New Zealand A Tour of India and Sri Lanka

[hendrix]

It's going to be interesting to see how Neesham and Anderson fit into the black caps over the next couple of years. At the moment, it looks like Neesham is the pick for short format, and Anderson is more likely to get a test spot. But we might see both players pushing for a spot - initially in short formats but perhaps in test cricket also.

I think that we might genuinely have the option of not playing a specialist spinner some time soon.

 

[straw man]

Yes looks a good win on a nice road. Milne's three wicket over was the winning in the end. Surprised and a bit disappointed to see Henry concede that many runs, though everyone has a bad day I guess.

For all that he is rubbish against the new ball, Ronchi has impressed down the order on this tour. Also, Munro is clearly a beast when he makes double figures Pitch so true that he didn't miss any of his charge-slogs vs the spinners? Surprised to see Ellis get close to a 50 - well done I guess.

Love how Scott 'bowler' Kuggeleijn gets absolutely smashed every time he bowls his inaccurate no-sideways-movement fast-mediums, but also regularly scores runs. Secretly he's just a batsman that happens to come in at 8.

 

[hendrix]

I feel a bit for Kuggs. I reckon he has the ability to develop into a decent bowler but his role in the team will never allow for it. He'll be in that constant slower ball/scrambled seam yorker mode that ruined Southee's test bowling incisiveness for a few seasons.

 

[Flem274*]

It's going to be interesting to see how Neesham and Anderson fit into the black caps over the next couple of years. At the moment, it looks like Neesham is the pick for short format, and Anderson is more likely to get a test spot. But we might see both players pushing for a spot - initially in short formats but perhaps in test cricket also.

I think that we might genuinely have the option of not playing a specialist spinner some time soon.

Anderson is their pick for all formats imo, despite Neesham having the better career so far. That bloke was a beast in the Ford Trophy for getting Otago home time and again.

 

[hendrix]

Yeah, the Anderson situation is getting really annoying - very poor communication from NZC. If he's injured, how serious is the injury? Is he still in the squad to tour Bangladesh? If not, are the NZC planning on replacing him or are they just going ahead with the current 14? You'd have to think that if Ish is still an option then Anderson must be too...though maybe they're planning on drafting in Neesham at the last minute instead.

Looks like Milne came back to bowl a very good second spell after taking 0/36 in his first 5. You'd have to say that he (along with probably Chops) has advanced his case the most on this tour. Also glad to see that the team management seem to have finally accepted that just because Ronchi a) is a wicket-keeper, and b) scores quickly, doesn't automatically mean that he must open the batting.

Yup, Milne and Ronchi the real gainers from this tournament. Bracewell continued to do just enough to keep him in the test squad, but on current evidence Milne should replace him as the next-in-line replacement for the post-Bangladesh squads. Hopefully by then he will have picked up a few more bags in the plunket shield to really press his case. It's a risk with his fitness but it's gonna happen sooner or later. Certainly a better gamble than Sodhi.

 

[straw man]

From the vids I've seen Kuggeleijn just looks like someone with plenty of natural ability both in getting the ball down the other end quickly and in swinging the bat, but who hasn't (or hasn't needed to) work out methods for success against other naturals that also have some discipline and professionalism. Kinda like that thread titled 'the Dud's career' where natural ability only gets you so far, though he's only 21 so plenty of time to learn the right mindset.

Staying at Wellington probably not going to help though.

 

[Flem274*]

Milne isn't really a gamble since he's happily wrecked everything put in front of him in his career so far. His only barrier has been injury, so if he was picked tomorrow you could easily support his case with results. Sodhi's selection is just a mixture of hope and prayer.

edit: kugglejuggle is at ND this year iirc.

 

[hendrix]

he's still not in the test squad but if the selectors are sane it has to happen soon. They can't continue to give this much leeway to Bracewell, they need to put some real pressure on him.

 

[hendrix]

Anderson is their pick for all formats imo, despite Neesham having the better career so far. That bloke was a beast in the Ford Trophy for getting Otago home time and again.

Yeah, looking back they left Neesham out of the squad for the CT after having not performed in his 3 ODI caps at that stage.

