New Zealand- could they just win it?

[Scaly piscine]

Most of the players have been awful in the IPL.

Taylor is about the only one of the batsmen who has more than a snowball in hell's chance of making a good significant contribution leading to a good total when the rest merely chip in. If his across the line slogging doesn't come off then it's going to be below par scores pretty much every time. Bowling is mediocre. Once another team fires against NZ then NZ have got nothing to fire back with. In T20 you're even less likely to win without the raw talent the likes of India have in abundance. I can't see the pitches being horribly slow, which is the main thing that would give NZ a chance of winning.

 

[rivera213]

Na McCullums probably the best keeper in the world, but whenever he can avoid the strain on his back he hands the gloves over to specialist wicket keepers like McGlashan. McGlashan may make the team with his batting, in T20 he may be able to edge out Styris if he is on form.

Fair enough. You can't have a crocked McCullum.

Is anyone?

I think Boucher is as good allround. Not quite as athletic as McCullum but just as safe a pair of hands.

Foster is as good with the gloves too IMO, though obviously nowhere near as good with the bat and isn't really an "international" even if he has played for us before.

I actually think De Villiers was as good with the gloves too, but obviously Boucher is there.

I think Matt Prior and Kamran Akmal are No.2 & 3 behind McCullum as glovemen......

 

[Uppercut]

Fair enough. You can't have a crocked McCullum.




I think Boucher is as good allround. Not quite as athletic as McCullum but just as safe a pair of hands.

Foster is as good with the gloves too IMO, though obviously nowhere near as good with the bat and isn't really an "international" even if he has played for us before.

I actually think De Villiers was as good with the gloves too, but obviously Boucher is there.

I think Matt Prior and Kamran Akmal are No.2 & 3 behind McCullum as glovemen......

Bouch isn't bad at all. Probably takes the same percentage of catches as McCullum, not quite so spectacular but McCullum misses very straightforward catches occasionally. The thing is, he hasn't had to stand up to many spinners over the years, which is what really separates the top keepers from the good ones.

Of course, i can only limit this to international players who i see a great deal of. The best keeper around is probably nowhere near good enough with the bat to play for one of these teams. I'd nominate Jeroen Smits as one of the best behind the stumps I've seen.

 

[rivera213]

Bouch isn't bad at all. Probably takes the same percentage of catches as McCullum, not quite so spectacular but McCullum misses very straightforward catches occasionally. The thing is, he hasn't had to stand up to many spinners over the years, which is what really separates the top keepers from the good ones.

Ja, Boucher will never fly way outside leg stump to catch a tickle from the bat to make the catch but equally you know if someone skies a top-edge which almost hits a plane and swirls around in the English wind and he's underneath- he'll catch it. It must be great for the Saffie bowlers to have him behind the stumps.

Boucher is definitely 1 of, if not THE best WK to pace bowling I've seen, and especially, on bouncy South African tracks. He's had to deal with Donald, Pollock, Ntini (he used to bowl pretty fast 1998-2003, often clocked 90mph), Hayward (when he was bowling 90mph+ ca 1999-2002), Steyn (luckily the wickets in SA aren't as fast and boucny as in the 90's!), Klusener (when he was a genuine "fast" bowler- and at the begin of Boucher's career to boot!), Ngam (does anyone remember him?) etc.

However, Boucher wouldn't take this catch in a million years IMHO- YouTube - AMAZING Brendon McCullum catch

Of course, i can only limit this to international players who i see a great deal of. The best keeper around is probably nowhere near good enough with the bat to play for one of these teams. I'd nominate Jeroen Smits as one of the best behind the stumps I've seen.

Smits is the captain of Holland so I'll see him in action in the World 20-20. I can't say I remember seeing him at all but it'll be good to see how he goes.

 

[Naumaan]

i always like newzealand, they do so well & in big tournaments, whenever we reached final, newzealand lost to Pakistan lol
well just kidding
they're a good side
they can beat any team & i like them
be ready for an upset this time

 

[Flem274*]

i always like newzealand, they do so well & in big tournaments, whenever we reached final, newzealand lost to Pakistan lol
well just kidding
they're a good side
they can beat any team & i like them
be ready for an upset this time

Losing off Imran Nazirs bat too, irrc.

That was the depressing bit.

 

[Naumaan]

well many lost of his bat
but newzealand will do alot better this time
i saw some of their players are big hitters, on their day they will beat anyone
so i guess they might win this time

 

[Howsie]

Most of the players have been awful in the IPL.

