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6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3196201 16-Feb-2024 11:58

thermonuclear:

Just needs to tighten up and be more selective.

Thats is exactly it, that is my point, and I think he looks 3x the player when batting with Kane who is clearly coaching him to wait for the balls in his wheel house of shots.

edit: just like that gorgeous shot from Williamson. attack Piedt, dont be dictated too. haha, one four and they have pushed mid on back. rofl

edit: that last ball from Piedt to the lefty Rachin is what Id like to see from GP, around the wicket, ball drifting into the stumps, then turning sharply away.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3196255 16-Feb-2024 12:14

Oh boy, that shot from Kane, both feet off the ground to get on top of the ball out to the offside boundary is just beautiful.

edit: Williamson is handling the ball turning in with ease, he just needs to rotate the strike, keeping Rachin facing Von Berg or the pace bowlers and NZ win.

Edit: LUNCH and only Latham. I think if NZ look well in control, mind you said that before, lose Williamson and Collapse. But 3 good batsmen to come, on a pitch not doing much, you would have to think only NZ can lose this from here.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3196330 16-Feb-2024 14:42

Rachin out for 20, which has his avg at about 35 from his first ten innings, one innings over 50 which showed potential, but the lack of consistency is the concern. Give him another ten to see if he can produce some consistency, but not sure Id have him above Mitchell.

Piedt taking all 3 wickets, all left handers.

another 50 here from NZ without a wicket and one would have to back them through the final 70.

Edit: NZ at this run rate will be about 70 runs short of the win when the new ball is due.

Sa should have had catchers in close since ball one, they are never going get NZ out, without pressure. Id have thought Piedt's wickets would have shown the way.

thermonuclear

600 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3196372 16-Feb-2024 15:57

It's NZ's to lose now I think, another great innings from Kane. NZ Cricket should just pay him whatever he wants and tell him to concentrate on Test Cricket, like Joe Root seems to do these days. That, and turning out in domestic cricket to work with the up and coming talent. Sit on the bench at the IPL as well I suppose. He makes long-form cricket look easy.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3196431 16-Feb-2024 16:24

thermonuclear:

It's NZ's to lose now I think

Pretty much, it is turning a bit more but its consistent for the most part.

I agree with commentary Brand taking 8 wickets in first test, yet hasnt bowled a single over?..........

You would have to think Henry, Wagner, Southee can knock off 40 quick runs, thats 40 odd for Kane, Young, Blundell, GP. NZ has had some speccy collapses over the years, but cant see it this time.

edit: Kane has nearly stopped my heart 3 times now.

edit: 32x tons. For me he is NZs greatest sports person, look at where NZ cricket was at prior to him to the success (even if only the WTC) in world cups etc and world #1 both individually and as a team. Yes we were batting avg above 40 to #7 for a long period, but even in this fresher team he is still #1.

Dochart

804 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3196458 16-Feb-2024 16:44

Never say never, a collapse might happen soon. Could still be SA game to win depending on how the new ball plays out.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3196459 16-Feb-2024 16:46

Dochart: Never say never, a collapse might happen soon. Could still be SA game to win depending on how the new ball plays out.

hehe.

streaky but boy the runs are flowing quick now, I felt leaving 70 with the new ball could be asking for trouble if 4/5 down. But is looking more like 50 now.

edit: lets not underestimate this innings from Will Young, even if he got out right now, he stopped NZ wickets in pairs which has been a problem of late and partnered 90 runs with Kane and more to come I hope.

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Dochart

804 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3196516 16-Feb-2024 17:19

I don’t care how slow Will Young was going initially he stopped a collapse from happening and we have plenty of time. Still have another day tomorrow but maybe this might finish tonight.

The amount of runs Will Young has scored now feels like he scored a century, probably the best test innings he has played so far. His runs are worth double the amount that he scored.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3196521 16-Feb-2024 18:10

Well despite being largely debutants this Sa team pushed NZ a bit more this match.

