***Official*** West Indies in New Zealand 2013/14

[wellAlbidarned]

Yay winning feels nice

Forgot to take a whiteboard to make up for my lack of mobile CW sorry guize

 

[Flem274*]

This series will provide a perfect indicator as to whether or not that is the case.

I'm gonna go against type and pick NZ to win the series 2-0.

For the record, my 2-0 scoreline prediction involves 2 narrow wins and a draw where WI dominate before rain intervenes. I agree that WI are a very good side and that I'm probably being ridiculous, especially now that Kane is likely to miss the first 2 tests.

Another remarkable achievement that nobody else has mentioned, is that a NZ test series has come to an end and the "NZ doom and gloom" thread isn't on the first page of cricket chat threads.

What a time to be alive.

We said it a few hours after Sri Lanka too.

Just sayin'

 

[wellAlbidarned]

So why is Sammy incapable of bowling 130km/h, anyone? I know watching international cricket we tend to think of 130 as 'slow' whereas in actual fact it requires a fair bit of natural ability and training. But Sammy seems a relatively athletic guy - has he ever tried really focussing on working on strength and pace? Then again his accuracy would probably suffer and that isn't great even at 120km/h.

Sammy's action is biomechanically awful. If he remodelled it he could definitely put on another 10kph at least, but that can be difficult with older players.

 

[hendrix]

Sammy's action is biomechanically awful. If he remodelled it he could definitely put on another 10kph at least, but that can be difficult with older players.

all he needs to do is brace his front leg.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

all he needs to do is brace his front leg.

He needs to transfer the energy from his run up through his delivery stride better. You can bend your front leg and still get decent results if you're powering through the crease and not stuttering like Sammy does, just look at Boult's action.

 

[Flem274*]

Steyn has a collapsing front leg too doesn't he?

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Steyn has a collapsing front leg too doesn't he?

Yeah he does. So did Shaoib. It's not ideal but as long as it only collapses at the start of the action as opposed to throughout it it doesn't seem to matter too much. #readstoomuchianpont

 

[Hurricane]

New Zealand show signs of a revival | Cricket News | New Zealand v West Indies | ESPN Cricinfo

Message in here that we don't want another wicket like the hamilton one again from brendon.

 

[Howsie]

It's really rather surprising that Anderson is bowling this well. Didn't he get about 6 wickets in last season's PS? Must've been working on it pretty hard over the winter. Or maybe it's just the Hadlee-Chatfield effect where keeping it tight is sufficient to take wickets when there's genuine quality coming from the other end.

He's a fairly talented bowler tbh, he has a lot of natural ability with the ball. 6 wickets @ 60 last season but it was the first time he bowled since 2009 iirc. If his body holds up (and that's a big if unfortunately) don't be surprised to see him clocking in around that mid 130's mark. He can get the ball through when he's fit. Not that there is anything wrong with what he's been sending down thus far in his test career. He'll never be a third seamer because his body just can't stand up to the rigors of it but he'll make for an excellent fourth seamer.

 

[Days of Grace]

An attack of:
Southee
Boult
Third seamer
Vettori
Anderson

is basically perfect for New Zealand conditions. Vettori in particular will thrive with Southee and Boult because there is no pressure on him being a wicket taker. And opposition batsmen will be looking to attack him more because of the pressure put on by the opening bowlers, and that is how Vettori usually takes international wickets.

It will be awesome when Ryder comes back but I honestly don't know how he gets into this team without Corey dropping out.

 

[Athlai]

An attack of:
Southee
Boult
Third seamer
Vettori
Anderson

is basically perfect for New Zealand conditions. Vettori in particular will thrive with Southee and Boult because there is no pressure on him being a wicket taker. And opposition batsmen will be looking to attack him more because of the pressure put on by the opening bowlers, and that is how Vettori usually takes international wickets.

It will be awesome when Ryder comes back but I honestly don't know how he gets into this team without Corey dropping out.

Drop Fulton or Rutherford. Baz to open.
Solved.

