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6436 posts

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#3442635 11-Dec-2025 09:56

Tickner unlikely (captain obvious from a news source) to play any part in the remainder of this test with Dislocated Left shoulder. You see people pop them back in on Movies etc, but they can cause quite a bit of damage.

Is this a moment in time when Mitchell is a necessity with his medium pace swing/cutters? :-). If Foulkes gets a good ball and its hooping, then I'd hope they would consider Mitchell rather than the two Spinners, although if we bowling late day 4 onward, the pitch will suit spin.

Wishful thinking for Mitchell, who still practices in the NZ throw downs/nets each morning.

TeaLeaf

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#3442662 11-Dec-2025 12:20

Conway on 42 now needs to convert that to 100 minimum.

Rachin always needs a top order batsman to keep him from trying to hit every ball for 4. I think batting to 7 is going to work out very well even without the all rounders of KJ or Santner. Foulkes will get the chance to partner with Hay or GP most likely.

Chase as captain much like Latham is fielding FAR too defensively. Should have 5 men in and around the bat, if NZ were on 40 and they managed to keep scoring up and over, sure, then you put the fielders out on the rope, but you are not going to stop NZ scoring 500+ by not attacking them with offensive field positions.

Conway needs to leave any shots like a pull that he cannot hit immediately along the carpet, no aerial shots. Responsible batting with shots on offer taken. Id like to see him get the avg above 40 before he retires, I feel high 40s reflects how good this man was for NZ, sad that he just couldnt stop the rot sooner, but it feels hes back on it mentally.

edit: Geeze Sumo tell us what you really think, "Rddit, what a waste of space that is" haha. Has he been on twitter of late? rofl ;-p

Conway on home ground makes his 50, deserved it with great patience, hitting some glorious shots along the carpet.

Edit: Williamson gets one hitting top of off, but it wasnt a jafa imo, Williamson just had a brain fart imo, they calling it a peach, but I expect Williamson of all players to track the ball off the surface far better than that.

TeaLeaf

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#3442697 11-Dec-2025 13:54

Uggh Conway couldnt help him self like Rachin, trying to smack a real terrible ball.

This is where Hay and GP should bookend a collapse.

Edit: With KJ moving from Auck to Cant, if you play KJ and Henry, you may as well just select the Canterbury FC squad haha, outside a couple of positions.

Mitch Hay 17 x50s and one 146 at avg ~48 from 29 FC matches suggests Hay runs out of partners often as a 7 in Canterbury. So GP behind him and Foulkes ~22 and hopefully KJ~20 and Henry~17avg, along with either top order or the middle like Mitchell now, I expect Hay more like 20 tests to be more like 7 centuries and 11 x 50s, something like that. GP is the bookend but its almosty like double bookends which I like.

Oh hes spanking some 4s right now and a 6, they trying to buy his wicket, but hes watchful.

When he lines up a defensive shot, his hands look like Kanes, very soft. Hopefully if he edges it doesnt carry. I think Kane will have been a role model for all the young guys coming through batting wise, when unsure defend with some hands.

TeaLeaf

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#3442716 11-Dec-2025 15:40

Mitch Hay 50 on debut, told ya so (Blundell blocked the chance of two WK better than him, it was well over due). He hasnt looked likely of getting out, very much knows where his poles are and knows what shots come from which lengths and to just let total rubbish like the one that got Mitchell, let em go. Not many WK 50 on debut, go on for 150 with GP.

Oh my, is GP just playing with WI there? get back in your crease mate, BIZARRE

thermonuclear

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#3442763 11-Dec-2025 16:02

Liked the TV graphic when Mitchell and Hay were batting together.

Hay has looked really good, one Swallow doesn't make a summer but he's looked an immediate improvement on Blundell. Unfortunate for him, won't soon forget watching him score the hundred against Australia in the Boxing Day test as a make-shift opener. He was also great when I made my pilgrimage to Lords. But it's time to move on.

This wicket-keeper bats six rubbish is a strange one. It must be coming from Latham or Phillips himself, I don't see the justification for it when he's such a good batsman. Though I see he doesn't have a hundred yet, he has that in common with Will Young. Hopefully he can belt a century this summer, he's better than his current record suggests.

Conway looked alright for his 60, maybe he has finally turned a corner this season. Would be really useful if he could rediscover that top form with those huge tours in the next twelve months.

Great to see the Basin tick over 70 tests, it is a great venue and the history of the place makes it special. Quite surprised to see how early the first test match was played there, and relatively soon after Lords considering.