Crazy stat I heard earlier this morning, Williamson averages 117 when NZ win in 4th innings, only in the teens when we lose in 4th innings. He is imperative to the future of cricket in NZ, his guidance.

Sa 18 NZ 1, in test series wins.

Will Young stood up when others couldnt and Im not confident should he have fallen early we would have won.

NZ top of the WTC table, if only we didnt drop that Bang test with the silly selections, as I dont fancy our chances vs Aus if Mitchell or KJ are not playing.

Will Orourke 9 wickets on Debut and a 5fa, he was simply wow. May he go on to be in the top 5 NZ bowlers all time (hoping).

thermonuclear

600 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3196527 16-Feb-2024 19:07

TeaLeaf:

as I dont fancy our chances vs Aus if Mitchell or KJ are not playing.

Great series win for NZ.

Can't wait for the Basin, got my match pass and raring to go. So many permutations for that 1st Test against the arch enemy. Man for man we have to accept that Australia are a better side, there's no escaping that. Home advantage probably evens it up somewhat, particularly if the ball is moving around.

The brains trust on radio are saying we should produce green-top seamers that do plenty for both 1st Innings. If NZ lose the toss and get inserted, then get rolled, they will have the chance to return the favour in Australia's first dig. The last NZ spinner to bowl NZ to victory at the Basin was apparently John Bracewell vs Australia in 1989. Don't think they should be looking to play Santner as a result, the radio guys think it would be a defensive move only when you need to take 20 Aussie wickets.

As you've identified, first need to see if Mitchell and Jamieson are fit to play and they both have to be 100%, not 90% or similar. That will determine the make-up of the side. I think Young has to play, whether he's a continued replacement for an unfit Mitchell or an in-form replacement for an opener, likely Conway.

Likewise, if KJ is fully fit and able to deliver 135kph plus, he has to play alongside O'Rourke, Henry and one other. If Boult makes himself available (unlikely), he could be your fourth seamer? What about Wagner and Southee? Southee will play because Stead is fiercely loyal and will back his captain, but Southee's record against Australia in 13 tests is an average of 41.62 per wicket at a strike rate of 74.0 By comparison, Wagner in four tests against them is 23.04 per wicket at a SR of 51.9.

Anyway, think it's highly likely both Southee and Conway play due to "faith in the quality of the players" argument. Regardless of who is picked for NZ, you do suspect the World Champion Aussies will be too strong, but that's why we watch and go to the games. You just never know. Should be an interesting few weeks ahead, looking forward to it.

Dochart

804 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3196528 16-Feb-2024 19:16

I think Young has secured his place for the playing 11 for the Aus Test series with his performance in the recent test. If Mitchell is injured then Young will bat at No 5 but if not they either move Ravindra to open with Latham as he has done it before for Wellington and move Young to No 4. I don’t think Conway will be in the playing 11 for the Aus Test series.

heavenlywild

5059 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#3196529 16-Feb-2024 19:16

Great win. Got the job done.

Kane Williamson, amazing. He has equal most hundreds for the current active players tied with Steven Smith. But Kane has achieved the most hundreds in less Tests than Smith.

GOAT.

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Handle9

11386 posts

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Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3196535 16-Feb-2024 20:27

TeaLeaf:

Crazy stat I heard earlier this morning, Williamson averages 117 when NZ win in 4th innings, only in the teens when we lose in 4th innings. He is imperative to the future of cricket in NZ, his guidance.

That's far from the craziest Williamson stat.

The last time he was dismissed in test cricket between 50 and 100 was the 21st of February 2020. He made 89 that day.

Edit: BTW he's scored 11 tons since then and 4 of them are double hundreds

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3196736 17-Feb-2024 10:36

yes indeed Kane just keeps on scoring amazing stats. The list he is on now is at the top of the tree of the best to play. Currently topping the fastest to 32 tons amongst any current players, 9 tests quicker than Steve Smith, which is amazing given Steve's avg of 58.

