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804 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2851175 15-Jan-2022 16:53

Mitchell is definitely the right man for No 6 in the Test team. I rate his batting highly. It’s No 5 and 7 that we should be focusing on. GP/Chapman at No 5 who can also bowl spin and Cleaver at No 7 but I wouldn’t replace Blundell just yet. I will give Blundell another chance for the SA tests at home

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#2851184 15-Jan-2022 17:31

Dochart: Mitchell is definitely the right man for No 6 in the Test team. I rate his batting highly. It’s No 5 and 7 that we should be focusing on. GP/Chapman at No 5 who can also bowl spin and Cleaver at No 7 but I wouldn’t replace Blundell just yet. I will give Blundell another chance for the SA tests at home

Chapman doesnt have the same long game focus that GP has had, both playing Country cricket and being selected for a Test already. He is an odd character. Skilled beyond possbly what the selectors think. But for me GP is first cab off the rank given he has been with the team touring and has played a test with some sucess and he is a good off spinner and he is lightning fast in the field, strong arm, and he is a jonty rhodes catching, takes some absolute blinders does GP. Hes also consistent, which is the main thing we need.

You could pick Dane Cleaver just to play #5 and Cam Fletcher to replace Blunders at #7.

Mitchell so far looks the goods, but will give him 10 tests then judge him.

But you know NZ cricket will not replace Nicholls or Blunders before SA test, or maybe even after even if we fail. They do not reward domestic form but demand that anybody in selection has to play in it, absurd.

SA are going to be hard to beat, I think people do not realise they have found some key players suddenly. Elgar has already jumped up the batting ranks. It will be close, if NZ wins the toss I back NZ to win against any team. But if NZ have to bat on what will be very green wickets at CCH then Welli and then back to CCH. Probably our two best test wickets with pace, bounce and very green. If NZ bat first and our top 4 all fail, we are screwed. I mean if we could get to 300 from say 100-4, Id be happy, but with this flaky middle I cannot see who will score the bulk of 200 runs, where in the past you could rely on Watling to partner with the middle and tail to add 200 runs.

Auckland have been really sensible and are probably 60/40 from here where id say 15/85 earlier

Aus look like they will be all out around 300. Brilliant from where they were, thats exactly what NZ need to be able to do. Which they did against bangers with the top order firing, but on a green wicket, as good as that top 4 is, its very possibly they all get out for sub 10 runs on a very green wicket.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#2851192 15-Jan-2022 18:02

Wow, never seen this before.

Auck were 26-6

Ben Lister the #11 wins it with 1 ball left. Insane game. Brilliant.

Auck should have easily won that but gave Otago the game but they didnt take it, terrible from Otago.

Im not a Solia fan, but thats the kind of Innings we need from Blundell/NZ Test WK. 67NO. Brilliant.

Edit: Oh no, Rory Burns out for a duck again, run out, in ashes. 8 ducks in 22 innings. Good for NZ as we need to beat them 3-0 in Eng. Which i think we can.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#2851486 16-Jan-2022 16:03

Welli Firebirds, that was PATHETIC ! Bowled out in 18.3ov for 107

ND are going to crush that.

In all honesty, I have no idea why Rachin was selected for NZ. Especially over Glenn Phillips in the Ind series and then the Bay Oval test. Hes been a total flop both in FC, t20 and Test from his u19 promise. Get him playing County cricket and give him 3-4 years. Phillips has a better AVG in every format of the game and has international experience, Test experience, T20i, County cricket etc.

Watching Ravindra today for Welli was the last straw for me. Hes got a long way to progress to be world class.

And Blundell if he fails against SA, hes cooked. We have 3 keepers who are far superior batsman, Cleaver FC avg 42, Fletcher FC avg 37, Tim Seifert FC Avg 37 (has good T20i avg so should be t20 keeper). Then you have Blundell, FC avg 34 and Test avg of 31 (which is inflated from opening, has avgd 15 since being WK). Since the 100 at the MCG has gotten a few starts and whole lot of ducks and scores in the teens. This isnt acceptable when we have better keeper Blundell All Test Scores

Nicholls should now be under pressure again, if he fails vs SA the same as Blundell, his time is done. He cannot bat away, his AVG is largely made up of home scores (avg 25 away).

So for me you get Glenn Phillips in to replace either Nicholls or Mitchell depending on how Mitchell goes as a Batsman, so far is hard to tell as his avg of 42 is inflated by the 102no vs Pak.

We need our best keeper batsman, for me that is either Fletcher or Seifert. Fletcher has been in form as of recent in domestic FC, going well in the t20 to, so he is my pick, both are younger which is the key for me, continuity in our WK for a long period like we got from Watling.

Cleaver is good enough to be selected soley as a batsman to replace Nicholls.

