***Official*** England in New Zealand series 2013

[Hurricane]

Mitch, or Hamish Bennett when he's fit.

I don't know who I cringe more at Arnel or Bennett probably Bennett because at least Arnel doesn't break down on you tieing his shoe laces.

 

[Bahnz]

One final word on the Ronchi thing: I'm not saying he shouldn't make the side because he's a terrible cricketer, I'm saying he doesn't fit because we already have a performing wicketkeeper, Brownlie has made runs, and Taylor and Ryder are (well okay, only likely in Ryder's case) returning.

You're seriously overestimating the likelihood of Ryder's return. It's a month away from the start of the England tour, and he has yet to provide any indication that he intends to play in that series. All he's said is that he hasn't ruled himself out and that he eventually wants to return to intl cricket, which is what he's been saying since the start of the season

I'd agree to an avatar bet for the entirety of the England series that Ryder won't be playing. Any takers?

 

[Howsie]

Yeh I'll get on that.

 

[Bahnz]

Yeh I'll get on that.

OK, the terms then.

The loser will wear the winner's choosen avatar from the day of the first T20, until the conclusion of the 3rd test (Feb 9 until around the 25th of March). Hopefully we get a nice clear statement from Ryder or NZ Cricket saying that he's either playing or he's not, shortly after the Jan 29 meeting. However, in the unlikely event that Ryder is still making his mind up during the T20's and ODI's about whether or not to play:

Howsie wears the avatar I choose for him until Ryder publicly commits to play, after which I wear his avatar.

Agreed?

 

[jcas0167]

If Ryder isn't available, I would be tempted to bat Ronchi at 7, relieve BJ of the keeping duties and tell him to focus on making runs at 6. Still, even that's tricky, as that would leave NZ worryingly light on 5th bowling options. He'd need to keep piling on the runs in domestic cricket for the pro's to outweigh the con's.

I would happily see Ronchi in the side as a specialist batsman. I was very impressed by him at Karori Park on debut last season (admittedly against a depleted CD line up).

Even have him coming in at 7. He would be perfect to demoralise the fielding side, scoring quickly with proper cricket shots. Ensure we get 300+ totals for Southee, Bracewell & Boult to work with. They have shown they can get the wickets, they just need the runs. Williamson & Vettori/B. Martin can provide the spin.

 

[hendrix]

Sorry, I just don't understand the calls for Ronchi to make the team as a specialist batsman.

I mean, Southee has scored a domestic century this season.

 

[Bahnz]

Sorry, I just don't understand the calls for Ronchi to make the team as a specialist batsman.

I mean, Southee has scored a domestic century this season.

Ronchi scored two hundreds against a very strong ND bowling attack. Southee, Arnel (who averages 24 in PS cricket) and Aldridge is about as tough a test as you will get in New Zealand domestic cricket.

I don't think too many people are arguing for him to be in the side as a specialist bat. I agree that he hasn't accomplished a whole lot, and has stats from his last couple of seasons in Sheffield Shield aren't great. But as a keeper batsman, since coming to NZ he's averaged nearly 80, and is meant to be a top quality keeper to boot, so he's definitely a contender.

 

[jcas0167]

Ronchi scored two hundreds against a very strong ND bowling attack. Southee, Arnel (who averages 24 in PS cricket) and Aldridge is about as tough a test as you will get in New Zealand domestic cricket.

I don't think too many people are arguing for him to be in the side as a specialist bat. I agree that he hasn't accomplished a whole lot, and has stats from his last couple of seasons in Sheffield Shield aren't great. But as a keeper batsman, since coming to NZ he's averaged nearly 80, and is meant to be a top quality keeper to boot, so he's definitely a contender.

It's also the manner he gets his runs. He scores at a good rate and looked to have a good technique when I saw him. I think having someone come in and play like that in the lower/middle order would be brilliant (the model of course being Gilchrist coming in at 7 and demoralising opponents). Ideally as keeper, but seeing Watling has the gloves and has the no6 spot I would just bring him in as a specialist at no7. Williamson/Brownlie could bowl 10-15 overs?

 

[Kippax]

Out-Of-Form Guptill Faces Chop For England Series | Stuff.co.nz

I notice Doull has put the call out for Hamish Rutherford and Jeet Raval. Not sure where he's plucked Raval from, Hawke's Bay coach Lincoln Doull perhaps. "Take Carl Cachopa, he deserves a chance, give him four or five tests, no pressure" - Sinclair in his new radio segment.

Hamish Rutherford, 99 vs. India A - YouTube

Jimmy Anderson Three-Card Trick - YouTube

 

[Howsie]

OK, the terms then.

The loser will wear the winner's choosen avatar from the day of the first T20, until the conclusion of the 3rd test (Feb 9 until around the 25th of March). Hopefully we get a nice clear statement from Ryder or NZ Cricket saying that he's either playing or he's not, shortly after the Jan 29 meeting. However, in the unlikely event that Ryder is still making his mind up during the T20's and ODI's about whether or not to play:

Howsie wears the avatar I choose for him until Ryder publicly commits to play, after which I wear his avatar.

Agreed?

Deal.

