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#3502514 12-Jun-2026 22:36

Williamson has just announced his retirement from international cricket effective immediately. I was expecting him to be at the 2027 ODI World Cup.

With this announcement I hope the Blackcaps allow Will Young a long rope at No 3 in Tests and ODI. To always had to be the backup to Williamson and have to play out of the batting position just to be in a team. Will Young has had success at No 3 during the India Test tour when Williamson was out and was player of the series.

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#3502517 12-Jun-2026 22:47

I’m gutted Williamson retired before he got to 10,000 runs but it’s also typical of the man. He’s the best New Zealand batsman of my lifetime and has always been a New Zealander we could be proud of. He’ll be missed desperately.

invisibleman18

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#3502521 12-Jun-2026 23:54

I'm an England fan and we obviously have our own issues currently, but isn't it a bit off to do it mid series when he was part of the team's plans for this series?

TeaLeaf

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#3505405 23-Jun-2026 11:20

He sure will be missed. I honestly was hoping he would play the boxing day Test series vs Aussie and make redemption for our last tour of Aus. Especially with our current pace bowlers, upcoming younger batsmen and a solid replacement to Blundell at keeper, not to mention some fine all rounders like GP, I thought we stood a good chance, still do, but much harder without Kane. I thought I saw him in the crowd at the Warriors 1st game at the new CCH stadium on the weekend.

Jamieson back to fitness and looking likely to take fastest to 100 wickets in Test history for NZ (knocking off another Hadlee record who did it in 25 matches), Matt Henry likely to have recorded the fastest 50 wickets for NZ averaging just 18.58 in '24, 10.90 in '25 and so far in 2026 just 13.33, along with Will Orourke also back to match fitness averaging below 25, thats 3 pace bowlers averaging under 25 for NZ.

We do have a crop of young batsman coming through, BJ Jacobs got to play IPL within ~12 FC matches Mariu should be playing for NZ already with a FC average of ~53 after 29 matches. There is also Heaphy who averages around 45 in FC. So plenty of talent to fill in the spaces. But Mariu is the one I would pick as the next big big thing, he is more of an offensive striker of the ball, Im not sure we will ever see somebody with Williamson's soft hands again in NZ.

It was great to see NZ bounce back vs Eng, to be fair if Phillips hadn't saved us in the first innings with the 100, it would have been touch and go.

NZ really need to win this final Test in Eng after a dissapointing loss in the 1st after bowling Eng out cheaply twice. Then they need to win one and draw one in the Ind series to stay in play for the 2nd spot of the current ITC schedule. Aus with 7 wins from 8 have pretty much sealed their place already.

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#3506512 27-Jun-2026 09:59

Our middle order is just so piss weak without GP, no resilience. I'd blame our Wicket Keeper, which who is WAY over due to retire but needs the push. But to be fair at least he put 30 on the board (if that's able to be celebrated).

No big reasonable scores after the openers to get that 500+ scoreboard pressure first innings.

Now without our two frontline experienced bowlers in Henry and KJ.

So Santner in for GP, major step down with the bat and getting destroyed with the ball.

And for pace 8 Nathan Smith, 9 Blair Tickner, 10 Will O'Rourke, 11 Ben Sears.

Now Tickner is out with concussion and Eng are scoring at 5rpo, smelling the weakened NZ side. 223/2 45ov.

Its time to cull the driftwood and get one or two of the young very promising bastmen into the squad for Ind before Aus. Including the WK. Or we are going to get smashed in a long Aussie summer.

I just hope Latham and Conway stick around. Can't have Kane retiring and losing both of them. Daryl Mitchell at 36yo has had a career beyond his wildest dreams when he was a #3 for Cant averagin mid 30s. His Test career far surpassed his First Class promise. But the last 4 years he has not been at that early high, no century in the last 3 years and averaging 22 so far this year and ~30 in 2024, 2025 just the 4 tests was better at ~38. On the other hand, I hate to say it but Nicholls has looked a lot better since his return and his avgs have shown it.

I see no news around injuries to Rhys Mariu, so why are we not at least injecting him into the squad as the only potential who looks capable of living up to a level close to Taylor and maybe closer to Kane.

This is what happened in the duldrum years after Hadlee and Crowe, we waited too long to start filling spots and suddenly captained by Rutherford. Things slowly started turning around in the 90s/2000s with Flemming etc. We need some consistency.

Anyway, a lot of pressure on O'rourke as our best bowler and Sears to smash some wickets. Big overs it seems. Wont be surprised to see Rachin bowl.

Dochart

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#3506593 27-Jun-2026 17:08

At this rate it’s looking more like a draw or a win for England. I see England being able to get to our total and any extra runs after that is going to be a tough ask if they can get a lead of 200 or so. Had Nicholls not drop that sitter off Duckett NZ would have a better chance of winning.

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TeaLeaf

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#3506845 28-Jun-2026 13:33

Dochart:

At this rate it’s looking more like a draw or a win for England. I see England being able to get to our total and any extra runs after that is going to be a tough ask if they can get a lead of 200 or so. Had Nicholls not drop that sitter off Duckett NZ would have a better chance of winning.

It certainly was looking that way, then suddenly Smith, Foulkes and O'Rourke dismiss them with about 100 left to score. Amazing lifting from NZ, especially Smith who for me has not impressed as mucn in Tests as he showed in FC, now he may feel settled in as an all rounder with GP, well most of our bowlers can bat. Henry and KJ avg 20, GP clearly the true all rounder, Foulkes not far off it with similar record to FC about 30 with the ball and 20 with the bat is handy as a replacement bowler, Santner much the same. If only we had a WK who consistently laid on big bookend scores alongside GP.

