General Blackcaps Chat

Forums › Sports › General Blackcaps Chat

1 | ... | 153 | 154 | 155 | 156 | 157 | 158 | 159 | 160 | 161 | 162 | 163 | ... | 255

804 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2846221 10-Jan-2022 15:38

Jas777:
Dochart: The intent was good from Blundell today. I hope to see more contributions of his lower order batting in the future. Who knows maybe today was a one off but I wouldn’t be worried for Blundell yet.

Nicholls on the other hand as had too many chances to perform. I would like to see him replaced by either GP, Cleaver or Chapman. We need a number 5 to perform consistently at home but also away. GP or Chapman could be a good option at No 5 as they have experience playing outside NZ.

Chapman is not test level. Cleaver would need to be wicketkeeper as not good enough as batsman only.

If Nicholls had a sustained period in domestic cricket he will put up the same numbers as those who are being called to replace him. Seen it before so many times

These are Mark Chapman First Class stats from the last 3 seasons:

2018-2019:
Matches: 4, Runs: 270, Average 54, 100’s: 1, 50’s: 1

2019-2020:
Matches: 5, Runs: 546, Average 68.25, 100’s: 3, 50’s: 1

2020-21:
Matches: 6, Runs: 424, Average 47.11, 100’s: 0, 50’s: 4

He hasn’t got any Plunket Shield stats for Auckland this season due to Covid but if you look at the 2019-2020 stats that’s really good. I believe he can play tests for NZ in the future. Right now he averages around 42.30 and think he should be considered for tests with these stats.

https://archive.nzc.nz/Players/158/158022/f_Batting_by_Season.html

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#2846248 10-Jan-2022 16:17

Interesting Latham bowling KJ into the breeze. Being the quickest in the team, Id have had him replace Boult not Southee. Might change them around, but you want KJs effort ball mid 140s not mid 130s.

Anyway, NZ going OK so far... ;-p

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#2846377 10-Jan-2022 19:07

Top marks to Tom Latham, first test was a blip, a flat tyre, an engine misfire

This test Tom has gone hard at everything, more like Mccullum use to. And so have his bowlers. Blundell didnt drop a catch, nor did the fielders, Wagner only stepped the line once and luckily not an LBW and Umpire didnt miss the worst howler Ive seen in a long time. Which has meant for the most part, Bangers havnt been able to score runs in between NZ WTC's firing on 3 cylinders missing easy wickets like the first test. Much more like the NZ team at home that we love and know.

The only gripe I can have (aside from Nicholls) would be a period after the 5th wicket Tom changed the field to a standard one, 2 and 1 slip and gully. Fairly defensive when you are 450 runs ahead. But that changed once that partnership was broken. Hopefully a learning lesson for him that you do have the most offensive fielding set when you have 5 down for 60 odd and 460 lead, you dont take the foot off the throw.

Intent. They lacked in India especially 2nd test and the first test back at home. Hopefully the first test was kick up the butt we needed to get back on track for home matches. Im still concerned about NZ 5, 6, 7. Not sure what the answer is. I do agree Nicholls will go back and score similar in FC, but we have a plethora of batsmen with similar FC stats who imo have more intent to score from the get go and good players tend to avg 5 or more at test level ie FC40 Test45+. Nicholls also has a seriously bad away average. Im sure if he fails at home in time other players will get their chance. Mitchell also isnt the only Batsman bowler with GP, Chapman and Rachin all scoring good runs in FC and obviously Cleaver (or possibly Fletcher) looking like they should make the team on batting alone avg'n around 42 let alone as WK where Blundell avg 32 FC. So we have options should things go pear shaped with either the 5, 6 or WK and even Larsen and NZC eventually do drop players failing to perform. The acid test for me will be SA, especially after they just beat Ind. And then clearly away in Eng etc.

NZ should not enforce the follow on and let Ross open and put another 100 on the board haha.