 

[Hurricane]

Flem its time for your yearly analysis where you compare the black caps batsman's FC averages against their test averages if you have the time this holidays. Something funky is happening with Taylor's - his test average is out of whack with his FC average because of this last series.

 

[Days of Grace]

Drop Fulton or Rutherford. Baz to open.
Solved.

Here's hoping that McHesson are at least considering it.

 

[hendrix]

Here's hoping that McHesson are at least considering it.

In terms of amount of hate they'll receive:

a) not picking Ryder, keeping the current team
b) back-tracking on taking McCullum away from the opener's slot last year
c) dropping Corey Anderson

I think C gives them the least hate from the general public. B is probably CW's preferred option, but that has some serious pitfalls itself.

 

[Hurricane]

As much as I think he has already been breaking down the door through his PS performances. It will be his ODI performances in this upcoming series that get him into the team or not. If he tons up in a game then he is in. You might upon reading this want to reply to me and tell me that ODI performances have nothing to do with test match selections. And you are welcome to do so. However I am just saying how the NZ selectors operate.

 

[Days of Grace]

In terms of amount of hate they'll receive:

a) not picking Ryder, keeping the current team
b) back-tracking on taking McCullum away from the opener's slot last year
c) dropping Corey Anderson

I think C gives them the least hate from the general public. B is probably CW's preferred option, but that has some serious pitfalls itself.

Disagree. B won't get them much hate as a) NZ non-CW cricket fans have a short memory and b) BMac will be seen as taking one for the team, and we all know he likes to be seen as putting the team before himself.

 

[Days of Grace]

In terms of amount of hate they'll receive:

a) not picking Ryder, keeping the current team
b) back-tracking on taking McCullum away from the opener's slot last year
c) dropping Corey Anderson

I think C gives them the least hate from the general public. B is probably CW's preferred option, but that has some serious pitfalls itself.

Disagree. B won't get them much hate as a) NZ non-CW cricket fans have a short memory and b) BMac will be seen as taking one for the team, and we all know he likes to be seen as putting the team before himself.

 

[Athlai]

When making the NZ team sheet on current form/ability you go:

1) Taylor
2) Southee
3) Boult
4) Williamson
5) Watling
6) Ryder (IMO even without the Test runs under his belt.
7) Anderson
8) McCullum

9, 10 and 11 are negotiable. Those 8 need to play for us to be playing our best XI. We have no opener good enough to deny us Anderson as an allrounder, nor a good enough opener to deny us Ryder in the middle order.
Dropping Sodhi and picking two openers and a seamer for those last 3 options COULD work as well TBF but leads to batting Watling/Anderson too low.

 

[Prince EWS]

When making the NZ team sheet on current form/ability you go:

1) Taylor
2) Southee
3) Boult
4) Williamson
5) Watling
6) Ryder (IMO even without the Test runs under his belt.
7) Anderson
8) McCullum

9, 10 and 11 are negotiable. Those 8 need to play for us to be playing our best XI. We have no opener good enough to deny us Anderson as an allrounder, nor a good enough opener to deny us Ryder in the middle order.
Dropping Sodhi and picking two openers and a seamer for those last 3 options COULD work as well TBF but leads to batting Watling/Anderson too low.

Also leads to Anderson bowling too much. I know Ryder and Williamson would bowl a bit as well but if New Zealand conceded 400 it'd be mean a lot of overs from Anderson and his body's not up to that sort of work load yet from all reports.

 

[hendrix]

Disagree. B won't get them much hate as a) NZ non-CW cricket fans have a short memory and b) BMac will be seen as taking one for the team, and we all know he likes to be seen as putting the team before himself.

Yeah it won't get McCullum much hope but I think the general public will be aware of the massive backtrack. It won't look good that they threw fresh openers in the deep end against South Africa a year ago only to re-neg on that just so that they can find a spot for the captain.

It's an easier sell to just bring Ryder back for Anderson, especially if Vettori is returning because they'll argue they don't need so much from a 4th seamer without Sodhi.