 

[Bahnz]

Out-Of-Form Guptill Faces Chop For England Series | Stuff.co.nz

I notice Doull has put the call out for Hamish Rutherford and Jeet Raval. Not sure where he's plucked Raval from, Hawke's Bay coach Lincoln Doull perhaps. "Take Carl Cachopa, he deserves a chance, give him four or five tests, no pressure" - Sinclair in his new radio segment.

Raval has probably been the best performed of the young openers this season, even though he hasn't yet made a hundred. Bit of a change from the old days when he was a real feast or famine type.

 

[Kippax]

Deal.

What does Bahnz see as the stumbling block there btw? "I'd like to possibly open, and we'll just talk about the test form I guess....(leaving the ball) is definitely something I'll be working on in the next FC game". Very peculiar and specific things to say if he's now going to revert to giving zero ****s.

Hesson says some things on the 29th that Ryder finds a bit strange, a la Ross?

 

[Bahnz]

What does Bahnz see as the stumbling block there btw? "I'd like to possibly open, and we'll just talk about the test form I guess....(leaving the ball) is definitely something I'll be working on in the next FC game". Very peculiar and specific things to say if he's now going to revert to giving zero ****s.

Hesson says some things on the 29th that Ryder finds a bit strange, a la Ross?

I just find it hard to believe that a guy, who has made no firm commitments 3 weeks out from a start of a series, who by the admission of his own coach takes team practice about as seriously as an aethiest does church, and whose own manager said was probably not returning for the England tour, would suddenly decide that he's ready at such a time of turmoil and unrest within the Blackcaps.

 

[Flem274*]

It's Jesse Ryder. He could do anything at any moment.

 

[Bahnz]

It's Jesse Ryder. He could do anything at any moment.

I agree that he could come back. I just don't think it's particularly likely.

 

[Athlai]

I just find it hard to believe that a guy, who has made no firm commitments 3 weeks out from a start of a series, who by the admission of his own coach takes team practice about as seriously as an aethiest does church, and whose own manager said was probably not returning for the England tour, would suddenly decide that he's ready at such a time of turmoil and unrest within the Blackcaps.

Would make Jesse the black sheep seem like a bit of a hero though to come in and help New Zealand after all the **** thats been happening lately.

That isn't what the situation will really be but it could easily be pushed that way to the average punter.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Sorry, I just don't understand the calls for Ronchi to make the team as a specialist batsman.

I mean, Southee has scored a domestic century this season.

Utterly ridiculous comment. I mean with sort of logic why pick anyone? May as well just draw names out of a hat right?

Virtually every batsman NZ picks will look out of their depth. Ronchi has international experience and wasn't out of his depth. He plays properly, not your typical NZ blocker/slogger/both with blatant weaknesses. He scored centuries in a low-ish scoring game against the strongest bowling attack in domestic cricket. He has a history of being at least decent and you'd hope he's matured and reaching his peak.

 

[Prince EWS]

Utterly ridiculous comment. I mean with sort of logic why pick anyone? May as well just draw names out of a hat right?

Virtually every batsman NZ picks will look out of their depth. Ronchi has international experience and wasn't out of his depth. He plays properly, not your typical NZ blocker/slogger/both with blatant weaknesses. He scored centuries in a low-ish scoring game against the strongest bowling attack in domestic cricket. He has a history of being at least decent and you'd hope he's matured and reaching his peak.

I think the most worrying thing in terms of Ronchi is that in his last four FC seasons in Australia, he only averaged above 25 in one of them, and in fact only hit a ton in one of them (he hit three that season, only one fifty though!). He even found himself out of WA side for periods; his First Class average had really come crashing right down before the move.

He's always been an inconsistent player and a terrible starter so I think he could still go okay at Test level despite those baron periods - I don't think it's the quality of the bowling that's really going to be his downfall as such so if he's in form now he's worth a punt - but the fact that he'd been so ordinary for so long in the Sheffield Shield does cast doubts over whether his recent form is just a product of playing in a lower standard competition.

 

[Scaly piscine]

I think the most worrying thing in terms of Ronchi is that in his last four FC seasons in Australia, he only averaged above 25 in one of them, and in fact only hit a ton in one of them (he hit three that season, only one fifty though!). He even found himself out of WA side for periods; his First Class average had really come crashing right down before the move.

He's always been an inconsistent player and a terrible starter so I think he could still go okay at Test level - I don't think it's the quality of the bowling that's really going to be his downfall as such so if he's in form now he's worth a punt - but the fact that he'd been so ordinary for so long in the Sheffield Shield does cast doubts over whether his recent form is just a product of playing in a lower standard competition.

Absolutely, but then he's competing against guys who can't even average 30 in Test cricket or debutants. In those four seasons he still averaged about 30 overall. He's a great fit for a no. 7 and I think he'd average low 30s in Test cricket, any more would be a bonus. He's not much of a risk because of his background, so I don't think he'd be a disaster in the medium term (obviously being a bad starter means he's prone to runs of low scores) and would be at least as decent.as anyone else likely to play in his place.

 

[Mike5181]

Absolutely, but then he's competing against guys who can't even average 30 in Test cricket or debutants.

No, he isn't.