got some wickets, because he keeps being slected, doesnt make him worth the selection now. NZ is in a strong place with many batsmen of high calibre. The team doesnt need a mediocre all rounder still. Select batsmen to 7, with KJ being the last all rounder and pick 4 bowlers who are highly efficient wicket takers, 2 part timers, GP one of them, ARs one a batting AR, KJ a batting AR who bowls well, then 3 wickets takers. The teams are overflowing with talent now, there is no room for mediocrity. That time has past, NZ has young bowlers and batsmen following through at the 18-21yo level.

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#2686182 4-Apr-2021 01:07

Lol. They have played basically the same number of T20s, 52 Vs 57 so their stats are directly comparable. With 50+ matches there is a more than adequate sample size.

Santner and Sodhi have virtually identical T20 bowling records. Sodhi has a strike rate of 16, Santner of 17. Santner has an economy rate half a run better than Sodhi and they have basically the same averages, Santners is slightly better. They are statistically the same as bowlers but Santner can open the bowling.

Santner's got a batting strike rate 20 points higher and an average a few runs higher. He's also a much better fielder who gets put in much higher leverage fielding positions compared to Sodhi who moves like a tug boat. Santner has 50% more catches compared to Sodhi.

Sodhi is currently ranked 8th, Santner is ranked 10th in the T20 bowling rankings. They are both very very good T20 players who are functionally identical bowlers and Santner is better in every other facet.

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#2686205 4-Apr-2021 08:10

I agree re Santner and Sodhi being kept. They produce, and that they spin the ball differently is a big deal if they played in the same game.

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#2686319 4-Apr-2021 15:21

tdgeek:

They produce, and that they spin the ball differently is a big deal if they played in the same game.

That is the key point, along with form.

But it is good everybody has an opinion, thats what democracy is all about :-).

This is a prime example why you do not use Stats to make selections. We can all go to cricinfo and see the stats, "google is your friend" sigh.

Sodhi being the top international t20 bowler in the southern hemisphere season (including all teams). That along with Sodhi has variety with 4 deliveries, the Wrongin being his number 1 wicket taking delivery. He doesnt bowl his leggy often, even though he gets enormous purchase with it, it is more a Test delivery, t20s it goes for runs, Zampa for Aus is very similar to Sodhi and has similar issues.

I have no doubt Astle is still in the mind of the selector.

I also don't know where people get this Kane Williamson can't bowl rubbish from. He was used by Mccullum a lot as an extra bowler, in fact he is a better test bowler than Santner. IMO the NZ team has plenty enough batsmen to not warrant Kane being selected, however he will be, but imo if you are going to select him, it makes no sense not to use him like a Santner, but with a much better batting capability. He does leak 1rpo more, but you arent using him for 4 overs, it would be change up depending on who of the part timers is going well. That way you can have an extra full time batsman in place of Santner as one of the all rounders. This was the problem for NZ when they field 4 all rounders, the batting depth was piss weak. Batting is the key to t20s, if you are going to have a bowler, they have to be a wicket taker and have the ability if possible to smack sixes, ie Southee and Boult, Fergusson can. Then you have KJ who definitely can. Which leaves either playing a spinner or another all rounder ie Mitchell or Santner. It will be totally pitch dependent. If its turning a lot go with Sodhi, if its benign go with either Mitchell or Santner, but not both. Then we have batting depth to #8 and a few bowlers at the tail who can tonk it.

In the t20 WC its going to be pitch dependent essentially. I think Sodhi, Santner, Mitchell will be in the squad, unless Neesham performs insanely well in the IPL. Im supporting the RCB franchise this year as it has Finn Allen and Jamieson in the team along with Maxwell and Kholi and a number of other quality players. Under dogs yes. Even their first match win Viz has them at 41%.

Wow the white Ferns were on their way to 250+ against aus with only 2 down and two players full in command. Out of nowhere the Third Ump (safa I think, or NZ Safa), calls white looked easily in, OUT. It was clearly in live and the 24fps, has 1 frame bat is out but bails still on, next frame bat is in bails are off. And the onfield had it not out. Controversy in the Womans game. So NZ stumbled to 212 with a major collapse after Katy Martin through her wicket away trying to run the in form batsman out, from there it was all down hill. A real shame as 250-260 would have been tough for the Aussie ladies. After a drawn t20 series, I wasnt expecting, but hoping, for a tight ODI series. Great to see the players I supported and enjoyed watching in the domestic season in the NZ squad and going well. J Kerr, wow, she gets soooo much swing. NZ lack the 125kph of Aus though, with 118kph being NZs quicks.

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#2686320 4-Apr-2021 15:21

tdgeek:

They produce, and that they spin the ball differently is a big deal if they played in the same game.

Handle9

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#2686322 4-Apr-2021 15:28

Funny. Use stats that aren't relevant (test stats) when it suits your narrative. Ignore stats from T20s when it doesn't. Still banging the same drum from 5 years ago.

Santer and Sodhi will probably play every game in the world cup.

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#2686323 4-Apr-2021 15:32

Handle9: Funny. Use stats that aren't relevant (test stats) when it suits your narrative. Ignore stats from T20s when it doesn't. Still banging the same drum from 5 years ago.

Santer and Sodhi will probably play every game in the world cup.

Agree, in the T20 game I will always pick Santner and Sodhi in the playing 11.

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#2695731 21-Apr-2021 09:04

So Jamieson came back well in the RCB/KKR game finished 40/3, in what was a 10rpo chase (the team I predicted to win the comp but most call them chokers, rightly so). KJ is really RCBs strike bowler, they have a number of good containing bowlers who put the pressure on so the spinners like Patel can take some wickets and KJ strikes early but the nature of bowling early is you get taken for runs, so be it.

Hes averaging 19 so far. He really needs to stop trying to bowl top of off stump. There is zero respect for bowling accuracy in t20 and players will slog you off their stumps over the fence. Even more so with Jamiesons height on a good length the ball sits up perfectly for a cow corner slog.

So he needs to put away his Test bowling.

Just use the booming in swinger from 9ft high, his shock delivery is the chest high bouncer off a good length (broken a few fingers with that one) and the rest he needs to be bowling wide yorkers to a stacked offside field, with the occasional genuine yorker. He has probably the most control and accuracy, so he needs to use that but not in a genuine sense.

Boult is going pretty good too with his wicket taking.

Yet to see RCB use Finn Allen, they using 2 domestic players at 2 and 3 with Kholi opening. Id put Finn Allen in with Kholi and keep the other opener at 3, the Maxwell 4, Faf Du Plesis at 5, Jamieson at 6.

Maxi and FDP saved a major collapse for RCB and went on to score 206 from memory. Jamieson has chimed in with a 6, a 4, then hit a single to put Faf on strike who scored 72 off about 37

DC are having a good run, chasing down and scoring 198 in 18.3 overs, but last nights game was closer vs MI, who only scored 137 and it looked all over early, but DC timed it well and won it in the 20th over, with only 4 wickets down.

DC would be my wild card in the IPL.

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