Taylor is about the only one of the batsmen who has more than a snowball in hell's chance of making a good significant contribution leading to a good total when the rest merely chip in. If his across the line slogging doesn't come off then it's going to be below par scores pretty much every time. Bowling is mediocre. Once another team fires against NZ then NZ have got nothing to fire back with. In T20 you're even less likely to win without the raw talent the likes of India have in abundance. I can't see the pitches being horribly slow, which is the main thing that would give NZ a chance of winning.

I'm a New Zealand fan and all, but without trying to sound bias we have one of the best top fours in the 20/20 world cup. I know a lot of people don't like McCullum and that's fair enough but a lineup containing Ryder, McCullum, Guptill, Taylor, Oram is usually going to score a few runs in a 20/20 match. I just wish Taylor would throw away that slog six shot he has, and only use it maybe once, twice an innings.

 

[Athlai]

Howsie don't bother arguing with scaly, NZ hating scamp that he is.

 

[Howsie]

Howsie don't bother arguing with scaly, NZ hating scamp that he is.

Well I guess that explains his post.

 

[Flem274*]

I'm a New Zealand fan and all, but without trying to sound bias we have one of the best top fours in the 20/20 world cup. I know a lot of people don't like McCullum and that's fair enough but a lineup containing Ryder, McCullum, Guptill, Taylor, Oram is usually going to score a few runs in a 20/20 match. I just wish Taylor would throw away that slog six shot he has, and only use it maybe once, twice an innings.

Quick tip: never argue with Scaly about NZ. Personally I think his beautiful intelligent perfect girl was stolen by a kiwi guy, and thats why he's so irrationally dismissive of us, but hey, point is, don't bother with him. Unless of course you've had a bad day and want to vent some steam, then by all means go for it.

 

[andruid]

Quick tip: never argue with Scaly about NZ. Personally I think his beautiful intelligent perfect girl was stolen by a kiwi guy, and thats why he's so irrationally dismissive of us, but hey, point is, don't bother with him. Unless of course you've had a bad day and want to vent some steam, then by all means go for it.

Nah.. he is just plain irrational and dismissive, (maybe even a little xenophobic)

 

[Flem274*]

You have a point.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

Are all games being shown on SKY in NZ?
Might get the sports package for a month if so.

 

[Scaly piscine]

I'm a New Zealand fan and all, but without trying to sound bias we have one of the best top fours in the 20/20 world cup. I know a lot of people don't like McCullum and that's fair enough but a lineup containing Ryder, McCullum, Guptill, Taylor, Oram is usually going to score a few runs in a 20/20 match. I just wish Taylor would throw away that slog six shot he has, and only use it maybe once, twice an innings.

It's a horrible top 5.

McCullum does little against quality bowling
Ryder has a poor T20 record, doesn't seem to be his game
Guptill? Who?
Taylor is a random across the line slogger in T20. It'll work occasionally, but less likely if the ball does anything and the bowling is good
Oram has just been absolutely hopeless in the IPL


Pakistan, Australia, India and South Africa all have comfortably better top orders. New Zealand aren't going to outgun top sides. They can grind sides down with long batting orders allowing for more aggression, good overall disciplined team display, consistent high quality fielding and the odd clever strategy/gamble.

 

[nz0003]

You are a dick.

McCullum has scored 3 50s in his last 3 international t20s against India and Australia.

Your comment on Ryder is ridiculous if you can score quick in and ODI which he does regularly you can score quick in at Twenty20 ffs. Its a matter of time before he fires in a t20.

Guptill also just tore up the West Indies and Indian attacks, not too mention that innings he played at the Gabba against Australia.

Taylor does play accross the line a fair bit, but when it pulls off he wins the game for you.

Oram has been hopeless, but he hasnt had much cricket lately and he might just start to get into form.

India and South Africa probably do have a better top order than NZ, but Pakistan is nothing compared to NZ and Australias is about on par.

Im not saying NZ will take out the t20 world cup, but your post is ****ing ridiculous.

 

[Cruxdude]

Forever the dark horses. They can win it this time.

 

[rivera213]

I can't see Ryder batting as bad in the World T20 as he did for Bangalore, though to be fair he did get a couple of 1st over jaffas.

McCullum and Taylor came into form towards the end of the IPL.

I like the top 4. Not the best, but certainly not the worst- that's our top 4. Lol

 

[Scaly piscine]

Scoring quickly in ODIs is completely different to scoring quickly in T20Is.

Scoring quickly in ODIs is a run a ball or thereabouts, which generally isn't nearly enough in T20.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

SP, go get laid!