Howsie
International Captain
From what Greatbatch said this morning on the Radio the pitch has a shade of green so they brought Franklin in to bat at eight and play as the third seamer, meaning Patel will still play.
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*Official* Australia in New Zealand
- Thread starter James
- Start date
If you look at Williamson's form since Christmas, it is pretty awesome.
In the 50-over games since December 23, he has scored 107*, 70, 108*, 77, 81, 1, 84 and 69. That's 597 runs at an average of 99.5. He also has 11 wickets at 22.5.
In the f/c games since the Christmas break he has scored 529 runs at 105.8.
I know that stats can be manipulated however you like, but these are still pretty useful, however you look at them. I also realise that NZ domestic cricket is a big step down from Test cricket, but what else can you ask the guy to do?
One problem NZ cricket has had in the past is that we have either picked guys with loads of runs but dodgy techniques (e.g., Sinclair, Ingram, Fulton) or supposedly good techniques but limited first-class runs (e.g. the Marshalls, Watling).
The potentially great thing about Williamson is that he combines prolific run-scoring with an allegedly solid technique.
One other point: McCullum was kept out of the Test team for a while by Robbie Hart because the selectors didn't want to drop him in the deep end. Ross Taylor was held back for the same reason for a while. In retrospect, both of those decisions seem silly.
As Bradburn said, would you rather Williamson get his taste of international cricket on a docile pitch that he knows well against a good, but not fearsome, attack, or on some hot, dusty Sri Lankan wicket against Murali, Mendis & Co.?
In the 50-over games since December 23, he has scored 107*, 70, 108*, 77, 81, 1, 84 and 69. That's 597 runs at an average of 99.5. He also has 11 wickets at 22.5.
In the f/c games since the Christmas break he has scored 529 runs at 105.8.
I know that stats can be manipulated however you like, but these are still pretty useful, however you look at them. I also realise that NZ domestic cricket is a big step down from Test cricket, but what else can you ask the guy to do?
One problem NZ cricket has had in the past is that we have either picked guys with loads of runs but dodgy techniques (e.g., Sinclair, Ingram, Fulton) or supposedly good techniques but limited first-class runs (e.g. the Marshalls, Watling).
The potentially great thing about Williamson is that he combines prolific run-scoring with an allegedly solid technique.
One other point: McCullum was kept out of the Test team for a while by Robbie Hart because the selectors didn't want to drop him in the deep end. Ross Taylor was held back for the same reason for a while. In retrospect, both of those decisions seem silly.
As Bradburn said, would you rather Williamson get his taste of international cricket on a docile pitch that he knows well against a good, but not fearsome, attack, or on some hot, dusty Sri Lankan wicket against Murali, Mendis & Co.?
Howsie
International Captain
Wouldn't even take five wickets that attack IMO.
With hindsight, you could have said this back in Dec 2007:
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It's one first class game. If he double-fails he won't be the first. I think this theory that failing early in your first class career will mentally destroy you for life is a tad melodramatic and very much dependent on the individual.
Worst case scenario would be Williamson making a pair and then not getting selected for our next first class game. He would go back to age group cricket exactly the same player he was before and on exactly the same path he was on in the first place- as long as he's made of relatively stern stuff mentally.
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So what happened? Not a pair, but only just. lbw b Adams 2 (2 balls), lbw b Adams 0 (10 balls). See here: Auckland v Northern Districts at Auckland, Dec 10-12, 2007 | Cricket Scorecard | Cricinfo.com. This was his only FC game that season. But he bounced back OK in 2nd season, 812 runs at average 50.75 with 2 centuries.
Two comments about Nick Beard:
1. he's young, 20 years old, 1st full FC season
2. when he had the chance to win a game by bowling out a side in the 4th innings on a good pitch, he did it. 6-107 vs Auckland at Univ Oval. Not many NZ spinners have done this at FC or test level in the last few years.
that has to be the best attack for this game. southee shouldn't play because he doesn't swing it anymore-selectors need to take the blame for that since they pushed him into the team way too early and made him play t20s. southee should play atleast the next 3 seasons of fc cricket before they even consider him for the team again.
Offering up slow half volleys outside off and nurdling the ball from the outside edge to either first slip or the keeper?
Days of Grace
International Captain
Yep, the selectors felt they needed a seamer who was also a decent batsman at no.8, and Franklin is the only cab in the stand.
Unfortunately, at test level, he really is the Ronnie Irani of NZ cricket.
Unfortunately, at test level, he really is the Ronnie Irani of NZ cricket.
Good points. I was at the game in question - he was victim of circumstance more than anything on that occasion.
1st innings he got a good one from Andre Adams, who averaged 9 with the ball that season...no disgrace there. Then in the second innings he was, I remember feeling at the time, shafted by being sent in before the close of play in light that was certainly not fit for cricket. You could see the inevitability of him getting out in that situation and so it happened.
I'd love to see the kid get a go, he doesn't seem like someone who would let it get him too down if he had a similar failure on Test debut. He seems like the sort of level-headed guy that knows if he puts in the work, he's got a massive career ahead of him.
In other news, Rudds has been smoking the good stuff - One-all not out of the question - Cricket - Sportal NewZealand . We're gonna get humped...
Flem274*
123/5
Pretty much. It's been a very sad decline.
Howsie
International Captain
He'll play for New Zealand within the next year IMO, rate him bloody highly. I reckon he's a better spinner then Patel already too, not like that means much though.
Days of Grace
International Captain
So is there any possibility that Franklin will bowl above 135km/h again?
The selectors should tell him that either he bowls 135km/h again or he doesn't make the team. Let's face it: Ryder will come back, Williamson will be in there somewhere, and Guptill is also making his way. McCullum is also thinking of becoming a specialist bat.
There is no space in the middle order for you, Jimmy. Learn to bowl again or **** off.
Days of Grace
International Captain
I really hope they just play him in Test cricket.
I don't even want a young spinner to play domestic twenty20. All it does is force them to bowl darts, which they then carry into first-class cricket.
Don't think so, unless Vettori is injured. In next year we have tours to SL (ODI) then Bang (ODI/test) and India (ODI/test) (unless India reschedule us to 20-never... and replace us with some T20 stuff), then home vs Pak in Dec/Jan then World Cup.
IMHO selectors won't punt on Beard as a 2nd spinner in the sub-continent, will take McCullum for ODI stuff, take Patel to Bang where he'll do well enough to be picked for India. Then back home only 1 spinner is needed. So Beard be a victim of timing, will need to wait until after a 2nd first class season to move up the pecking order ...
The kid who bowled slow left arm for NZ U-19 in the recent World Cup looked quite good, Tim Johnston I think his name was. Any idea if he is close to playing for his province?
I see that Ben Wheeler is playing first-class cricket now. He looked quite average in the U-19 WC, although he took a few wickets.
I see that Ben Wheeler is playing first-class cricket now. He looked quite average in the U-19 WC, although he took a few wickets.
Tim Johnston ... Canterbury Cricket - Canterbury U19 Player Recieves Lords Scholarship
He also now appears to be bowling right arm
Zinzan
Request Your Custom Title Now!
Nah, he just bowled that one delivery right-armed for the photo to confuse JumboTim Johnston ... Canterbury Cricket - Canterbury U19 Player Recieves Lords Scholarship
He also now appears to be bowling right arm
Smudge
Hall of Fame Member
I know you're out of the country, but it's obvious you didn't watch Beard in the domestic Twenty20s. He was tossing them up with plenty of air and getting the rewards.