***Official*** India in New Zealand 2013/14

[Dan]

Dhawan the new Kohli?

FFS Jono, you have horrendous taste in cricketers.

 

[hendrix]

Jono, I'm in Dunedin. We'll grab a beer sometime if the mrs isn't taking up too much time.

 

[Bahnz]

Sounds like a great guy. Makes me gutted that he didn't pick up his second hundred at the Basin, but I get the feeling he'll have another chance.

Speaking of which, I don't think India breaking their overseas duck is that far away. Ishant cops a lot of flack, but he's certainly not the worst third seamer in the world. They have to move on from Zaheer though. A 5fer is a nice way for the old soldier to bow out. Shami looked very impressive though. Add one of Bhuvi or Yadav in their and I think they'll have a seam attack capable of taking 20 English wickets for chaseable totals.

 

[hendrix]

Ishant cops a lot of flack, but he's certainly not the worst third seamer in the world.

Yeah but Sri Lanka and Bangladesh aren't really even close to winning a match overseas…Other than that, ummm, Darren Sammy?

 

[Flem274*]

Ishant is still pretty terrible imo. This series and the SA 4fer just papered over the cracks.

 

[Bahnz]

Yeah but Sri Lanka and Bangladesh aren't really even close to winning a match overseas…Other than that, ummm, Darren Sammy?

Sri Lanka beat Pakistan, and hilariously they did it primarily with their seamers. Gives me hope for our series over there later in the year.

 

[Bahnz]

Ishant is still pretty terrible imo. This series and the SA 4fer just papered over the cracks.

Yeah, but Wagner isn't great either and we still managed to take 20 wickets at Lords without too much difficulty. Admittedly Shami and whoever aren't in the same league as Boult and Southee, but Shami in particular is improving rapidly and they'll be lining up against a very inexperienced English batting side.

 

[Flem274*]

God we're going to get so trounced in the UAE if there's nothing in it for the seamers and we get trolled into two "spinners"

 

[Bahnz]

God we're going to get so trounced in the UAE if there's nothing in it for the seamers and we get trolled into two "spinners"

Based on past series, I'd be surprised if there's nothing for the seamers. Both the English and the South African quicks have done very well there on recent visits. And given that Pakistan got rolled by Tahir last year, you can't rule out Ish enjoying a "breakthrough performance".

 

[hendrix]

How many players will we take on the West Indies tour?

Henry has probably leapfrogged both Bracewell and Bennett in terms of being next in line for a Test squad appearance. I'm rather happy with that because Henry can also cover the opening bowling slots as well as Wagner's slot, while I wouldn't want Bennett opening the bowling. Neesham will be in the squad too, so that should give us reasonable bowling coverage.

Rutherford probably edges out Fulton in the battle of the worst, and Latham will be starting batsman. Who's the back up batsman? I have a sneaking suspicion it will be Guptill, which I suppose is fair after him piling on the runs domestically.

ffs Jesse, we now really can't afford an injury to any of the batsmen.

 

[Flem274*]

15 imo. Sodhi will slot back in to partner KW as the second spinner and I think both openers will go so Latham and Guptill to open the batting. Neesham, Henry, the CD quick of your choice and Hay to round the side out*. Fap fap fap.

*prediction may not be grounded in reality

 

[hendrix]

well, at least Guptill is a better fielder than Rutherford.

so…

1. Latham (mvp)
2. Guptill (lvp)
3. Williamson
4. Taylor
5. McCullum ©
6. Anderson
7. Watling (w)
8. Sodhi
9. Southee
10. Wagner
11. Boult

12. Neesham
13. Henry
14. Papps?
15. Bennett?

 

[Bahnz]

I reckon Rutherford will hang onto his place for a while longer. I suspect it will be:

Rutherford
Guptill
KW
Taylor
McCullum
Anderson
Watling
Sodhi
Southee
Wagner
Boult
Latham
Neesham
Henry
Astle

The only real question is whether they'll take a second spinner as cover for Ish.

 

[Dan]

Rutherford
Guptill
KW
Taylor
McCullum
Anderson
Watling
Sodhi
Southee
Wagner
Boult

Neesham
Henry
Latham
Astle/Jeets


Latham so good to have in the squad - can cover an opener or middle order player going down, as well as providing decent enough emergency cover for Watling.

 

[hendrix]

I suspect Latham has first dibs on the opener's slot ahead of Guptill.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Based on past series, I'd be surprised if there's nothing for the seamers. Both the English and the South African quicks have done very well there on recent visits. And given that Pakistan got rolled by Tahir last year, you can't rule out Ish enjoying a "breakthrough performance".

Tahir has actually performed in domestic cricket, both SA and County though. Not shocking seeing him take wickets against someone even if he's seemed rather underwhelming.

 

[Bahnz]

I suspect Latham has first dibs on the opener's slot ahead of Guptill.

You might be right, but Hesson is on the record stating that he prefers a LH/RH opening combo.

 

[James]

Serious question, why are so many of you calling for Sodhi to be played? Do any of you seriously believe he's likely to take more wickets over our 4th best pace bowler? I'm talking regardless of pitch conditions here.

 

[Bahnz]

In the West Indies and the UAE, New Zealand will need a spinner. It's just too hot and humid for the quicks to bowl prolonged spells and maintain effectiveness without going massively over the allowed over-rate. For better or worse, Sodhi is the guy that New Zealand are backing to come good in internationals, and his Plunket Shield numbers have shown a little bit of progress this season. He's a project, and so shouldn't be binned as of yet, even though I personally would be picking Jeets ahead of him.

 

[Daemon]

Ishant is still pretty terrible imo. This series and the SA 4fer just papered over the cracks.

I hate how everyone seems to think he did reasonably in SA. The **** averaged something like 65.