So for me our 5,6, 7 should be

5. GP/Cleaver
6. GP/Mitchell
7. Fletcher

That gives us both youth and continuity and it gives our players who have in GPs case been consistent for a long period and in Fletchers case has been in form domestically, as has Cleaver.

I dont think we can afford to be non proactive in replacing drift wood, we need to be more like Australia who give people a shot and they turn up being irreplaceable, first Marnus in Eng he took a chance and became their 2nd best batsman, now you have both Head and Green who saved Aus in the first innings from all out sub 150. If NZ doesnt get a similar middle order we will not be as successful and we will not have continuity through age.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#2851556 16-Jan-2022 17:07

Eng resorting to Wagner tactics immediately to Head and it works, strangled by a bouncer down leg side, had catches all around the bat and nobody on the offside. Great analysis and implementation by Root, Head got one and hit it to shot leg and immediately went with Wagner styles and Head is goooone. Aus effectively 174-5 now, they need Green or Smith out to open that tail.

Edit: And there it is, commentators calling it the NZ or Wagner tactic, Smith falls for it, Hooks one down the boundary mans throat. England are in this test. Anything 200 and under and I think they could win, anything 250 and over Id have to say unlikely given they havnt scored 300 this series.

Aus 6-63

Edit: WOW Woakes bowls a no ball and Carey is given not out. Should have been 7 down and into the tail. Unlike in NZ, the rule is benefit of the doubt goes tot he bowler, so in Wagners case first test it would have been given out (and potentially NZ would not have lost the test). Was looking exciting because they were into the tail and could have had a good chance to win this test. NZ need Eng to win this one as Aus get all 5 tests at home as part of the WTC. So far 3 wins and a draw. NZ have 1 win, 1 draw and 2 losses. If NZ beat SA 3-0 (dreaming) that will mean NZ would be closer to Aus if Eng win this one. A lot on the line. This WTC really has changed the importance of test wins and the amount of test results since it was introduced shows what a difference it has made.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#2851571 16-Jan-2022 18:14

Interesting Steve Smith has dropped from avg near 65 since Wagner owned him with the short ball hooking, hes gotten out a number of times including Eng using it now and hes averaged 36 since, his overall Avg has dropped to just over 60. If it continues, and Kane keeps averaging 65 like he has for 7 years now, the 2 will meet and Kane could become the greatest batsman since Bradman (which of course has to be taken with a HUGE grain of salt).

NZ had bad luck the first test vs Bangers with edges not carrying or splitting them, commentators reckon Aus have scored 34 this innings, 160 in both innings through the slips. Currently 107. Eeeek. But Eng bowling unbelievably well. Just need to take the next chance.

Dochart

804 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2851575 16-Jan-2022 18:20

The ODI series in Aus they will be selecting different people as the tests vs SA are too close.

This is who I want in the team if they are all fit:
1. Guptill
2. Worker
3. Chapman
4. Philips
5. Allen (wk)
6. Neesham/De Grandhomme
7. Santner/Astle
8. Duffy
9. Sears
10. Henry
11. Ferguson

I do hope they play Duffy, Sears, Ferguson and Henry in the same game.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#2851581 16-Jan-2022 18:31

Dochart: The ODI series in Aus they will be selecting different people as the tests vs SA are too close.

No doubt. Thats a good squad. Would be nice to fit Munro and Milne in there.

And Broad has the 7th, Eng are still in this. 50 runs for that 7th wicket, felt like 10 close calls during it. Eng need a sub 250 score and somebody like Joe Root to stand up.

Dochart

804 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2851583 16-Jan-2022 18:34

TeaLeaf:
Dochart: The ODI series in Aus they will be selecting different people as the tests vs SA are too close.

No doubt. Thats a good squad. Would be nice to fit Munro and Milne in there.

And Broad has the 7th, Eng are still in this. 50 runs for that 7th wicket, felt like 10 close calls during it. Eng need a sub 250 score and somebody like Joe Root to stand up.

Oh man I completely forgot about Munro and Milne. Milne should definitely come in but I don’t know who they should replace between Sears and Duffy. I think Milne comes in then Duffy out.

Munro could definitely come in as well cause rumours are that Guptill might not be fit for the Aus series. If Guptill is not fit then I would move Allen to opening with Worker and slot Munro at No 5.

I think Ross is going to Aus with them so he will be definitely batting at No 4 if that’s the case. So probably move Philips down to 5.

Dochart

804 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2851586 16-Jan-2022 18:42

If NZ pick this squad for the tour to Aus this would be a solid squad. This is effectively a NZ A squad minus the likes of Guptill, Phillips, Taylor, Henry, Ferguson and Milne. I hope this team does well in Aus.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#2851603 16-Jan-2022 19:22

Dochart: I think Milne comes in then Duffy out.

Munro could definitely come in as well cause rumours are that Guptill might not be fit for the Aus series.

Definitely Milne over Duffy. Duffy is a bit too much like Henry for me, they are ok FC bowlers but not world class. No x factor.