There's certainly room for them both in the one day side when they start to outperform the likes of Elliot and Ellis.

 

[Immenso]

No doubt this is too big a leap, too soon for Kugs. Along with Devcich, his was a bit of an eyebrow raising selection.

But I actually don't mind his selection, my reasoning based on his improvement curve over 2 seasons. Was impressed he radically change his delivery stride, and developed an excellent slower ball, in the previous off season (although he may have already had the slower ball but I hadn't seen it). Add to that his improved batting during last season.

He still needs a lot of work though, and I currently see him pigeon holed in white ball cricket until he moves length balls off the straight.

 

[hendrix]

Milne isn't really a gamble since he's happily wrecked everything put in front of him in his career so far.

TBF to the selectors when they inevitably don't select him and I have a fit, he's only played 9 first class games and 18 list A, and is still only 21.

 

[hendrix]

He still needs a lot of work though, and I currently see him pigeon holed in white ball cricket until he moves length balls off the straight.

The problem is that former doesn't facilitate the italicized. All it's a tough pigeon hole to be in because the tendency will be to just focus on bowling yorkers and hard to hit stuff, not actual incisiveness.

 

[Immenso]

Basically, I mean;

The only format he us currently close to higher honours in - is T20. In a Dernbach-type role. But IMO a Dernbach role is a debatable requirement.

There is no t20 on this tour, so he is here paying List A as work experience, no chance of an ODI call up without a more rounded game.

He will get plenty of FC opportunities in Plunket shield, because in reality he is still quite a long way from higher honours and being in tour parties that keep him out of domestics.

But unless he improves his stock deliveries during his time in FC, he will get pidgeon holed. Judging from what changes he has made already with a bit of off season coaching, I reckon with decent coaching he will master the seam position and release necessary to move the ball in red-ball cricket. Which will also improve his chances in white ball cricket beyond a specialist yorker/slower-ball merchant.

Therefore I don't think this opportunity is wasted on him. He has potential upside and is willing to learn.

 

[RxGM]

These additions to the squad for NZA have just made alot more sense than the original squad picks, also very pleasing to see that Hira has not been forgotten about after his issues last season

I am quite worried that McHesson may end up classifying Milne in the same category that they have Mitch, ie ODI specialist to injury prone/not fit enought to bowl 20 overs a day at test level when playing 3-1 with no all rounder.

Neesham looked completly out of his depth is RSA, best summarised by that dolly he bottled off McLaren in the third ODI, who went on to win the match for the republic

The bloke has looked pretty good in the CT and should probably be a shoe in to take Franklin or Ellis spot in the LO set up for the next 6 months, given the faith that brendon has developed in him.

 

[Bahnz]

Milne isn't really a gamble since he's happily wrecked everything put in front of him in his career so far. His only barrier has been injury, so if he was picked tomorrow you could easily support his case with results. Sodhi's selection is just a mixture of hope and prayer.

edit: kugglejuggle is at ND this year iirc.

If by 'everything', you mean everything in his body, then yeah. Otherwise that might be a little bit of an overstatement given that:
a) his list A average is an ok but hardly exceptional 28 (with an econ of 5.4)
b) his fc record is inferior to those of his cd peers Wheeler and Small
c) everytime I watch him, he's still bowling way too short

Having said all that, I agree that if he maintains his form of the last 12 months (and his fitness of the last 2) then he should definitely be being scoped up as an option to debut v the windies.

 

[hendrix]

definitely remember in the highlights of one of the A games Milne was swinging it both ways, and getting sharp bounce off a good length. It was last season when he first added the out swinger, having previously just relied on pace.

I will be very disappointed if he doesn't destroy domestic lineups in the way that Southee and Boult do. The only problem for his is that he's possibly in too good of a bowling attack. The wickets might simply not be there.