But NZ managed to lose their top 3 for not much. Rachin's timing to score a 50 could be the difference with 60no and we need Mithcell to go on with his 26 so far. NZ lead by 204 but really need 350 minimum imo, 400 would be better. If they can go at 4s, should be around that 400 by Tea, do they bat the rest of the evening for the draw, or do they leave 4 sessions to try and bowl Eng out, knowing Eng will not bat it out for a Draw? of course thats 200 runs away which is a big if with our current middle order missing GP and the Tail not producing the runs they are very capable of. Santner needs avgs circa 26, Smith 20, Foulkes, 20. Tickner out. O'rourke can block a few.

Fascinating 4th day, plenty of time left in the match for either side.

Dochart

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#3506853 28-Jun-2026 14:41

How many runs they should get before declaring I’m uncertain of. If they get a 400 lead by the end of the second session should they declare or wait until 500 run lead before declaring. If they declare at 400 run lead by the end of the second session theres a good chance England could chase this unless the pitch starts to deteriorate but seems like a good batting pitch so far except for when the ball is new.

TeaLeaf

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#3506858 28-Jun-2026 15:40

Dochart:

If they declare at 400 run lead by the end of the second session theres a good chance England could chase this unless the pitch starts to deteriorate

Exactly. But, the BC's need to go for the Series win and keep themselves in the hunt to play what looks like Aus in the ITC 25-27 final. In the days of Gilly, Ponting etc they would definitely look to take on 400 in a day and definitely in 5 sessions. This Eng team is just about as talented and perhaps even more aggressive. But what choice do the kiwis have etc. I guess if they have scored 4rpo for first 1.5 sessions tomorrow, then they can look to put the used ball to the sword t20 style for the remaining hour up to tea. That might leave them half way between the two scores, ie 450. But knowing our team and given we are down 1 bowler and two of the 3 best bowlers are out, they are far more likely to bat on 500+. I guess the question then would be, whats a score outside even Eng's aggressive batsmen? I think with 500 you can afford to buy a lot of wickets alongside O'rourke being a tight line/length.

That's how I see the ideal scenario for NZ. But 300 runs is a lot given we are batting Blunders at #6 and its a couple of all rounders after him. :-)

TeaLeaf

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#3506980 29-Jun-2026 11:32

Rachin 94 and Mitchell 100NO saved our bacon. This time its not the openers but the 4 n 5, again nobody sticking in there to get a 40 or a 30 etc to get that score needed up to and over 500. Almost like NZ has forgotten how to bat now Kane has gone ie as a team. This is why I thought it was important to get the likes of Mariu and BJ Jacobs into the squad while Kane was around to absorb as much of the team culture as possible. Bring back Ross Taylor ;-p for Captain ;-p

The Aussies are going to steam roll this disjointed team. Why wasnt the spinner dropped in favour of Will Young extending the batting from 5 to 6. (cant bring msyelf to count Blundell). Rachin could have bowled the overs needed as could Mitchell help. Of course in hind site with Tickner copping a concussion it looks different, but I'd still have preferred that.

400 odd seemed too low for Eng.

But cometh the time, cometh the man. Foulkes takes 3 wickets with Sears getting a wicket in the last over.

I thought odd Smith opening, but maybe they thought due to his first innings. I must have missed it, but O'Rourke only bowled 1 ball and was replaced by Foulkes. Has he done his back again or something like a rolled ankle?

So with Duckett gone, Engs top 4 and I would say top 2 most dangerous in Duckket and Brooks. But Eng still have the likes of Root giving them hope to score with the rest of Mid and Tail to add those 270, but he will have to score most of them.

And if anything its not a normal day if O'rourke cannot bowl. In saying that, the ball is only 15 overs old, so Foulkes and Sears should still get it to nip.

So, this is kind of what I said NZ should aim for, about a half session to bowl end of day, but I expected 450 on the board. NZ WK-Tail adding not much at all has kind of done them a favour, by forcing them to bowl that last 15 overs. IMO NZ had to bat to win not to draw, which also meant Retiring to risk losing to win. As it happened the outcome is the same but not how it has occured.

What a day 5 this has set up......

Dochart

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#3507003 29-Jun-2026 13:48

Day 5 is going to be interesting, would wickets start to fall for NZ to win or will the pitch get better for batting and NZ lose the series.

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#3507013 29-Jun-2026 14:10

Eng will capitulate late. The wicket is terrible for batting

NZ will take the series 2-1 unless weather has a say

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Handle9

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#3507066 29-Jun-2026 17:18

England and Stokes in particular were incredibly self indulgent. It was absurd that he opened and the way the team batted was ridiculous. They deserve to lose by playing so stupidly.

Contrast that with Mitchell taking ball after ball on the body and you can see which team has the superior culture.

Handle9

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#3507067 29-Jun-2026 17:18

JPNZ:

Eng will capitulate late. The wicket is terrible for batting

NZ will take the series 2-1 unless weather has a say

It’s gotten pretty up and down. It’s certainly not easy batting out there now.

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#3507153 30-Jun-2026 03:15

invisibleman18:

I'm an England fan and we obviously have our own issues currently, but isn't it a bit off to do it mid series when he was part of the team's plans for this series?

It’s probably better than the captain doing it midmatch and throwing his wicket away.

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