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6325 posts

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#2857165 27-Jan-2022 14:16

So for me I'd have gone below. Pace and off pace bowlers and a swing bowler, batting to 8, Fergy being an excellent slogger at 9. Sodhi can bat and Boult loves a 6 too.

1. Guptill
2. Allen
3. Conway
4. Munro
5. Phillips
6. Mitchell
8. Cleaver (WK)
9. Ferguson
10. Sodhi
11. Boult

Reserves:
12: Milne
13: Ben Sears
14: Latham (wk)
15: Chapman

TeaLeaf

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#2857201 27-Jan-2022 15:36

That was brutal from Cam Fletcher. Again these wicket keepers keep putting their hands up and blundell keeps putting his down. I dont care how different the format is, the basics just arent there. Again he missed a catch because he likes to stand far back and take the catch on the inside of his body, moved too late, but it fell short anyway, but it still illustrated to me he is not a great wicket keeper.

Cant believe Cant got that score. If Cam Fletcher had folded, or not even delivered an insane 50 off 19 balls etc, they had no chance. But I also felt it was bad captaincy not giving one of our top 3 white ball bowlers opening with the wind behind him. Sears ended up with no wickets. Seldom does that occur, but he was brought on when they were well under way. Extreme pace is costly but it takes wickets, use it when batsmen are new to the crease as a shock factor. That was part of the loss. Cam Fletcher just did the rest. Impressive.

TeaLeaf

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#2859322 31-Jan-2022 14:57

So many good games. I been caught up with the NBA and NFL, got my 49rs playing now, who if can win this have a good chance of winning the Super Bowl as the Chiefs choked and Bengals one.

Anyway, the WI/Eng 5th and decider t20i was a beauty. People thought WI went too slow in the middle, but reality is it was only 3 overs post the 4th wicket loss. They got it to par score of 180.

Went down to the final over with Eng just not able to cope with the brilliance of Holder who got a hat-trick, 1st for WI in a T20i.

The Scorchers and Munro claim another BBL. Colin had a rare fail but man hes been good this season. An article on Colin accepting the idiotic butt hurtness of NSC and Gavin Larsen. Honestly, if he has been in the WC squad, NZ likely would have won it, especially given he has faced the bowlers more than any other NZ'r in the team, durrr NZC. didnt think about that outcome much.
BBL 2021-22 - Colin Munro accepts international career probably over but questions remain (espncricinfo.com)
Its like they just don't think deeply about our lineups and what players could fill them and they definitely have double standards on this playing NZ domestic cricket only. Anyway a handy av39 @ sr133 this year, he was doing much better in first 3/4 of the season but was still posting rapid fire 20s, 30s etc. Finn Allen and Munro are two types of batsmen that if they come off, they essentially garuntee your team a win if they come off, outside somebody like Williamson coming in and blocking for 3 overs to stock of the situation lol. Either way, he should be in our next t20wc team, but wont be due to hypocrisy. 1. Allen, 2. Guppy, 3. Conway 4. Munro 5. Phillips 6. Cleaver 7. Mitchell, that is a consistent 200+ team. No more test player auto picks after what happened in the WC.

The SS was another big first Inn score, just too much to follow. Katene Clarke must have selectors eyes on him, hes been good for a couple of years no, another opener who just brute forces it ball one. Unlikely hero in Santner, credit where its due 92/62 (9x6s). Canterbury were hopeless, to be fair 220+ is beyond their capability.

NZ has sooooo many good batsmen at hitting sr200 ball one. I think that should follow through to the ODI team for some.

Feels like we have had almost no international cricket this year. Wondering if more NZ games will get canned. NZC have already changed the matches remaining where a series to be played in the same place to reduce travel.

tdgeek

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#2870113 17-Feb-2022 09:47

Didnt realise this test was on today, nice surprise. Might be quite a tough series, we are down Kane and Boult, and RSA is on the rise, beating India no less, with two top pacemen. Apparently if we lose the series we are out of the WTC?

Dochart

804 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2870121 17-Feb-2022 10:03

tdgeek:
Didnt realise this test was on today, nice surprise. Might be quite a tough series, we are down Kane and Boult, and RSA is on the rise, beating India no less, with two top pacemen. Apparently if we lose the series we are out of the WTC?

It’s a shame to lose Boult but remember they are playing in Christchurch so Henry should do well on this pitch since it’s home ground and playing 2 test matches at the same ground.

I expect the Canterbury guys in the squad such as Latham, Nicholls, Mitchell and Henry to do well in these 2 test matches.

On the news they were saying Nicholls was going to play at 4 with Mitchell coming in 5.

Possible Test XI for 1st Test match vs SA:
1. Latham
2. Young
3. Conway
4. Nicholls
5. Mitchell
6. Blundell (wk)
7. De Grandhomme
8. Jamieson
9. Southee
10. Henry
11. Wagner

Me personally I would have preferred an extra batter but Mitchell averages near 38 in FC which is similar to Fletcher average so this XI should be fine.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

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#2879448 5-Mar-2022 16:07

What a turn around from the final Bang test and the first SA test, both finished in 2.5 days vs losing to SA in the final (and of course Bang in the first). Terrible inconsistency.

