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6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3184749 21-Jan-2024 13:02

Wow Rizwan stats avg 49 at SR129. IMO that with a slogger opening at the other end or 3 is ideal.

Edit: Oh dear the poor young man Khan on debut out golden duck. 0-1

But now Babar. avg 41 at SR129.

Pak really have some talent in the top 4. Like NZ, just need some gel from those Williamson type rebuilders.

EEEEK, Babar dropped, will this be costly for NZ........

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3185486 23-Jan-2024 13:00

Lack of batting depth, but to be fair the top order failed as did the middle, which even if two more Nesham/Bracewell types, probably would have struggled. I like Santner as t20i captain, he refers to Southee a fair bit which is good. 4/5 isnt bad :-)

Good to see they are looking at Cam Fletcher or Dane Cleaver for the up coming Sa tests. I would go Cleaver simply due to more form. That is if Blundell cant make it. about time, perhaps too late. But cleaver would be that Watling type in the mid before tail, to rebuild with an earlier player.

Gary Stead 'confident' of Kane Williamson being fit for South Africa Tests | ESPNcricinfo

Dochart

804 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3185499 23-Jan-2024 13:47

Cleaver definitely deserves a chance at playing tests. I have never seen Williamson and Cleaver play in the same team. I have no idea why selectors have ignored him and only select him when Williamson is not in the side. Maybe the 2 don’t get along who knows.

Averages around 38 similar to Watling and Blundell. Cleaver would be my first pick before Fletcher if Blundell can’t play the 1st Test against South Africa.

The playing 11 is going to be crucial if we want to win against SA.

I think this will end up being the XI for the 1st Test against SA. Would like to see Will Young playing but I don’t think that would be happening.
1.Latham
2.Conway
3. Williamson (c)
4. Nicholls
5. Mitchell
6. Blundell/Cleaver (wk)
7. G Phillips
8. Jamieson
9. Henry
10. Southee
11. Wagner

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3185504 23-Jan-2024 14:02

Dochart: Cleaver definitely deserves a chance at playing tests. I have never seen Williamson and Cleaver play in the same team. I have no idea why selectors have ignored him and only select him when Williamson is not in the side. Maybe the 2 don’t get along who knows.

Averages around 38 similar to Watling and Blundell. Cleaver would be my first pick before Fletcher if Blundell can’t play the 1st Test against South Africa.

Fascinating isnt it, our best domestic batsman cant break into the side, yet the likes of Mitchell did. Perhaps your right, but I suspect its more Stead not seeing Blundell from an outside perspective, he has more faith in him than he ever should have.

Look at Blundells FC vs Test, massive jump. But that occurs with most players, they step up, or the few who cant fail. Rachin for me fell in this bucket of failing to step up, prior to the ODI WC. BUT he has a good reason, he is young. I think he needed to be a few years older. But with Cleaver, if he steps up, you could be looking at high 40s avg in a short career of Tests. The other side to me is, he could just drift off into T20 circuits like Guppy has. He travels every week to play overseas and back again for auck, or he was prior to his hammy issue. Where Munro is happy just doing circuits one at a time. Both Munro and Boult should be available for the upcoming t20 WC, and their selection would solve a lot of our woes. Left hand in swing is deadly, as Afridi showed under lights. For me, it should be Boult, Southee, Fergusson, then all rounders 8 down ie Doug Bracewell, Michael Bracewell, Santner, GP etc.

Speaking of Munro, what a heater his team mate put on for the Bris Heat, 140 from 57, wow. Recent Match Report - Heat vs Strikers Challenger 2023/24 | ESPNcricinfo.com

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3185508 23-Jan-2024 14:17

1.Latham
2.Conway
3. Williamson (c)
4. Nicholls
5. Mitchell
6. Blundell/Cleaver (wk)
7. G Phillips
8. Jamieson
9. Henry
10. Southee
11. Wagner

Yep thats pretty spot on, its a nice long batting lineup, KJ, Williamson, Blundell all returning from tweaky hammies.

