***Official*** Bangladesh in New Zealand

[James]

Perm was telling me on MSN the other day that Ian Smith was saying that Ross Taylor was a target for the ICL too.

 

[NZTailender]

I don't think Ross Taylor would sign with the ICL. IPL, I can see, but not the ICL. He has dreams, that man.

 

[James90]

I would also bring in Saleh for Aftab.

I actually would like to see:

1 Siddique
2 Iqbal
3 Nafees
4 Ashraful
5 Saleh
6 Bashar
7 Rahim
8 Haque Jnr
9 Mortaza
10 Hossain
11 Islam

Saleh and Nafees switching between 3 and 5, wouldn't be bad either. I just think it's good to not have Ashraful and Bashar batting after each other.

Yep that looks pretty good. Some people are arguing the case of Razzaq instead of Haque though. Gotta feel sorry for Rafique.

 

[Flem274*]

If Vincent, Sinclair or Adams get into a spat with the selectors or Bracewell again I can see them leaving, especially Sinclair and Adams as they're in their 30s now so they'd take the money.

Wouldn't be surprised if Ryder had a hissyfit and went as well TBH.

 

[Lord Flasheart]

For a country with so little depth, NZ is doing a bad job of retaining its players.
Is Bracewell really that difficult to play for? He's doing a good job of driving players away. Soon the only players available will be the first class journeymen who can't get an offer from India, county cricket, or the Lower Uncton Invitational Pub XI.

 

[sportychic33]

If Vincent, Sinclair or Adams get into a spat with the selectors or Bracewell again I can see them leaving, especially Sinclair and Adams as they're in their 30s now so they'd take the money.

Wouldn't be surprised if Ryder had a hissyfit and went as well TBH.

I could see Styris going if he hadn't already signed with the IPL, reading in the Sunday News I am a bit doubtful if he has the right attitude as he seems to have given up the fight saying that those picked for Bangladesh will automatically get in for the test team to face the English. Vincent, yep anything is possible with that man who is supposedly suffering from "physical and mental exhaustion" after the South African and Australian tours, which to me is a worry being the fact he had a long off-season and did little on the afore mentioned tours.

NZC are in a really unfortunate position as they are unable to offer the remuneration that the players desire, only a select few can get into the endorsed league and many have disagreements with either the panel of selectors and John Bracewell.
However we need those players to create depth in the domestic competition, which "strenghens" the Black Caps.

 

[sportychic33]

For a country with so little depth, NZ is doing a bad job of retaining its players.
Is Bracewell really that difficult to play for? He's doing a good job of driving players away. Soon the only players available will be the first class journeymen who can't get an offer from India, county cricket, or the Lower Uncton Invitational Pub XI.

NZ rely on revenue from Television deals from India, this along with ICC payouts for attending tournaments etc, is how the players are paid, grounds maintained, domestic cricket promoted and players paid and the list goes on. Therefore NZ has limited money to pay the 20 contracted players and the domestic players, that is why with the ICL they may have a hard time retaining the players especially as many of them will be looking at the international opponents seeing what they are getting paid and also looking within the team at players such as Vettori, Oram, McCullum, Styris and Fleming who have been selected for the IPL. Questioning why they aren't getting money and probably searching for the best and easiest alternative for them to earn big amounts of money. . The players who are on the fringes of the international team or who may have difficulties with John Bracewell well therefore be more lenient to any offers from the Rebel League.The ICL is basically designed to put the ICC and BCCI under pressure and move players around and upset the future tours programme and targeting the fringe players of NZ, is a good way as NZ often use a wide range of players and the NZ players are probably the poorest paid cricketers in the game
The players who will stay around so to speak will be the ones who want to play for their country and have other plans after cricket so are not so reliant on the money.

 

[Somerset]

Haven't posted in this thread since before the ODI series so my views on the series so far.

First ODI I attended, to be fair Bangladesh blew a golden chance of making 260-280 after Ashraful (who I maintain needs two fielders on the leg side boundary at all times) and Tamim were going well. How was very impressive.

Second ODI was great to see New Zealand in dominant form though the innings appeared to fall away before being rescued with the enslaught at the death. The Ashraful catch made me wonder why the umpires didn't use technology to at least allow the third umpire to have a look (see the end of the post for more).

Third ODI a cakewalk and a shame for the supporters at the great Queenstown ground. Though at least some fireworks from McCullum after his unreal performance with the bat. Thought Bangladesh bowled very poorly even if McCullum was in the mood to go after everything.

The test match...great start, very average middle and comprehensive finish (sounds very familiar in NZ cricket). Bell a deserved century, played very impressively and at least temporarily solved one of the opening issues. Oram superb as well. Martin the innings of his career I'm sure.

