**Official** New Zealand Domestic Season 2013/2014

[RxGM]

They were fortunate to retrieve Raval from CD though and they practically swapped Sodhi for Bucko Martin, which was short sighted since having both on the roster would have been ideal for them

They traded away Nethula for Martin who was top wicket tacker in PS in 08 when Auckland won the comp (I think) as they were worried about LO bowling.

 

[Mike5181]

I agree with the sentiments regarding Dean Bartlett on here. Looks a talent. It's a shame he didn't get a more significant run in first-class when he was a bit younger.

Hopefully Mitch finds a bit of success outside the OD stuff as well.

 

[CharlesLara]

If I was a young promising player the first thing I would do is leave Auckland.
An interesting case study of everything that is wrong is a look at the 2006 U19 Squad (Not one of our better squads but….)
Auckland had 6 players in that squad including the top run scorer A de Boorder, the most economical bowler Hira and the captain Ellison. All these players are 26 now so should be approachinig the peak of there powers instead.
De Boorder – Walked away from the game
Guptill – LO specialist, Poor FC record
Hira – LO specialist, limited opportunities for FC cricket in Auckland & Canterbury has only played 7 FC games
Ellison – Who?
Munro – Tagged a LO Specialist only recently got a crack at FC cricket
Bartlett – Has only played 10 FC games, been blocked from opportunities by older quicks.

EDIT: CharlesLara just saw your post agree with everything that you said

De Boorder is available again from what I have heard, which is great news, easily the best player I have played alongside batting wise.
Marc Ellison is the Auckland University skipper, and is basically a guaranteed multiple hundred scorer in the prems, dude is class, he sorta took time off and went overseas at a point where you really just gotta stay here, top dude as well. Dean as you said was just blocked from opportunities (from the likes of Martin / Tuffey, and Tuffey happened to have bloody good season,) but he gets injuries at the wrong time, if he's fit for the whole season he should be dark horse.Look at the arrival of someone like Bruce Martin, guys like Ish Sodhi and Ajaz Patel have both been forced, also due the population factor, to move elsewhere for opportunities, although to be fair Martin did peak on arrival.

 

[Flem274*]

There is definitely no reason for Auckland to be importing players when they're probably the biggest producer of players. Lets see..

Auckland Unwanted Under Strang XI

Rob Nicol
Jeet Raval
Carl Cachopa
Craig Cachopa
Andrew de Boorder
Dusan Hakaraia
James Neesham
Derek de Boorder/Brad Cachopa
James Fuller
Tarun Nethula/Ish Sodhi
Andy McKay

 

[Mike5181]

What was Fuller's reason for leaving?

 

[SteveNZ]

This.

They doing a lot better now, but under Strang there was essentially a small generation of talented young cricketers denied an opportunity for whatever reason, hence why the likes of Jimmy, James Fuller, Jeet, all the Cachopas at one point, Ish etc had to leave because there simply wasn't a chance given. Granted that Auckland has a large population and its almost criminal to not have a North Harbour / Auckland situation, problems like this will exist, but for a guy like Andrew De Boorder, who from a technical standpoint is the best I have seen (bar the obvious KW) to be captaining the Aces to not wanting to play under Strang says something about the system at one point in time.

Although they seem to be doing a lot better with the new administration though, so we'll see.

I definitely appreciate the sentiment in your post, and from others - but it's a bit simplistic to list off a bunch of people that have left without balancing it against those who were contracted ahead of them. It's sort of like the Warriors scenario in the NRL - they'll be criticised for every Kiwi kid that gets away despite the fact they can't keep them all.

Agreed on Andy and how he went from captain to on the outer. Not quite that he didn't want to play under Strangy - he made a judgement call based on the opportunities (or lack thereof) and the fact he would receive a reasonably low contract, and opted to turn one down to give uni studies his energies. He asked for assurity from Strangy that it wouldn't affect his selection chances, he was told it wouldn't but Craig Chops was picked ahead of him. Seemed to always suffer from the 'he's a nice guy, he won't kick up a fuss' syndrome at the selection table. Wasn't aware he'd made himself fully available again though?

All they can do now is create an environment that people will look to come back to if they've gone away for better opportunities in the short term. Wasn't the case under Strangy, much more likely to be so now Hornet is at the helm.

 

[CharlesLara]

I definitely appreciate the sentiment in your post, and from others - but it's a bit simplistic to list off a bunch of people that have left without balancing it against those who were contracted ahead of them. It's sort of like the Warriors scenario in the NRL - they'll be criticised for every Kiwi kid that gets away despite the fact they can't keep them all.

