TeaLeaf:

 

I said that before the game even started. Let me explain why I knew this was playing with fire.

 

NZ doesnt have a weak T20 side, they were world #3 prior to the last match.

 

The issue is they are resting many of the important players. But they are trialling "Older" players wo have been around a while, it makes no sense to select such a team outside Ben Sears, who I have to say stuck to the plan, top of off stump, I wish the wickets would break when med fast and fast fast bowlers hit them like the 80s :-).

It is all too much coincidence with the new selector starting with the ODI series and this T20 series. Its still up to Stead to shoot the new selectors selections down, he is the final say on selections. I just wonder if he went with the new selectors ideas (he is a lawyer, poor Stead's debating skills)

 

I have no issue if they were truely selecting a couple of youth players. But they could have played some of our better bastmen. Tested Sears, used Rachin, Phillips, Santner or Nesham, Doug Bracewell, Josh Clarkson as the only all rounders, then filled the team with our most in form batsmen (the process the other way around). It was just two batsman light. Should be 6 batsmen inc WK, 3-4 all rounders and a wicket taking pace bowler. But only test out a couple of spots for new players pushing up through domestic.

They are clearly resting some of our best player like Conway and Williamson for the up coming south af and aussie test tours of NZ. 

 

Santner was brilliant with the bat, but not as captain. He didnt seem to grasp the obvious, that we had to bowl them out. Instead while he was bowling, he had the fielders pushed back which made singles too easy, we needed dots to force them into playing false strokes.

anyway, two players in the squad they havnt used ie Rachin. 

But the problem is there will be no cricket today due to rain (neither in the domestic SS, depressing for this awesome auck squad who get another game rained out. Guptill looks in such good form, with the tiny boundaries at New Plymout he would likely have scored a big one. 

So now NZ have to hope the next t20 vs bang is not rained out and NZ has to win it, or this will also be Bangers first series victory in NZ as well. Such is not picking your best players.

 

All I am saying is that they are more knowledgable than armchair commentators like you and me. The latest embarrassing loss, could have been with a dropped catch here and good throw there an easy win for us. But it wasnt, thats sport. Over time its follow the process the score will look after itself. But like rugby, cricket here is in the doldrums. As it has been elsewhere, thats sport.