Cricket: Will O'Rourke's man-of-the-match debut leaves Blackcaps with huge selection headache to face Australia | Newshub

Of course its a tough choice, but imagine resting KJ when he broke out with 5fa's at will vs Eng and Ind. I think O'rourke has forced their hand with his consistency along with variety along with NZ's all time best match figures on Debut . Wags is one of NZ's best ever, and whilst without Trent Boult, his left hand in swing is a point of difference, his bumper is what got most of those wickets. Every team loves having a left arm quick, but he has lost a yard or two of pace. O'rourke showed his accuracy with the bumper and at 140kph its a bit more to handle than 125kph from Wags, not to mention KJ being able to get those finger breaking bumpers off a near good length, with both O'rourke and KJ avg around 140kph and both able to get slightly above 140kph while maintaining their accuracy. Its their height that also makes them awkward, especially KJ with the batsman largely unsighted from the height of release.

I would love to see O'rourke play some County FC cricket in his home of birth (England), that could round him off nicely. In saying that Hadlee and Co have done a superlative job with this young man and maybe not messing with that could be a good thing.

I'd hate to leave Henry out with his consistency on 4th stump leaving the seam to the work and Tim being captain and our best active Test swing bowler, I think Wags time at 37yo is the one to go. Which is like ripping a bandaid off as he is/was an integral part of our golden years. I'd expect him to still be in the squad mind, should there be an injury.

My concern vs aus is not our bowling, with two spinners able to keep our pace guys fresher longer, its D Mitchell. Clearly will miss the t20s, however the word was he is resting the foot which has been troubling him for half a year, to be ready for the Two Test series vs aussie.

In saying that, what a joy to see Will Young partner Kane with a match winning partnership.

Conway's slump is not alone, Blundell averaging 27 in the last year (8 Tests) and 9 scores below 10 in his last 12 innings and only avg'n 12 vs Bang tour in NZ, it doesnt get any easier. Clearly he has skills but this is a long slump for him along with Conway. One can only hope one or both bounce back asap. Or do we rest them vs aussie, with possibly Young remaining in the team and either opening or having Rachin open. For me this is more of a headache than the bowling. Im sure Mr Wells (NZ squad "suggestor"/Selector) I am sure will be throwing these kind of options at Stead. But knowing Stead, he will not select based on form, so I am not expecting changes, which leaves us relying on Kane and Daryl to score the bulk of the 500+ runs desired in first innings scores, which is clearly too much to expect, so, somebody is going to have to contribute against the world number one Test team.

If we could snaffle just one win, that should keep us at the top of the WTC, rectifying the loss to Bang somewhat.

What a joy it was to see both spinners getting extended spells as well, with Tim finally getting GP's field set spot on to the lefties, I would like to see GP come around the wicket to the lefties, like Piedt did, but his avg of 19 with more work load is encouraging. Rachin is starting to get the accuracy of a Santner, he just needs to learn the art of speed and flight, he has the potential to go on to become a high quality left arm offy.

GP in the field was outrageously hungry (he is just a ball of energy on and off the field). The amount of runs he saved with either his speed or throwing his body around was significant and those two extremely important catches he took at Gully were simply breath taking.

So whilst it was a weakened Sa team, there was so much encouraging signs irrelevant to that, especially for continuing NZ in the top Test teams. :-)

the future NZ seam bowlers "could" be pace orientated. Fisher showing early good signs in FC. KJ, Orourke, Sears, Fisher. Sears in the BC system, Fisher needs another season to get a better idea but currently avg'n below 25 from the limited sample size.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3196993 18-Feb-2024 11:57

Wags could be pivotal now, with KJ's back issue and now Henry's hip soreness being rested from the white ball matches to be ready for the test, I hope they are not down playing the seriousness of the injury and it is just soreness. I just hope O'rourke can show the same form as last match, not a like for like with KJ, he can produce similar deliveries. Its that unsighted, in swinging yorker, delivered from out wide, that for me is KJ's uniqueness.

We seem to always have bad timing with injury vs aussies in Test series.

Conway will move to WK for the white ball series with Seifert abductor injury. Will Young will replace Conway, Sears will be in to bowl.

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