Agreed on Andy and how he went from captain to on the outer. Not quite that he didn't want to play under Strangy - he made a judgement call based on the opportunities (or lack thereof) and the fact he would receive a reasonably low contract, and opted to turn one down to give uni studies his energies. He asked for assurity from Strangy that it wouldn't affect his selection chances, he was told it wouldn't but Craig Chops was picked ahead of him. Seemed to always suffer from the 'he's a nice guy, he won't kick up a fuss' syndrome at the selection table. Wasn't aware he'd made himself fully available again though?

All they can do now is create an environment that people will look to come back to if they've gone away for better opportunities in the short term. Wasn't the case under Strangy, much more likely to be so now Hornet is at the helm.

Aaaahh makes so much more sense now, thanks for this information. Totally agree with the Andy nice guy sentiments as well, I'm assuming he's the type that would just focus on something else and give that a full go. Yeah I mentioned him casually and it was mentioned that he could be ready availability wise. In hindsight, you are correct about idea that there will be ones who get away, thats just the reality of it, but i always figured Auckland is quite unique as the depth and talent pool is so much larger than other associations.

 

[SteveNZ]

Aaaahh makes so much more sense now, thanks for this information. Totally agree with the Andy nice guy sentiments as well, I'm assuming he's the type that would just focus on something else and give that a full go. Yeah I mentioned him casually and it was mentioned that he could be ready availability wise. In hindsight, you are correct about idea that there will be ones who get away, thats just the reality of it, but i always figured Auckland is quite unique as the depth and talent pool is so much larger than other associations.

No worries, it is a shame as Andy as you say is a hell of a player. Smart guy too so was never going to hang around year after year, picking up crumbs as contracts when there was a career to embark on. I would doubt he's now available - in fact I think he's getting his feet under a desk full-time come early 2014. He could've given the club stuff away as well but Howick would be in deep deep excrement without him and he's churning out big runs. Can't speak highly enough of him

It is the reality but at the same time, there's a balance between hanging on to the grizzly old veterans and cutting them loose to bring the next wave through. It's a tough scenario, only a coach firmly entrenched would risk it given you can lose the rest of the old heads in the dressing room and I doubt Strangy ever felt strong enough to do that.

 

[RxGM]

It's not the grizzly old veterans that annoy me, though Hopkins does need a shoulder tap, it was more the importing of players when they have limited international potential like Parlane, B Martin, Todd and Reece Young.
Yes Martin turned his career around at Auckland but he is the exception not the rule.

 

[Bahnz]

Wow, I never much cared for the HRV cup before, but if those dancing mascots are present at every game then consider me enthused!

 

[ohnoitsyou]

Dane Hutchinsons seam position is damn near perfect. I would imagine he would be able to reverse the ball really well, if he was given more opportunities in first class matches.

 

[Hurricane]

I am resigned to the fact our selectors will pick Grobelar at some stage of his career. And then learn the hard way that International batsman will smoke him.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

I am resigned to the fact our selectors will pick Grobelar at some stage of his career. And then learn the hard way that International batsman will smoke him.

Really? He doesn't seem to have the goods to seriously challenge for international honours from what I've seen.

 

[Hurricane]

Really? He doesn't seem to have the goods to seriously challenge for international honours from what I've seen.

Agreed - but he will be a domestic stalwart - and if Andy Ellis can get picked then why not Donnovan. Not this year or next year, 5 years from now.

 

[Hurricane]

Kitchen is seeing it big right now. his back lift he does not subscribe to the Siddons school of early backlifts yet he was able to tap around Shaun Tait so who knows possibly a future T20 prospect.

 

[Hurricane]

Is it just me or has Mills really improved at T20 this season?

 

[Mike5181]

Not sure where to put this:

Fight For Life: Cairns' to duel with Doull | Stuff.co.nz

Seeing someone punch Simon Doull? Have my money.

 

[RxGM]

So Bartlett did not play any of Auckland's T20 games, which really begs the question. Why was he not playing in the warm up game, Do the selectors really consider Baker/Tugaga/Verma ahead of him.

 

[Kippax]

So Bartlett did not play any of Auckland's T20 games, which really begs the question. Why was he not playing in the warm up game, Do the selectors really consider Baker/Tugaga/Verma ahead of him.

Edgar probably wouldn't know Bartlett's first name itbt. Some action snobbery at work there as well possibly, ND people certainly rave about Baker's beautiful action, and how one of their scouts plucked him from complete obscurity after watching him bowl in an adjacent club game.

Auckland weren't marketing Bartlett particularly well by making him a little second change bitch under Quinn and Grobbelaar either. Bartlett was heavily into the social side of things in his younger days one of our Auckland posters said iirc, possibly gained him a "club cricketer in spirit" tag of death.

 

[Kippax]

Phlegm to twink out Ellerslie Cricket Club and make that his avatar -

Congrats to him for his 25,000th post that will probably happen today.