I would really like to get Santner in there though, which for me is dropping either KJ or Henry. KJ at home is a real weapon but where is his injury really at. Henry is turning into a real Hadlee esque bowler with everything from delivering in the corridor of uncertainty, to his very economical run up and technically excellent delivery. So, it may end up a case of Santner in for KJ if he cant make it, which improves our depth plus a player who can drop a sub 80kph delivery on a dime. In t20, the speed that produces the least runs is sub 80kph, I think that applies in all formats. GP can do it, but doesnt quite have the accuracy yet. But no doubt he will get a bowl, Santner or no Santner.

I hate saying this, but to be fair, Nicholls has shown some sublime touch in t20 since rejoining Canterbury. He times the ball so well and has been impeccable in placement. But one has to say, so has Will Young. I dunno, depends how much Stead finally sees Nicholls in the same light as us with the new selector possibly encouraging him to play Will Young at 4. Either way, its a strong looking Test squad.

Dochart

804 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3185525 23-Jan-2024 15:02

If Jamieson can’t play then I would have Santner or D Bracewell.

I miss the old Conway where his consistency was good from the time he debut for Wellington up to the end of the T20 World Cup 2021. At that time I think he was averaging around 50-60. Since that century at the 2023 World Cup against Eng I don’t think he has gone past 20-30 since then. I just hope he gets back to his form he had before 2022.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3185553 23-Jan-2024 16:22

Dochart: Since that century at the 2023 World Cup against Eng I don’t think he has gone past 20-30 since then. I just hope he gets back to his form he had before 2022.

Yep, imo he is the key to whether we beat both aus and Sa, Conway. I did say give him a break, into domestic. They need to put a bit more Trust in the domestic game and the great players not getting a go based on good form.......

This is partly why I want mid-tail to go to 9 from 8, another 30 runs on avg etc. But I dont even know if this would save us vs aus, but first up, this is farm from full strength Sa, with lots of social media about including Steve Waughs comments. So hopefully this will be a win vs Sa.

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thermonuclear

600 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3186915 26-Jan-2024 15:20

New Zealand squad named for the test series versus the South African dirt-trackers

Tim Southee (c)
Tom Blundell
Devon Conway
Matt Henry
Kyle Jamieson
Tom Latham
Daryl Mitchell
Will O’Rourke (second test only)
Glenn Phillips
Rachin Ravindra
Mitch Santner
Neil Wagner
Kane Williamson
Will Young

The XI I'd personally like to see take the field at the Bay Oval

Tom Latham (c)
Devon Conway
Kane Williamson
Will Young
Daryl Mitchell
Rachin Ravindra
Glenn Phillips
Tom Blundell
Kyle Jamieson
Matt Henry
Neil Wagner/Tim Southee

Pace from Jamieson, Henry, Wagner and Mitchell, spin from Phillips and Ravindra. Side bats very deep if they all perform to their previously demonstrated ability.

I will be making my annual pilgrimage to Mt Maunganui for the Test, it's a great ground to watch cricket at if you arrive early and get a good spot. Really looking forward to the match regardless of who NZ select, I expect the Safa's to be highly motivated and more than capable of beating NZ given the fragile nature of our batting recently.

Still, it's a new home test season in familiar conditions so the slate is clean, let's see what they can do.

Dochart

804 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3187037 26-Jan-2024 19:05

Got to give a big thumbs up to the new selector who has finally dropped Nicholls. Need to see Will Young have the same amount of chances as Nicholls to cement the No 4 spot. I think Will Young deserves to be tried at No 4 for at least 4 test series. I’m uncertain whether they will keep Conway at opening or move him to No 4.

XI you selected is good. I believe it will be the one spinner in Phillips though. Bowls quite well for a part timer and decent with the bat.

The XI I reckon they will select for the 1st test match against South Africa
1. Latham
2. Conway
3. Williamson
4. Young
5. D Mitchell
6. Blundell (wk)
7. G Phillips
8. Jamieson
9. Henry
10. Southee(c)
11. Wagner

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3189599 2-Feb-2024 11:09

Dochart: Got to give a big thumbs up to the new selector who has finally dropped Nicholls.

XI you selected is good. I believe it will be the one spinner in Phillips though. Bowls quite well for a part timer and decent with the bat.