I highlighted the issues with Taylor and Watling retiring, but add to that the loss WIlliamson and Boult, that is HUGE.

Williamson adds so much to the NZ team, he lifts everybody around him, makes people better. He would not have let NZ get out playing stupid shots over and over, in two consecutive innings.

As much as the NZ batsmen played like bunnies, SA thoroughly deserved the win, hugely brave to win the toss then decide to bat on greenery, huge. But I think that decisions statement was the inspiration for a great performance. And lets not forget SA were missing players, maybe not the same extent of loss but it showed in the first test.

So where to from here. Well Conway pretty much replaces Taylor, Nicholls has always been inconsistent, more so away avg below 25. But we are stuck with him I feel despite having plenty of players with similar or better FC records. So what Nicholls needs is anchors, either Taylor or further down in Watling, somebody to partner with, in fact Watling created a lot of records with a lot players in various positions. So for me the one fix that has to occur is a Watling like batsman at 6/7. WK wise the obvious choice is Dane Cleaver, he has been big in the last 3 years not just in SS and FT but also where it matters in FC, with an avg of 42 if Nicholls wasnt around he would be my choice for 5. The other would be Cam Fletcher who was twelth man in the SA tests (Cleaver is injured). I dare say thats a sign its on NZC mind. Fletcher would be great if he could up his game with the bat from FC avg 35, but hes 25yo so most do avg higher in tests. It would be nice if Cleaver could get a go, if we could get somebody averaging 45+ he may indeed replace Nicholls and then pull Fletcher in, or a WK as a rock is what NZ really miss. Flecther has plenty of time so no rush there. Either way, Blundell is falling from his opening consistency, FC avg 32 is prob where he would end up, but the issue is consistency.

Williamson back and the WK fixed and all there is left is possibly to change to a spin all rounder, where Glenn Phillips is by far the best FC bat 39 FC Bowl 40, that is dang good on NZ grass surfaces, not far off ajaz at home. He isnt technically text book and whilst Im not comparing the two as such, nor is Steve Smith. End of day if he can avg 40+ and 35 in tests at #6, that really would make NZ a complete team able to change tack with a good spinner at any time.

The last remainder is to have the batting coach spend a lot more time with KJ. He was an opening batsman at 20yo, then turned to bowling. Even his FC avg of 20 is a disappointment on his ability. Both innings vs SA last test he threw his wicket away slamming the ball down obvious fielders throats (as did most of NZ). I also think there is work to be done on the tail with batting, NZ really needed the tail to support Colin in the first innings on 120no is absurd, as was the effort on day 5 where NZ ended up 2 hours short of drawing a test.

Overall lots too work on, but all obvious and NZ has the talent to do it.

Lastly, RIP S Warne, Im still trying to get my head around it. He has lost a lot of weight with Liz and had put some back on but who knows what really was involved, its just another shock to mortality that us people passed age 40 start to feel more and more the years tick by. But 52 is way too young and whilst I hated that era of endless talent from Aus, I always admired Warnes tenacity. Regardless of records, for me he was the greatest spinner of his generation due to playing a lot on non contusive to spin pitches. Still in shock. Way way too young.

Dochart

804 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2879451 5-Mar-2022 16:20

I was really surprised with Warne death. The King of spin in all formats.

NZ should have won against Bangladesh in the first test and South Africa in the second test. I heard that since we lost those 2 games NZ chances of qualifying for the WTC is slim depending on if we win those away series against England.

Was worried about Conway form in the first test against SA but the second test he performed even though we lost. Latham form has been really bad recently. Not sure whether captaincy is effecting him. Will Young still deserves another chance opening. He got out on really good balls compared to Latham and others. Will Young has been fine opening. He did well in India and England so I still have faith in him that he can do well opening but Latham needs to try and not get out cause whenever he gets out Young gets out almost straight away.

What frustrated me in the SA test series especially in the second match is that why they didn’t let Mitchell bowl more so he could break up that big partnership. I know they decided to let him bat at 5 and he did ok in the second match compared to the other players but be should have at least bowled more. If he wasn’t going to bowl I would have preferred they selected an extra batsman with either Fletcher or Rutherford.

I had a feeling that Jamieson wasn’t going to get much wickets this series cause SA have Jensen who is a bit taller than Jamieson so they would have practiced heaps with him so they can bat vs Jamieson.

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TeaLeaf

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#2879468 5-Mar-2022 16:48

Dochart:
I had a feeling that Jamieson wasn’t going to get much wickets this series cause SA have Jensen who is a bit taller than Jamieson so they would have practiced heaps with him so they can bat vs Jamieson.