Dochart

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#3442812 11-Dec-2025 16:21

thermonuclear:

Liked the TV graphic when Mitchell and Hay were batting together.

Hay has looked really good, one Swallow doesn't make a summer but he's looked an immediate improvement on Blundell. Unfortunate for him, won't soon forget watching him score the hundred against Australia in the Boxing Day test as a make-shift opener. He was also great when I made my pilgrimage to Lords. But it's time to move on.

This wicket-keeper bats six rubbish is a strange one. It must be coming from Latham or Phillips himself, I don't see the justification for it when he's such a good batsman. Though I see he doesn't have a hundred yet, he has that in common with Will Young. Hopefully he can belt a century this summer, he's better than his current record suggests.

Conway looked alright for his 60, maybe he has finally turned a corner this season. Would be really useful if he could rediscover that top form with those huge tours in the next twelve months.

Great to see the Basin tick over 70 tests, it is a great venue and the history of the place makes it special. Quite surprised to see how early the first test match was played there, and relatively soon after Lords considering.

If Blundell really wants to come back he should go back to opening but I would try Rhys first before thinking of Blundell as an opener.

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TeaLeaf

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#3442813 11-Dec-2025 16:25

thermonuclear:

Liked the TV graphic when Mitchell and Hay were batting together.

Hay has looked really good, one Swallow doesn't make a summer but he's looked an immediate improvement on Blundell. Unfortunate for him, won't soon forget watching him score the hundred against Australia in the Boxing Day test as a make-shift opener. He was also great when I made my pilgrimage to Lords. But it's time to move on.

You jinxed the poor bloke ;-p. Was a pretty good debut innings considering how much movement WI were getting vs our bowling.

This is where GP needs to put some trust in Foulkes. Ideally it would be KJ ahead of foulkes, Henry after Foulkes etc. That middle tail should be able to win tests and add some runs that will hurt teams. I think NZ being bowled out early could be a good thing, provided they have a 100 lead. Latham I feel isnt the best thinker of time and wickets, although to be fair, there was nearly 10 opportunities of various types in that last test.

GP showed just how good his bowling has progressed, perhaps hes talked too Latham and said, Im a genuine all rounder. Bowling on grassy NZ suirfaces hes nearly under 30 with the ball. I think he will get some movement late tomorrow.

Yep Conway, frustrating, but hes slowly getting better. He just has to remember not to play at rubbish. WI have taken many wickets off rubbish deliveries.

WI getting insane movement from an old Kooka, NZ's ball was a nothing. Perhaps with the wind dying off has helped.

edit: whats that about? his hand is off the bat....

edit: maybe I just saw it differently to most, looked obvious which glove it hit to me.

GP needs to hang in there and get back to his FC form.

TeaLeaf

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#3442819 11-Dec-2025 17:14

Foulkes is the one who is going to get a bad rap with no responsibility from Duffy and one batsman down.

Id like to have seen Hay or GP go on with Foulkes to make a 100 partnership.

Edit: It would be nice to see Foulkes put another 20-40+ on the board, which I expected Hay and GP do. Cant judge the partnership on one go. I think GP in the future will have a long tail to bookend with, ie KJ, Foulkes, Henry all around 20avg, he just needs to make sure the tail is feeding him the strike, without him going for absurd shots/pies.

TeaLeaf

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#3442834 11-Dec-2025 18:43

Latham
Conway/RM
Williamson
Rachin
Mitchell
Mitch Hay
GP
KJ
Matt Fisher/Foulkes/Sears
Henry
Will O'rourke

Duffy, Rae, Tickner have shown their stuff and good enough when we have injured all our best bowlers.

That is NZ's best team imo, keep an eye on Rhys Mariu and on Conway in up coming toursp. Yes GP could be #6 or 5, but once our better bowlers are back he gets a lot more depth/experience to partner with as #7. His spin is getting good enough to consider him a genuine All Rounder so playing 7 is in line with an all rounder. Either way he will get plenty of partnerships with the upper/middle order players as hes the bookmark, then to go onto work with those quite talented all rounders and Henry. I can see him averaging 40+ once he cements the role.

