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577 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3314400 30-Nov-2024 16:04

Stead won't drop Blundell, he has a well-demonstrated tendency to ignore form and place faith and sentimentality at the top of his selection criteria. His contract is up at the end of this WTC cycle so it will probably be left to Stead's replacement to bring the curtain down on Blundell's career.

Great to see Williamson pass 9000 runs, NZ's best, hope he plays more than one more season. Not unhappy to see him get passed over for the IPL. A great shame that NZ Cricket isn't wealthy enough to pay Kane what he deserves so he can concentrate on test cricket only, and mentoring the best young batters coming through the system here.

Not sure about Ravindra moving up one when Williamson finally retires, think he's more in the Taylor mold than Kane. Think he will better Rosco's batting record though, so 20+ centuries, 35+ half centuries.

NZ are looking okay with these two at the crease, need a 200+ run partnership out of them here if they are going to save this test or get in a position to force a result in their favour.

EDIT:

Oh dear. England to win by an innings and......?

TeaLeaf

6305 posts

Uber Geek

#3314402 30-Nov-2024 16:10

thermonuclear:

Not sure about Ravindra moving up one when Williamson finally retires, think he's more in the Taylor mold than Kane. Think he will better Rosco's batting record though, so 20+ centuries, 35+ half centuries.

Totally agree but it shows the situation Stead has left us in not putting faith in obvious youth talent outside Rachin, who is yet to reach his potential. You dont want them turning 30yo just when they overcome the initial pressurres of Test cricket.

Yes it will suck losing Kane for money, but of all the NZ players who truely deserve it, its him. He did say something like he wont be far behind re Southee, I dont think he meant this season. But another couple seasons to get his 10000 would be much appreciated by all

TeaLeaf

6305 posts

Uber Geek

#3314405 30-Nov-2024 16:24

NZ will be lucky to ask Eng to bat again. If GP gets stranded around 50 again I will lose the plot. This is a good batting deck. NZ are missing a bowler who can bang it in short ball after ball, like Eng have copied from Wags.

I just want one other middle or top order batsman other than Kane who you know will consistently get a 50 at worst and often closer to a ton or more. That is my gripe with Rachin is he throws away starts too often. He makes it look easy when it is, but often shot selection/patience undoes him. Put GP up the order to bat with Kane if hes still there next wicket, if he fails so be it, better than leaving a ton waiting...

Dochart

804 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3314414 30-Nov-2024 17:07

Agree, Cleaver should deserve a go first before Mitch Hay.

I hope the next test Young can play at 4 or 5. If we lose this test thats NZ chance gone for the WTC Final.

TeaLeaf

6305 posts

Uber Geek

#3314415 30-Nov-2024 17:16

Dochart: Agree, Cleaver should deserve a go first before Mitch Hay.

I think you can do both if you play Cleaver as Mid order Bastman soley. IMO, Mitch Hay has shown in FC he is good enough at avg 46 vs Blundell who started test cricket at avg 33, like Mitchell he batted well above his FC ability but now both of them have had their avgs plummet with Blundell back near where he started. You have 3 other WK options which are better, but get Youth talent in early as I say, so they get to their peak in mid 20s giving a long career. We need to start thinking of youth for 1, 2 and 3 as well. Stead has left the team to rot and wither without pushing for obvious young talent to debut early 20s like Bethell and Brook have for Eng.

TeaLeaf

6305 posts

Uber Geek

#3314418 30-Nov-2024 17:36

I thought Williamson looked not out live, was surprised by the umpire finger up no batsman benefit of the doubt.

But Blundel, thats it for me, the journalism around his LONG form slump, hes gone. Mitch Hay WK

So glad GP at leats negates the Woakes hat-trick.

NZ are shot outside these two making 300, which talent wise have the skills. But too big an ask.

The Eng grevt bowler Harmison even just suggested GP should have come in ahead of Blundell

thermonuclear

577 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3314419 30-Nov-2024 18:00

Garth Galloway and Frankie Mackay on Talksport commentary saying it's time for the axe to swing on Blundell and Southee. Blundell averaging 12 this calendar year. Having followed NZ on tour in Australia and England, and seen Blundell score big runs, I was prepared to give him more rope to come good. But it's time to replace him, sentimentality has no place in top level sport.

Can't see it happening though, think the squad has been picked for this entire series. More interested in giving guys a good send off than actually competing with the best side for wins.

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TeaLeaf

6305 posts

Uber Geek

#3314434 30-Nov-2024 20:02

thermonuclear:

But it's time to replace him, sentimentality has no place in top level sport.

This is so key. NZ have the talent for another golden era, but it will be a bowling heavy team. Beating Ind 3-0 highlights that, with low scoring, but our bowlers produced.

This match SHOULD have been similar, NZ could have had a 150-200 run lead if the sitters were taken. Brook 5 times, simple catches. Smith should have a 5fa on debut.

Now with this super low score, looks like 200 at best with 175 lead from first innings. could easily have been a 375 lead which is plenty for NZs strike power in the bowlng.

Southee is retiring this series. Id really like to see Sears play tests, but I have no idea where his back is at. It needs to be a quality bowler not Duffy etc (hes great as a FC team player)

Conway might realise hes still a talent playing the big shots and retire from tests. Would suck to have the second opeber problem again.

This Match looks shot, but if Mitchell can find form and Smith can dab it around with the big shot when its on, its not impossible Smith then the tail help to make 300. NZ have defend these totals before, but really they need 350 for a 200 run chase, one of these two would need tp bat to the end and the tail put in 30 each, 10 beyond Henz and Southee avgs.

Southee should hit 400 wickets this series, as frustrating as he can be he is part of that Taylor era. Feels a bit sad..