I thought KJ was 2" taller than Jansen, huh. Regardless both are absurdly tall for the sport. Main reason Id say KJ ditched batting. I think the main issue with KJ is he is no longer bowling at the stumps, he seemed to be hit off his line in IPL. Somebody should have told him consistency at the stumps is a bad ball in IPL and now somebody should be pointing out what made him so great and how to get back to it. Hes still avgn 18 which is phenomenal, broke Hadless record to fastest kiwi to 50 test wickets and even at his new rate will likely break the 100wickets record. Hes also not bowling consistantly above 135kph, he seldom bowls the outswing which was his main ball prior to Test cricket. I think he just needs a coach to simplify the plan for him. He only needs the bouncer off just short off a good length that broke plenty of hands and took a lot of wickets, the massive hooping inswinger from way out wide, and just bring the stumps back into play, that would get him back to consistantly getting 5fas.

NZ can afford another loss, but not 2 draws, my worry in Eng is the rain. If Williamson is back its all possible, but a lot of luck needed. Beat Eng. Pak away and then SL back in NZ. NZ have done that in the past. If you count the match vs Eng prior to WTC final as a series, NZ have won 4 series in a row vs Eng, this will be the 3rd in Eng.

tdgeek

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#2879490 5-Mar-2022 18:37

TeaLeaf:

What a turn around from the final Bang test and the first SA test, both finished in 2.5 days vs losing to SA in the final (and of course Bang in the first). Terrible inconsistency.

I dont get cricket. Other sports the best win but not always. No.1 is under pressure, the lesser light goes hard. Tennis is a prime example.

Cricket. NZ draws Bangers in 2 tests, thats poor. RSA beats the real No.1 India 2-1. RSA gets thrashed by NZ, then RSA beats NZ easily

Makes no sense

tdgeek

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#2879492 5-Mar-2022 18:42

Dochart: I was really surprised with Warne death. The King of spin in all formats.

Same. Ive known someone at work who died, How? Mid 40's, felt unwell at supermarket , in car, died. Another at work, same age, died. My doctor said it happens all the time. (I had a tight ankle when lunchtime walking, went to doctor, had angiogram, blocked arteries, had triple bypass) Those like me then, that boxed on, later died. Many years ago, a guy came down from AKL to clean our hard drives (physically) 42 ish, big time jogger, died.

With all that, still a real shock.

tdgeek

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#2922072 3-Jun-2022 06:35

What a crappy article https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/black-caps/300604732/black-caps-crumble-fight-back-on-day-one-of-first-test-versus-england-at-lords

NZ was woeful etc etc etc, then finished it off with "But England suddenly remembered they were England, NZ remembered they were world champs"

The fact is, that the ball was swinging left and right, bouncing left and right, and occasionally low, it looked like a minefield. ENG had the same issues, and thus, the scores are now similar. ENG also bowled very very well. I assume we did, as didnt watch all of it, so it was a difficult track, not woeful by anyone

Dochart

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#2922075 3-Jun-2022 08:13

tdgeek:
What a crappy article https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/black-caps/300604732/black-caps-crumble-fight-back-on-day-one-of-first-test-versus-england-at-lords

NZ was woeful etc etc etc, then finished it off with "But England suddenly remembered they were England, NZ remembered they were world champs"

The fact is, that the ball was swinging left and right, bouncing left and right, and occasionally low, it looked like a minefield. ENG had the same issues, and thus, the scores are now similar. ENG also bowled very very well. I assume we did, as didnt watch all of it, so it was a difficult track, not woeful by anyone

Was not expecting England to have collapse similar to NZ. I thought with the first innings score that NZ got this test match Eng was going to win. I wonder what the difference in the Lord’s pitch this year to compared to what NZ played last year. They did fine last year at Lords.

tdgeek

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#2922077 3-Jun-2022 08:25

Dochart:

Was not expecting England to have collapse similar to NZ. I thought with the first innings score that NZ got this test match Eng was going to win. I wonder what the difference in the Lord’s pitch this year to compared to what NZ played last year. They did fine last year at Lords.

Yeah, all I can take out of it is that either both teams batters are all poor or its the track and the problem Dukes ball. I'm picking the latter. Maybe not collapses, maybe its just hard right now. Black Caps need to bat conservative, stay in as long as possible, see how that plays out

Dochart

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#2922079 3-Jun-2022 08:36

tdgeek:
Dochart:

Was not expecting England to have collapse similar to NZ. I thought with the first innings score that NZ got this test match Eng was going to win. I wonder what the difference in the Lord’s pitch this year to compared to what NZ played last year. They did fine last year at Lords.

Yeah, all I can take out of it is that either both teams batters are all poor or its the track and the problem Dukes ball. I'm picking the latter. Maybe not collapses, maybe its just hard right now. Black Caps need to bat conservative, stay in as long as possible, see how that plays out

The second option most likely. When NZ batted I thought since some of the players played in the IPL that would be why the wickets started to fall suddenly but Eng had the same issues as well but all their players except for JB didn’t play in the IPL.

tdgeek

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#2922082 3-Jun-2022 08:38

Often our batters looked all at sea, so yeah, it was hard to bat overall

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