Fergusson, Milne, Sears, now thats a pace attack.

With Munro, it really will be a test of NZC and Larsen double standards out of pure desperation if Guppy is still injured, he should be in the team regardless.

Kholi relenquishes the captaincy of Ind. I think after his on field behaviour last test that is a sign it is time. His avg has kept slipping in the same period as Kanes has kept rising, since 2014.

He is an entertainer.

Ind need a captain who will pull the heads of like Ashwin in, he is way out of line far too often.

Dochart

804 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2851607 16-Jan-2022 19:30

I was shocked to hear Kohli stepping down as captain of the test team but it all makes sense. Probably thought that he needed to focus on his batting but also BCCI dropping him as ODI captain when he just wanted to stop being captain of T20 team was the last straw.

What’s shocking is seeing Rohit Sharma posting on his Instagram about Kohli stepping down as captain and congratulating him. Apparently the 2 of them have beef with each other.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#2851619 16-Jan-2022 19:51

Dochart: I was shocked to hear Kohli stepping down as captain of the test team but it all makes sense. Probably thought that he needed to focus on his batting but also BCCI dropping him as ODI captain when he just wanted to stop being captain of T20 team was the last straw.

Thing is he wants it his way and I dont think you can do that. Interesting to see how he goes now though.

for me will be interesting to see if Williamson will keep his average increasing or if the weak middle order which will cause more lost test matches, will cause him to become more stressed as captain which has taken its toll on most good batsmen.

Boland is a heck of a find for Aus, he is going to be hard to face. I think NZ need genuine pace in their test bowling. On nothing surfaces like the Ind 2nd test it cane be the difference. But who can you leave out, the only think you could do is take KJ as #6 as the bowling all rounder. For me Sears is NZ's future so far, you need a guy who isnt too big that he cannot give you 15ov minimum a day, but if he is the impact bowler then he would go well. He has come so far in a short period. But I wouldnt just yet. I think injury will be the decider. Given Southee doesnt bowl fast and Boult is high 130s and Wagner is so darn fit, KJ is still fairly young, is hard to see when Sears will fit in and when he does will he have lost his sincere shocking pace after his change ups.

Oh there we go, Carey finally out, Wood gave him 49 runs, much like what happened with Wagner and that no ball, in this instance it could cost Eng the test as well. Take 49 runs off and Eng would be on top, now nearing 270+ lead its looking unlikely.

Dochart

804 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2851623 16-Jan-2022 19:58

TeaLeaf:
Dochart: I was shocked to hear Kohli stepping down as captain of the test team but it all makes sense. Probably thought that he needed to focus on his batting but also BCCI dropping him as ODI captain when he just wanted to stop being captain of T20 team was the last straw.

Thing is he wants it his way and I dont think you can do that. Interesting to see how he goes now though.

for me will be interesting to see if Williamson will keep his average increasing or if the weak middle order which will cause more lost test matches, will cause him to become more stressed as captain which has taken its toll on most good batsmen.

If Williamson wants less stress as captain then he will need to replace the middle order whether thats Phillips, Mitchell and Cleaver or Cleaver, Mitchell and Blundell. I would give Blundell one more chance for SA series and if he doesn’t perform then I would drop him and Nicholls and go Phillips, Mitchell and Cleaver/Fletcher (wk)

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#2851680 16-Jan-2022 20:15

Dochart:

If Williamson wants less stress as captain then he will need to replace the middle order whether thats Phillips, Mitchell and Cleaver or Cleaver, Mitchell and Blundell. I would give Blundell one more chance for SA series and if he doesn’t perform then I would drop him and Nicholls and go Phillips, Mitchell and Cleaver/Fletcher (wk)

For me the most immediate important change is the WK as we need a book end like Watling, if they want a real decent replacement for runs id go Cleaver, who could give you 45 type avg at 6 and have Mitchell at 7 for a few more tests, Im not convinced on mitchell yet, have a look at his runs, his avg aside from the NO ton is no better than CDGH, who I wasnt a fan of either. Mitchell needs to produce 300 runs in the SA tests. If you go Phillips you dont need another pace bowler, NZ do not need a 5th bowler 9/10 times. Not with how many over Wags can do in a day. So has to be our best 6 batsmen and our best keeper batsman. So it is probably 6. Cleaver 7. Mitchell, the question is, if Nicholls isnt in our top 6 batsmen, who is aside from Cleaver?

Either way. NZ need to stack the batting, go with the extra batsman nearly always, not all rounders, genuine batsmen. But outside Phillips Im not sure who else has County cricket level play.

well Eng have a chance, but Eng should have had Aus out for 100 and in the first innings they had Aus gone if it wasnt for Head and somewhat Green. What NZ doent have, middle order at 5 onward that can save you from all out for 150 making a score than can be defended.

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