Would be sensational if they can rip through the 2nd innings by lunch. That would be 20 wickets in approx 70 overs.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#2846601 11-Jan-2022 10:58

NZ to finish Bang off within 35 overs if they get the top 3 quick (an hour after lunch). Unless Bang can frustrate NZ away from the zones like they did for a brief period yesterday arvo with the Yasir partnership, that was the period Tom went to a normal test field from an offensive one which was terrible 450 in front 6 wickets down.

Unless they do give Rosco a wee little play with the bat for the sake of it, nah I think he got his send off yesterday.

Edit: Give him an over, hes got 2 test wickets with 2 overs :-) 2-4

Edit: NZ bowling well here but the openers have only played at a couple they should have left, which is the art of batting. If they keep this up I want to see if it puts the NZ bowlers of their line/length and Tom back to pulling players out of the slips, which will be a mistake with 3 days to play.

Jas777

838 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2846659 11-Jan-2022 11:23

Dochart:

These are Mark Chapman First Class stats from the last 3 seasons:

2018-2019:
Matches: 4, Runs: 270, Average 54, 100’s: 1, 50’s: 1

2019-2020:
Matches: 5, Runs: 546, Average 68.25, 100’s: 3, 50’s: 1

2020-21:
Matches: 6, Runs: 424, Average 47.11, 100’s: 0, 50’s: 4

He hasn’t got any Plunket Shield stats for Auckland this season due to Covid but if you look at the 2019-2020 stats that’s really good. I believe he can play tests for NZ in the future. Right now he averages around 42.30 and think he should be considered for tests with these stats.

https://archive.nzc.nz/Players/158/158022/f_Batting_by_Season.html

Good stats but same as a few FC cricketers. Does he have any NZ A 4 day game stats?

How a player does in that is a better indicator but alas we not having any this year.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#2846689 11-Jan-2022 12:17

I think what we are missing in this team, is a batsman in the middle who can be an aggressor or who can be a rock and still score instead if needed. That is why for me GP should be given more tests at 5 or 6 (as Bat who can bowl a bit). He also offers some variety of spin.

Blundell needs to bat like he did yesterday every time, but he wont, hes a tinkler and having wickets falling around him he doesnt have the fortitude to be the rock to stop the rot that Watling was, which is ok, if we have that in Nicholls or at 6. But we dont. For me Nicholls has been carried by a great team and largely Taylor and Watling, imo he wouldnt be in the team without strong players around him. If our middle continues to fail, there will be changes, eventually. NZ selections often arent around the context of the team make up imo or how they perform overseas.

Of our top FC batsmen who are playing county cricket as well? (outside GP)

Back to the game. I was going to comment KJ just didnt look like the 7fa yesterday when bowling from the other end. He looks much better today.

Edit: Oh dear, now Mitchell tries to take a speccy diving across Tom Latham instead of just leaving an easier catch for Latham off that bounce that moves across the left hander from KJ. Eeeeek. Unlikely that will save Bang but after the first test, that was not good to see. And now Wagner another no ball, stop it Wags.

Dochart

804 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2846694 11-Jan-2022 12:34

Jas777:
Dochart:

These are Mark Chapman First Class stats from the last 3 seasons:

2018-2019:
Matches: 4, Runs: 270, Average 54, 100’s: 1, 50’s: 1

2019-2020:
Matches: 5, Runs: 546, Average 68.25, 100’s: 3, 50’s: 1

2020-21:
Matches: 6, Runs: 424, Average 47.11, 100’s: 0, 50’s: 4

He hasn’t got any Plunket Shield stats for Auckland this season due to Covid but if you look at the 2019-2020 stats that’s really good. I believe he can play tests for NZ in the future. Right now he averages around 42.30 and think he should be considered for tests with these stats.

https://archive.nzc.nz/Players/158/158022/f_Batting_by_Season.html

Good stats but same as a few FC cricketers. Does he have any NZ A 4 day game stats?

How a player does in that is a better indicator but alas we not having any this year.

Hasn’t played NZ A yet.

