Hmm, interesting discussion here that I've largely missed due to time zone differences. To add my two cents - quite frankly, I find young cricketers to be some of the most odious little ****s around. Obviously, there are exceptions, but generally the arrogance, sense of entitlement and overall twattish demeanour really grates with me. Re. Harry Boam, I didn't actually find him that bad - sense of entitlement, yes, but a bit more quietly spoken and thoughtful than most of his ilk. I got the feeling that he didn't particularly fit in with the 'culture' around Wellington cricket, and eventually got fed up and chucked it in. Cricket's a bastard of a game at the best of times, and when you're spending all day hanging around a bunch of people you don't really fit in with it's not a recipe for success.
Anyway, good to see Tom Blundell make another century. I rate his batting ftr, he's a bit different to your typical NZ batsman in that he moves his feet well. Very quick to come down the pitch to the spinners, and plays well off the back foot too (strong on the pull shot in particular IIRC). I do wonder though how much of any influence Siddons will have on that methodology, given it's pretty much the polar opposite of what he coaches.