Tamim and Zunaid batted brilliantly in their second knock. Tamim lucky after O'Brien's dropped catch - which I personally thought was a sitter yet the commentators seemed less harsh than I'd have been. Again inconsistency in their batting which still appears to be a problem. Was actually surprised Nafees didn't open though with the 140-odd run partnership I tend to see why now. Was also a bit surprised that Shahib al Hasan didn't play as I rate him as a player, and believe he'd be just as or even more effective in test matches than in ODIs.

As far as the Bangaldesh bowling goes, Mashrafe still looks a good talent (though could do with batting like a cricketer rather than a baseballer), and the two younger bowlers looked promising. Surprised Razzak didn't get the spinner's role.

So far, a good series from New Zealand's perspective. Not great, but good. Great will be series successes against England after players have made the most of the semi-competitive Bangladesh matches.

Onto the other issue of the past fortnight (in the Aus vs India series). India have no doubt been on the recieving end of several bad calls from the umpires and a decision based on lack of evidence from the match referee but I feel that cricket gets into a dangerous situation when teams start selecting their own prefered umpires. I don't dispute that Bowden will do a better job than Steve Buckner but it almost appears that India will get whatever they want by threatening to pull out of the tour. For the technology debate, I still don't see the harm in having a tennis open like format in place where each team gets two calls per innings to dispute an umpire's call, and after two incorrect disputes the side gets no more. Worth a trial anyway in my opinion, and would also in my view make batsmen more honest (ie. if a side appeals and a batsmen, after nicking a ball was given not out, is hardly like to stand around in the middle).

Just my thoughts after a little break from posting.

 

[Somerset]

For a country with so little depth, NZ is doing a bad job of retaining its players.
Is Bracewell really that difficult to play for? He's doing a good job of driving players away. Soon the only players available will be the first class journeymen who can't get an offer from India, county cricket, or the Lower Uncton Invitational Pub XI.

I don't feel NZC are doing that bad a job at retaining players, as far as we know Bond is the only one technically available for selection to officially sign on and really, wouldn't you with a $800,000 cheque for a few months' cricket?

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

I'm gonna be at the game today at the Basin. If you're there too, let me know and we can have a yarn or two over an overly priced Tui or Export Gold (if you've failed to smuggle any in of course)

 

[Jungle Jumbo]

Toss (10.30 local time): Daniel Vettori has won his ninth consecutive toss and New Zealand will bowl first. Predictable.

Teams: Bangladesh have made just one change, bringing in allrounder Shakib Al Hasan in place of left-arm spinner Enamul Haque Jnr. New Zealand are unchanged from the Dunedin Test so Michael Mason misses out again.

New Zealand: 1 Craig Cumming, 2 Matthew Bell, 3 Peter Fulton, 4 Stephen Fleming, 5 Mathew Sinclair, 6 Jacob Oram, 7 Brendon McCullum (wk), 8 Daniel Vettori (capt), 9 Kyle Mills, 10 Iain O'Brien, 11 Chris Martin

Bangladesh: 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Junaid Siddique, 3 Habibul Bashar, 4 Mohammad Ashraful (capt), 5 Aftab Ahmed, 6 Shahriar Nafees, 7 Shakib Al Hasan, 8 Mushfiqir Rahim (wk), 9 Mashrafe Mortaza, 10 Shahadat Hossain, 11 Sajidul Islam

WTF? Why do we have Saqibul as the lone spinner? Are we seriously expecting to bowl them out with that attack. Bizarre decision. I hope I will have to eat my words.

 

[Jungle Jumbo]

18-2 already, this could get pretty messy.

 

[Somerset]

O'Brien retained for New Zealand...

Bangladesh three down within the first hour, though with a longer batting line up should still fancy their chances of getting to at least 200-250.

 

[NZTailender]

Martin bowling particularly well. Thought Mills got a lot of seam/swing movement and looked good despite a couple of fours off his bowling.


O'Diren. ****.

 

[andruid]

73/5 Someone needs to drop anchor for the team

 

[James90]

I'm gonna be at the game today at the Basin. If you're there too, let me know and we can have a yarn or two over an overly priced Tui or Export Gold (if you've failed to smuggle any in of course)

Pulp Sport - inspiring a new generation of beer smugglers.

 

[Perm]

WTF? Why do we have Saqibul as the lone spinner? Are we seriously expecting to bowl them out with that attack. Bizarre decision. I hope I will have to eat my words.

Thought that was particularly baffling when I saw the team lists, especially as he's batting below Aftab and Mushfiqur. Bizzare indeed. He should be in the side, of that I have no doubt, but not as a specialist spinner.

 

[James]

For those of you looking for live radio commentary, you can go it through www.radiosport.co.nz

Looks like this test is going to be very one-sided too judging by Bangladesh currently being 86-6. Will be all out for 120 odd probably.

 

[Perm]

73/5 Someone needs to drop anchor for the team

Aftab doing his best, 2 from 35 so far. Can't see him lasting long before trying a stupid shot though.

 

[stumpski]

Yay! Hundred up!