***Official*** New Zealand Domestic Season 2007/08

[Flem274*]

Awesome batting by Otago. I've never had much faith in Redmond's List A ability, but he's in good form this season. Broom is 36* from 14 as I type, very good batsmen. Rate him.

I suppose it won't be long before the public are talking about Daniel Flynn as another possible ODI option. Him and BJ Watling have been excellent for Northern Districts this season. Our batting depth isn't that bad, but we need the selectors to pick this young guys for higher representative games, that way we'll get a better indication of their quality. There is a strong nucleus of young players averaging between 30 and 35 that could be potential ODI batsmen, we just need to give them more experience.

Then of course there is Michael Papps, who averages over 40 for Canterbury. Disgraceful he doesn't get more recognition.

I've been a fan of Papps in limited overs ever since i saw his ODI record

His List A average is quite good and deserves a good go opening but his FC average of 35 is run of the mill stuff really so prehaps his struggle in tests isn't a huge shock.

I like Flynn, looks to have the goods so far. If McCullum continues to open over the next few seasons then I wouldn't mind him slotting in at number six. I think Broom is down the pecking order though, a bit of a shame really.

Watling is a bit of an unknown to me though I understand he's a former under 19 keeper batsman with a FC average of 27 correct?

Also like the look of our stolen yarpie Myburgh (sic). He's been pretty good so far, same with Van Wyk.

What do you mean by higher representative games? NZ A or Intl 20/20s or something?

 

[Perm]

His List A average is quite good and deserves a good go opening but his FC average of 35 is run of the mill stuff really so prehaps his struggle in tests isn't a huge shock.

He deserves far more of a go than Ryder, that's for sure. Talent be damned, if you can't get runs on the board you shouldn't be selected. Papps actually averages 40 for Canterbury, which is pretty damn good for a domestic player in New Zealand.

I like Flynn, looks to have the goods so far. If McCullum continues to open over the next few seasons then I wouldn't mind him slotting in at number six. I think Broom is down the pecking order though, a bit of a shame really.

Not too sure why you'd want to bat Flynn down the order when he's had most of his success batting at #3. Obviously there is a hole at #6 or #7 for the Black Caps, but I'm not keen on having a young guy down there, especially if he takes a little while to bat himself in.

Watling is a bit of an unknown to me though I understand he's a former under 19 keeper batsman with a FC average of 27 correct?

He's a bit of a stone-waller by all accounts, but has been posting big runs in the State Shield this season. If memory serves, he wasn't too bad last season either. Obviously not too good at FC stuff yet, as his average shows, but I'm confident he'll grow into it.

What do you mean by higher representative games? NZ A or Intl 20/20s or something?

New Zealand A games, overseas tours etc etc.

 

[Perm]

There's been a few batsmen gunning it this season, for sure. Elliot, Guptill, Redmond, Harris, de Boorder, Watling, Flynn and Hay all average over 50, being regulars for their provincial teams. Fleming, Styris and Vincent have been good in the few games they've played too. It appears Rob Nicol is the leading OD all-rounder in New Zealand too, with 267 runs at 38 and 13 wickets at 23. Leading wicket-taker for the season, as Athlai pointed out not so long ago.

 

[Tim]

Papps has been very good for Canterbury but I think it's been established about 3 or 4 times over the last 4 years that Papps struggles to adjust to the step up to international level.

You can get away with an 'iffy' technique in domestic cricket but at international level there's far more video analysis done on players and Papps is far more exposed. He's dodgy against the short ball and im sure it'll be in the back of his mind every time he plays a match for NZ.

However, if he can work that problem out then there's always a chance he could be a good opener for New Zealand.

 

[Tim]

I don't know if anyone realised but Richard Sherlock returned to domestic cricket yesterday for Central Districts.

I'll have to talk to Canterbury coach Dave Nosworthy about that because as far as i'm aware, he thought Sherlock would be returning to Canterbury after a long lay off.

Anyway, this is a guy who's been confirmed in the past as a genuine 150 km bowler so fingers crossed he's worked on his action and he can make some progress the rest of the season.

 

[Flem274*]

There's been a few batsmen gunning it this season, for sure. Elliot, Guptill, Redmond, Harris, de Boorder, Watling, Flynn and Hay all average over 50, being regulars for their provincial teams. Fleming, Styris and Vincent have been good in the few games they've played too. It appears Rob Nicol is the leading OD all-rounder in New Zealand too, with 267 runs at 38 and 13 wickets at 23. Leading wicket-taker for the season, as Athlai pointed out not so long ago.

De Boorder is a keeper isn't he? What is his keeping like?

Elliot and Redmond, hmm not sure. I'd like to see Redmond gun it for a while yet as his List A record isn't flash IIRC and with regards to Elliot I can't say I've thought much of him as an allrounder, a bit average really but if he merits selection on batting alone in the future then fair enough.

Thought Flynn was a number four? Anyway I remember seeing somewhere he had a List A SR of 90 odd and is a pretty good batsmen so I though he would suit number 6. As for Nicol I thought he was a batsman that bowled a bit or is he a genuine allrounder? A top order batsman that can double as a second spinner would be a huge asset in the subcontinent. Only thing that worries me is he's the leading wicket taker with 13 wickets, are you sure on that?

Everybody knows my thoughts on Greg Hay of course. Tim why can't you parrot his name a bit around the office? I'm bored of this "we suck, we have no one coming through" rubbish that we hear so often, mainly from the callers though TBF.