NZ draw this one will be a total failure. Latham needs to get men in around the bat, put the pressure on and make them try to hit through and potentially make a mistake. I find Latham too conservative at times.

thermonuclear

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#3442836 11-Dec-2025 18:51

TeaLeaf:

Latham
Conway/RM
Williamson
Rachin
Mitchell
Mitch Hay
GP
KJ
Foulkes/Matt Fisher
Henry
Sears

No place for O'Rourke then? ;)

TeaLeaf

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#3442838 11-Dec-2025 18:58

thermonuclear:

No place for O'Rourke then? ;)

Give a bloke time to correct his mistake haha. Was just doing that as you posted. No, cant leave him out. Walter likes Fisher (so do I), so I expect post injury to see him. Hes fast but, he hits that top of off wicket so often. Similar to how Roach was bowling today but a touch fuller, he gets a nice leg cutter thats accurate, so players often know they better play it, but how much is it cutting is a guess outside guys like Kane who bat in slow motion hitting the ball late.

Im starting to see a next gen team replacing the remains of the first WTC winning side who may retire either post Aus tour or post the WTC, with white ball in between all that.

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thermonuclear

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#3442843 11-Dec-2025 19:32

Given the way the NZ pace bowlers catch a cold if somebody sneezes at the moment, I'll name an "A" squad of guys for the next 12 months of test cricket

1/. Henry
2/. O'Rourke

?/. Jamieson
?/. Sears
?/. Fisher
?/. Foulkes

That would be the six pace bowlers I would take to England and Australia for the test series, on the huge assumption they are all fit and ready to go. NZ needs to take proper sized squads and not cheap out, so all six should go on both tours.

The only two that are guaranteed selections every time are Henry and O'Rourke. The other four bowlers I've named fight for the other one or two spots in each test side. It's likely to be two spots as there are no decent test spinners in NZ for the English and Australian wickets. Phillips and Ravindra can handle any spin requirements.

Bit hard on Duffy, Smith, Tickner etc, but the chances are high that many of the above six will be broken and will come into consideration. But, ideally, they don't get a look in because the ones above are all fit.

lachlanw

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#3443003 12-Dec-2025 09:24

TeaLeaf:

Latham
Conway/RM
Williamson
Rachin
Mitchell
Mitch Hay
GP
KJ
Matt Fisher/Foulkes/Sears
Henry
Will O'rourke

Good team, Rachin at 5, been disappointed with how he has approached his batting for a guy with that much talent. Mitchell at 4. Rachin could do worse than look to Mitchell for a blueprint on how to exert pressure on the other team while still being selective about it.

Would be nice to have a left armer to compliment the other bowlers.

Openers both look like they will struggle in Australia/England.

Blundell to get last hoorah test if fit, then put out to pasture.

Dochart

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#3443117 12-Dec-2025 14:37

Duffy has been excellent with the DRS. I believe that was the second time he backed himself that the DRS would get a wicket for him.

TeaLeaf

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#3443118 12-Dec-2025 14:39

lachlanw:

Rachin could do worse than look to Mitchell for a blueprint on how to exert pressure on the other team while still being selective about it.

Blundell to get last hoorah test if fit, then put out to pasture.

Very true, it reminds me of Michael Clarke for Aus, he was far too often caught off a shot he could have played along the ground and or been selective. It was when that was pointed out to him and he put aerial Test shots away he became a very good player. Rachin and GP go together in many ways, GP could be a 5 but really a 6 and Rachin could be a 4 but playing like a 5 at times. That 160 odd first test was a fine innings.

Indeed some are saying Blundell will play in the final Test despite Hay being immaculate with the gloves, both generally and in run out/low catches. Not to mention the highest score in this Test for NZ.

Blundell is harder to get rid of than Nicholls lol.

So thats 10 IR bowlers now with Tickner, not counting Milne who is playing Plunket and Fergusson is playing overseas T20, Lockie would be great with his fire but it wont happen.

thermonuclear:

Given the way the NZ pace bowlers catch a cold if somebody sneezes at the moment, I'll name an "A" squad of guys for the next 12 months of test cricket

1/. Henry
2/. O'Rourke

?/. Jamieson
?/. Sears
?/. Fisher
?/. Foulkes

That is definitely our top 6, for me the playing 4 is KJ, O'Rouke, Fisher, Henry. However it depends, if KJ gets injured then Foulkes is your all rounder. If you want fire breathing then it would be Fisher, Sears, Orouke, Henry. Hard to leave a fit KJ out though with his ability to take wickets with extreme swing both ways and a bouncer off a good length breaking fingers on its way to WKs gloves.

However I do like a Duffy/Rae for their height and ~140kph pace to go with Jamieson and Sears, Orourke, even Henry isnt a short guy. So I think take Duffy and either Tickner or Rae on tour.

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