Nicholls First Class stats:
https://archive.nzc.nz/Players/921/921040/f_Batting_by_Season.html

Equinox IT

Cloud spending continues to surge globally, but most organisations haven’t made the changes necessary to maximise the value and cost-efficiency benefits of their cloud investments. Download the whitepaper From Overspend to Advantage now.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#2846735 11-Jan-2022 14:24

Bangers doing well, more of what they did in the first test, scoring runs while NZ make blunders with taking wickets, and not going into their shell.

Im not sure how Nicholls will play out, but again for me its just that book end he doesnt have now in not only Watling but now Taylor, which can be a relationship thing as much as a batsman partner.

Large enough sample size to say he cant perform abroad even with the excellent partners either side of him.

Normally you pick your top 6 batsmen, ideally one of them can bowl a bit (part timer), your best WK batsman, top 4 bowlers ideally one who can bat a bit (all rounder).

The question is, how do we make room for youth in the team. Mitchell so far has had a good start but hes in his 30s, GP is a more aggressive batsman with similar figures and bowls spin which gives options and hes 25yo, then you have Rachin who is very young and no doubt will get another go. Im sure Im missing many.

Also I dont feel Blundell is our bst WK batsman. He has some issues with being an inside catcher rather than a traditional keeper and clearly he struggles with the bat as hes a nurdler (but looks good when he is looking to score rather than nurdle)

I dont have the answers, but if it doesnt get resolved, NZ will not perform close to prior with Watling there, even with Conway and Young. We need a solid middle again, many times they have been the 200 runs that make the 500 type scores for NZ in recent years. Ind and the 1st test here showed them up.

Its good people are talking about it though and our youth succession plans, no doubt as NZC will be asking the same questions.

Edit: Speccy from Latham, diving to 3rd slip showing Mitchell you only do it when there isnt another slipper there haha.

Edit: Jamo could easily have 4 today, that one wasnt a chance but great delivery to get the edge. He looks so good across the lefties on this pitch.

tdgeek

29740 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2846737 11-Jan-2022 14:30

Agree with a lot of that. Its always been the same , ebbs and flows. We can clap when most of them fire but most of the time they dont, its quite erratic. Id like to see a mini form of rotation. Well, not really rotation as such, but we need to seek out young potential top players and give them a shot. The Australia B team in the past would have beaten some other countries A team. Everyone apart from obvious stars had to work hard to get a place in any series. Those on the fringes who were good but not great had to make themselves very good or they slide down the pecking order

We need to play the best players not the traditional players. If your pretty good and you can't get a place, get better. Its not an old boys club

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#2846744 11-Jan-2022 14:49

I think another trick Tom is missing here is not bowling Mitchell, who is a pretty handy bowler at FC avg 30 and its his home ground, but more importantly to save some of the legs for when the new ball is taken about 45 minutes before stumps. Just to give shorter sharper spells.

Hes been much better this test than the 1st though. A lot of key decisions in 1st test contributed to the loss, cant put Kanes head in his but we do need him to start improving as a captain for when Kane isnt in the team at times.

Edit: Another close one for Tom to 3rd slip, he had a 3rd in there for Tim. I guess hes got them on side for the bouncer.

One thing NZ can learn from Bang and I hope they do, even when you are losing wickets and or having edging one every 2nd over, dont stop scoring runs, always look to score even when the game looks gone.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#2846805 11-Jan-2022 16:30

Can NZ be docked point for run rate, if they finish within the match within 5 days?

Blundell down to Avg 28 with the bat, the 54no should pop that back up to 30 depending on his next score but by end of summer. I just dont think his keeping is exceptional enough to carry his batting.

Do we have any young keepers coming through that show promise with the bat?

Cam Fletcher was in the runs the last few seasons in plunket shield, has a better FC avg and is only 28yo currently (soon to be 29 vs soon to be 32). He was mentioned by Katy Martin when they were discussing the dilemma but was almost hushed in the sense its too early.

Hard to believe Blundell was only bought in as a temporary fix to Will Young getting injured as an opener, and ends up cementing a spot and it feels like he will have to avg below 20 for the selectors to replace him. Of course by the nature of keepers batting down the order they avg less, but hes only just turned WK. I find it more of an issue than Nicholls personally.