Martin Guptill is quite young isn't he? Lets see how he does in the coming two seasons or so.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

I'll have to talk to Canterbury coach Dave Nosworthy about that because as far as i'm aware, he thought Sherlock would be returning to Canterbury after a long lay off.

From an interview with Dave Nosworthy, dated October 2007 on this very matter, and seeming to confirm your suspicions:

Q2. Richard Sherlock has played for New Zealand A and signed for Canterbury back in 2005/06. We didn’t see him during the whole of the 2006/7 season due to injury. Are we likely to see him playing for Canterbury again? If we are to see him again, how likely is it that he’ll be able to bowl at full pace and what measures will be taken to reduce the likelihood of injury for him?

Dave: Richard is a rare talent and has played few matches to date. Personally I believe he will still play for Canterbury somewhere along the line (and hopefully New Zealand), but his body needs to first mature, settle down, and become more accustomed to the rigours of fast bowling. Injury is a very unpredictable event - and thus as with all players every angle as far as possible is taken to prevent any time away from the game and injury. Richard has the ability to bowl fast, and should not lose such at this age for a while still...however; the minutes are ticking away for him and his body to get back into things. Here's hoping that he is back as soon as possible!

Full interview: http://www.************.net/content/view/95/28/

 

[Blakey]

H Bennett 4 for 43 off 9 against Auckland so far.

 

[Blakey]

2 more wickets for him takes him to 6.

 

[Tim]

that's a good haul for Bennett. I've heard all this talk about him being a really good quick but when you look at his stats they're average to say the least.

 

[Blakey]

Yep.

 

[Perm]

Just read in the paper that Queens Park in Invercargill could play host to an Otago game next Wednesday! Against the Northern Knights too! Hopefully I can manage to make it and check out some of these young guns.

Richard Sherlock was tidy in his comeback game, 10 overs, 3 maidens for 34 runs. Shame he couldn't pick up any wickets. How useless has Andrew Strauss been this season? Knew it was a mistake that ND contracted him for limited overs stuff, he should have been playing in the State Championship. Gutted to see Watling and Flynn fall for not many, they need to push on for a whole season.

Rob Nicol and Martin Guptill the only two to stand up in the wake of Hamish Bennett, who took match figures of 6/45. Seems the pitch could be suited to seam bowling though, as Canterbury are 8/1 at the moment. Good to see those two bastmen continuing good seasons, while Bennett is finally getting results after promising so much.

Otago only managed 238 against Wellington, very disappointing for them. Broom top scored with 62, McSkimming got 59 and Cumming made 45. Nobody else really contributed, but Grant Elliot continued his hot run of form this season, picking up 5/34.

 

[Bahnz]

Good old Harry guiding Canterbury home. I know he's about a thousand years old, and bears the black spot of the ICL, but if I were a selector, I'd still pick him in a second. Who can argue with an average of 50+, or an economy rate of 4.3?

Also good to see Matty and Flembo scoring some runs for Wellington. They'll both be needed in top form if we're to have a prayer in the tests.
EDIT: sigh as I say it, Bell goes for 49.

 

[Flem274*]

Good old Harry guiding Canterbury home. I know he's about a thousand years old, and bears the black spot of the ICL, but if I were a selector, I'd still pick him in a second. Who can argue with an average of 50+, or an economy rate of 4.3?

Also good to see Matty and Flembo scoring some runs for Wellington. They'll both be needed in top form if we're to have a prayer in the tests.
EDIT: sigh as I say it, Bell goes for 49.

Nevr understood why Harris was dropped TBH. A few impacts he could have made are:

a) Lower totals to chase in bloody CH games

b) Destroyed oposition batting line ups on slow WI pitches

c) Great 20/20 player, could have been the 20/20 X factor to take us to the final

I know they're ifs and coulds but he should have been in the ODI side.

Reckon he'll play until 50?

 

[slugger]

I dont know if you could say harry was dropped.. just never reslected after falling injured in that CH match in Aust. was it 04 or 05.. you could argue that its horses for courses and harry's bowling has never been questioned in NZ conditions and it looks like after a couple of season away from the black caps his batting has improved a much better SR.. his hearts still in it which must have a real positive effect in the cant. team..

 

[slugger]

but whats up with sinclair.. his last couple of games hes having trouble getting out of the 20's hes really got to start to put some big scores on the board.. this is just what the selectors will be pointing to .. if hes misses selection for the test team..

 

[brockley]

I thought sherlock would stay in australia,i was wrong,why did he play for the canberra comets anyway,big step down.

 

[Tim]

Sherlock was over at Canberra because he was working with Ashley Ross, so Canberra chucked him in their team for 2 or 3 games.

A few years ago on an 'A' tour to South Africa, Dayle Hadlee reckoned Sherlock hit 150 km's a number of times so hopefully he's put his injury problems behind cause NZ could sure do with another genuine quick.

Also, I reckon Sinclair will announce soon that he's off to the ICL..I think it's almost a certainty.

 

[Tim]

These are the guys I reckon the selectors are looking very closely at right now with retirements and tours coming up.

Rob Nicol, Greg Hay, Neil Broom, Greg Todd, Richard Sherlock, Bradley Scott, Grant Elliott, Daniel Flynn, Hamish Bennett, Leighton Burtt, Peter McGlashan.

I wouldn't be surprised if 2 or 3 of these players made the cut for the England tour.

 

[Blakey]

What do you think of Bennett and Burtt?

I like the attitude of young Boult. He looks like he really really wants to either get you out or scare you.