TeaLeaf

6305 posts

Uber Geek

#3316189 5-Dec-2024 12:33

Weather looks pretty good for the 2nd test. Some light showers Sun/Mon but without more detail it sounds like evening and maybe a bit of tractoring the rope around the outfield Monday morning, could be some swing on for whoever is bowling then.

I heard talk of Santner coming in. Not bad bowl avg 36 bat 26, neither in general all rounder, given GP avgs 28 on mostly green tops with ball and 36 with the bat, when hes having to create runs amonst swing and out southee types. Push him up the order.

Do NOT drop Nat Smith for Santner. Simply replace Blundell with Mitch Hay and fix one of the obvious problems but have GP ahead of hay, who is plenty capable to partner with GP or Nat Smith and maybe add 100 with that lot.

Once Southee has retired, unless KJ is available, bowl the 3 strike Pace bowlers, Young in for Southee, 5. Young 6. Mitchell 7. GP 8. Hat 9. Nat Smith 10. Henry 11. Orourke.

GP can do big overs between the 3 quicks and Rachin can chip in when needed.

Who is our next Test opponent after Unglund?

JPNZ

1520 posts

Uber Geek

#3316300 5-Dec-2024 16:22

Disappointed to not take a proper spinner into this test. Last test at the Basin spinners took 16 wickets.

Panasonic 65GZ1000, Onkyo RZ730, Atmos 5.1.2, AppleTV 4K, Nest Mini's, PS5, PS3, MacbookPro, iPad Pro, Apple watch SE2, iPhone 15+

JPNZ

1520 posts

Uber Geek

#3316301 5-Dec-2024 16:25

TeaLeaf:

Who is our next Test opponent after Unglund?

Zimbabwe in July 2025

Panasonic 65GZ1000, Onkyo RZ730, Atmos 5.1.2, AppleTV 4K, Nest Mini's, PS5, PS3, MacbookPro, iPad Pro, Apple watch SE2, iPhone 15+

invisibleman18

1356 posts

Uber Geek

#3316311 5-Dec-2024 16:42

Both teams unchanged.

England fan living in Wellington. Really looking forward to it. Last time I was a bit slow to get around to getting tickets and it was all sold out so only made it to the 5th day. This time got a full match pass as soon as they went on sale.

Going on a UK/Europe holiday next UK summer and managed to get Lords day 1 tickets vs India in the ballot. Paid over double for 1 day what the full match pass here cost, by far the most expensive ticket I've ever bought to a stadium event. Absolutely ridiculous prices and normally I wouldn't have paid it, but it's a bucket list thing I'll probably never get another chance for and hardly matters in the grand scheme of the whole trip cost. But can certainly see how the ordinary fan living there wanting to take the family is priced out of it.

Dochart

804 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3317801 7-Dec-2024 14:46

It’s going to be 2-0 to England at this rate with one more test to go after this.

We could have been 1-1 at the moment.

Will Young needs to play in the middle order for the next test. Cleaver and Hay need to be considered for the wicketkeeper position. Need to swap Ravindra and Conway around. Ravindra has open the batting many times in first class cricket for Wellington. Mitchell needs to bowl more if he wants to continue being in the playing 11.

Wish this was the XI they selected for this test series
1. Latham
2. Ravindra
3. Williamson
4. Young
5. Conway
6. Phillips
7. Mitchell
8. Cleaver/Hay (wk)
9. Smith
10. Henry
11. O’Rourke

TeaLeaf

6305 posts

Uber Geek

#3317807 7-Dec-2024 15:11

Dochart:
1. Latham
2. Ravindra
3. Williamson
4. Young
5. Conway
6. Phillips
7. Mitchell
8. Cleaver/Hay (wk)
9. Smith
10. Henry
11. O’Rourke

Whilst I think getting Ravindra opening and it gives Conway a chance to come in on a soft ball. Its kind of unfair having better players bail out Conway/Mitchell. I think NZ needs to go back to playing like these two for Eng, Conway was known for his high strike rate averaging 50 before he was eligible, then started out that way.

I wonder if there is a way to get Mccullum back to coach NZ, Stead has had his period. If not give Macca the boss job if he will take it and dump Ronchi as batting coach, Id look to Canterbury cricket for ideas on NZs best batting coaches, not them specifically but they are an excellent performance coaching group.

But that team has plenty enough players to bat like Eng, if you add Hay Id say NZ are better. Phillips should be #5 and asked to bat like Brook, which he does anyway, but yet again hes left not out with no partners. Sick of saying it, Blundell is terrible now, GP being behind him is an insult to GP.

If you take that team to #10 and ask them to play at an ODI speed, they are plenty capable.

I do think KJ would have knocked the poles of a few of these Eng batsman, but I also think we are missing a 150kph bowler, maybe Sears.

Smith should have had 5fa on debut instead Classe got one. Keep in mind Eng picked second pick players for Country like Atkinson, who then goes on to 10 in a match a Test Century. Its all about belief and captaincy who follows on from his head Coach, ie Stokes show belief on the field in his team following down from Baz picking players on belief.

What we do need is 7 wicket keep batsman, so we dont drop catches ;-p

Dochart

804 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3317810 7-Dec-2024 15:24

At times I don’t understand the way England select their players for the test side but so far Stokes and BMac have not been wrong in their selection. Bethell at 3 has done well so far, he just missed out his first century. Pope might not be in the playing 11 for the next test series unless he continues to be the wicketkeeper.

If we do decide to drop Conway and Mitchell then I agree with moving GP to 5 and let Ravindra open the batting with Young at 4. Chapman is also another option as well. He been in fine form at the moment with that massive double century the other day.

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