Cant just give people endless spots imo, its been a very lean patch for Blundell for a few years.

Will be interesting to see who plays the Netherlands.

Edit: And here it is again, Bangers in between chances and wickets not shutting up shop, putting pressure on NZ when really there shouldnt be, so NZ have reverted to all batting short stuff instead of putting it into the full zone. I feel that could be partly captaincy related though. Williamson Im sure would have pulled the bowlers up and told them what areas to bowl to and not change the field.

Shindig

1585 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#2846816 11-Jan-2022 17:02

The commentary on the Rova app, MagicFM is it? Brilliant.

Great when the internet at the bach is the base plan, spotty wifi and i'm sat outside! Kayo stream not so good and not worth trying to make it work.

Listening to the radio brings me back to childhood memories; listening to Radio5 live as we never had Sky.

The little things make the biggest difference.

Dochart

804 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2846818 11-Jan-2022 17:16

Nice to see Mitchell bowling and getting a wicket but should have bought him in much earlier. Need to treat Mitchell like an allrounder who is suppose to bowl and bat as well.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#2846839 11-Jan-2022 18:18

Told ya to bowl Ross earlier in the day to add to his 2 wickets.

Incredibly unselfish from Jamieson there, on a 5fa, with only the 10 and 11 to bowl to, I dont think Wagner would have given up the ball that easily.

Great final session bowling. KJ' avg should drop a bit again. Wagner just able to produce wickets on any pitch, really regret him not being picked when on tour of India and stand by that being stupidity, especially after the 1st test being clear Sommerville had not much on offer and in hind site of the 2nd, NZ needed a seamer who could take wickets on a flat track. Although Patel wouldnt have got a 10fa so meh.

Thanks R Taylor, brilliant and arguably NZs best batsman of all time (currently). NZ Test team are going to miss him badly imo.

Well that almost corrects the ship, but need to take SA 3-0 and then win both away series to be in the mix for the next WTC. One step at a time.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#2849760 13-Jan-2022 11:44

KJ now #3 bowler and #7 All rounder ICC Test Ranking!!!

ICC - Test Match Player Rankings (icc-cricket.com)

Again was incredibly unselfish of him to not demand the ball for his 5fa with only #10 and #11 to bowl to, would have been his 6th in 12 tests, thats insane stats. Not many other bowlers would have been so congratulatory to Rosco to bowl that last wicket. Just shows the class of the guy. Surely at this rate he will beat both Hadlee and Wagner to 100 tests.

I think Neil Wagner would still be in the top 5 had he been bowled in the Ind series, even just the final test. Clearly Ajaz would unlikely have taken all 10 wickets in a losing team had we another bowler who can produce wickets on flat tracks like Wags can. He has steadily dropped down the rankings. He would have been out of the top 10 if it werent for the Bangers series Id think, so he should start climbing back up after SA series.

Bowling flat tracks something KJ will need to work on. I feel like KJ became scatter gun in the Ind 2nd test after things didnt happen in first 2 spells. That use to be his problem in FC. Conversely he has bowled too consistently in t20, needs to only bowl wide yorkers, the in swing yorker and only occasionally that steeping bouncer in t20s, drop the Test cricket bowling.

SA are not going to be a push over, after winning the last test vs Ind, they are very much in this 2nd one with Ind 59/2 in the 2nd innings. Should be a good test after the hiccup vs Bang 1st test to see where NZ are at after the long tour and covid bubbles and emotion of the WTC and T20WC final, clearly also where they are at without Ross but more importantly the strength in the middle order Watling added. We need somebody in 5, 6, 7 to become consistent or we will lose the consistency of those big 1st innings scores we were getting with Watling anchoring the ship and forming many match winning partnerships and world record partnerships.

1 | ... | 153 | 154 | 155 | 156 | 157 | 158 | 159 | 160 | 161 | 162 | 163 | ... | 255