 

[Flem274*]

Milne will have plenty of opportunity to take wickets if he plays more than a few games. CD rarely field their best attack due to a mixture of injury, rotation policies to prevent said injuries, and Bracewell's commitments for New Zealand. It would be nice to open the bowling with Milne and Wheeler with Bracewell as the third seamer every week but usually it has been one of those three partnered by Lamb and a mixture of Mathieson, Badenhorst, KNB and a half fit Bevan Small. The Lamb signing copped a lot of flak but in 20/20 hindsight I think it was a good move because he will give you 10 games if needed and perform to a solid standard. Mathieson, Small and Badenhorst are promising bowlers but they're not in the Milne, Wheeler, Bracewell league at present and the reality last season was we had at least one of them playing in every game.

In saying that I'm hopeful competition between the CD quicks will heat up this year due to a mixture of improved fitness and improved skill. We're going to need it as well because we don't have the Sinclair safety net, everyone knows where to bowl to Cachopa now and Raval has upped sticks. Also Milne and Bracewell are odds on to spend a lot of time in national squads.

So um, to summarise my rambling, Milne will take plenty of wickets because we don't often field our best attack.

 

[Kippax]

Kiwis beat Lions by 28 runs | Daily News Online : Sri Lanka's National News

Kiwis beat Lions by 28 runs
Sajeewa Jayakody - Reporting from Pallekele

Despite brilliant top order batting of Sri Lanka 'A', which powered by Dimuth Karunaratne's century and two half tons by Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Janith, the home team suffered a 28-run defeat against New Zealand 'A' in the first unofficial One Day International played at Pallekele yesterday.

Sri Lanka 'A', who were chasing a daunting 350-run target, were all out at 322 in 47 overs as home team lost their last five wickets in just 12 runs after they had been well set to reach the biggest ever target in a List 'A' match at Pallekele.

Adam Milne, who was hammered in the first spell, changed the shape of the game taking three wickets at the cruicial period later. Lankan batsmen were in a bad period as the match lasted until 6pm and had to play in a semi-darkness due to a delayed start at 10.00 am yesterday.

Both openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Janith put on an outsanding stand for the first wicket as they made 102 runs in just 84 deliveries.

Karunaratne played a vital role and justified his selection in the opening slot in the ODIs. The elegant left hander smashed a run-a-ball 120 runs sharing two effective partnerships. Karunaratne struck 17 fours while Perera hammered eight fours and a six.

Kusal Janith Perera, who punched some good shots to reach his fifty in 39 balls, tried to clear the mid-wicket and top edged paying the way to take an easy catch for Ronnie Hira off left arm spinner Anton Devcich for 51.Skipper Dinesh Chandimal joined Karunaratne and the pair added 139 runs for the second wicket. When Sri Lanka 'A' were at 241 for one, Chandimal was bowled through the gate by Anton Devcich for 69. The captain had hit nine boundaries during his 67-ball knock.

When Sri Lanka 'A' were 263, Karunaratne was clean bowled by Devcich giving the third wicket for the left arm spinner.

Middle order batsman Angelo Perera again failed to score in a brilliant batting track at Pallekele as the right hander's off stump was shattered due to a poor technique for 12 off right arm seamer Andre Ellis.

Ashan Priyanjan was able to give some resistance in the late order, hitting the ball through the gaps. Priyanjan chipped in with 27 off 19 balls with three fours and a six showing great potential. Since then, Lankans were reeling. Kiwi 'A' won the toss and chose to bat in the morning. Sri Lanka opening attack, Suranga Lakmal and Shaminda Eranga were not impressive as they conceded 135 runs.

Eranga was punched 84 runs in his 10 overs and Lakmal gave away 51 off his 7 overs claiming one wicket each.

Wicket-keeper batsman Luke Ronchi, who made 134 in the four-day Test match at Dambulla, scored 67-ball 84 runs hitting six fours and six sixes. Colin Munro and AK Kitchen scored two half tons for Kiwis. Sachithra Serasinghe was the economical bowler. He gave away only 46 runs and captured two wickets in 10 overs. Right arm medium paceman Ishan Jayaratne and spinner Dilruwan Perera bagged two wickets apiece.

The second unofficial ODI will be played on October 1 (Tuesday) at the same venue.

 

[Blain]

Sri Lanka score 299/9, Henry going for more runs but Milne takes 5! Good man.

 

[NZTailender]

Poor Henry. Not his tour so far. Milne the only bowling good point atm.