The XI I reckon they will select for the 1st test match against South Africa
1. Latham
2. Conway
3. Williamson
4. Young
5. D Mitchell
6. Blundell (wk)
7. G Phillips
8. Jamieson
9. Henry
10. Southee(c)
11. Wagner

Im surprised they are not giving Milne a go now his body is proving to hold up after he corrected his technique and slowed it down 10kph. Will Orourke is a good red ball choice though, and hes not slow. Sears is another I expect to see in the next couple of years, he has a great run up and delivery, plus he doesnt hold too much weight, so he could be a unique 150kph+ bowler who can produce equal overs if asked of him. He just needs to find his channel and deliver it consistently.

Technically the new selector doesnt decide/select, its actually only the Coach/Stead who does, which some find controversial. Id like to know in the Banger series how much Stead agreed with. We have talent scouts, the new selectors role is to put a team together from that and discuss it with Stead's squad. The idea being a voice of reason. But it must be hard for Stead who has headed a big chunk of our golden era, to then let go of the stalwarts and listen to fresh ideas. I think the Bangers series was a hickup between them.

Phillips should be ahead of Blundell, I get hives when I see Blundell at 6 haha. Either way, Imagine if we had Cleaver coming in at 7, an agressive batsman but technically sound, partnerships with GP and KJ etc.

Yes Phillips imo is one of our best spinners. The one thing Santner does offer is sub 80kph on a dime. He is so accurate, like Vettori he is very hard to get away. Plus he adds runs to the line up. But Im not dropping GP for him, it would have to come from one of the pace bowlers, but given the records Wagner broke, then KJ well and truely smashed them, still the fastest NZ bowler to 150 wickets, could still be fastest to 200 if his body holds up.

Im glad they didnt take Nicholls excellent domestic form into account as Will Young has been doing that for years. Yes lets hope this is his time, 4 is definitely his best spot. Conway needs to find form or we need to put him back to domestic. Put Blundell back to open while introducing Foxcroft to the middle (wow that would be an amazing test side).

Im just glad we are not going into it batting light, regardless of whether this is a very sub standard Sa team, they will still be good.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3190169 4-Feb-2024 10:03

Reading the NZ herald article about not taking Sa under strength team lightly, it mentions the low powered WI beating world #1 aussie, but I think NZ should be thinking back to the Bangers beating us at Bay Oval (rubbish test pitch imo as well) before xmas as inspiration to not go into this complacent, despite the odds. NZ 1.16 favs by a long way, Sa 7.60, a wee gap in the punters minds.

But WE have a much more respectful selection this time around vs that Bang series. Teams need to bat to 7 (well) and have an all rounder (like GP) in amongst that. Clearly you eat into the quicks if on a spin friendly deck.

They have just over ~40 matches between their likely playing 11.

We need to really put the foot down and embarass Sa, maybe then they wont release their actual test squad in the future. a nice 150 runs and 10 wickets win should do it ;-p

Maybe Steve Waugh was right and we should have turned them down, but the reality is, these are WTC points, so I dont care how we come by them, especially giving up one win vs Bang and soon to come #1 Aus finally in NZ after a long time waiting.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3190222 4-Feb-2024 10:39

LOVE IT

GP, Rachin & Santner. NZ batting real deep, plus the spin options.

Dochart

804 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3190223 4-Feb-2024 10:43

TeaLeaf:
LOVE IT

GP, Rachin & Santner. NZ batting real deep, plus the spin options.

Batting up to No. 8 Santner. No Will Young again. I was expecting him to get a decent shot at No 4.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3190226 4-Feb-2024 10:47

Dochart:

Batting up to No. 8 Santner. No Will Young again. I was expecting him to get a decent shot at No 4.

Yeah that part is Rubbish. Id have gone Will Young with GP and Santner.

It is a seam wicket, I guess Stead is thinking it will break up by day 4ish.

Dochart

804 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3190227 4-Feb-2024 10:51

Will Young waiting in the sidelines again. They did this to him at the ODI World Cup and now the test series against SA when he was clearly in form compared to some of the players in the team.

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