***Official*** New Zealand in the West Indies 2014

[NZTailender]

Brendon McCullum said on the radio yesterday that BJ Watling is becoming his new favourite player.

Baz WAG.

BJ's BJs
Phlegm
Athlai
Dan
Cribb
Kippax
Brendon McCullum

Ahem

 

[GGG]

Windies name unchanged squad for New Zealand third Test - Latest News - JamaicaObserver.com



Bravo praises Lara, Edwards for boosting his confidence - Cricket - JamaicaObserver.com

What? Wasn't Narine available for this test? If so then now they are just being spiteful.

 

[Howsie]

For me it was too wide and those calls should be umpire decisions..but like i said it wasn't too costly so it is what it is.

If it's hitting it's hitting. Me, you, and Jeremy Coney are never going to give that live but if the DRS says it's out it's out, the same as the Watling one. You can't pick and choose which decisions you will take.

 

[Days of Grace]

Trying to win an away series against top 8 opposition for the first time in ages, so I'm going for a one-off solution for the opening problem:

1. McCullum
2. Latham
3. Williamson
4. Taylor
5. Anderson
6. Watling (wk)
7. Neesham
8. Sodhi/Craig
9. Southee
10. Wagner
11. Boult

 

[Slifer]

What? Wasn't Narine available for this test? If so then now they are just being spiteful.

My sentiments exactly. We all saw what he did in one test away to NZ but rather than use common sense, the WiCB rather get their point across. I wouldn't b mad if he was like screw the WI and did his own thing. I understand rules r rules but seriously to suspend him for all 3 tests......smh

 

[RxGM]

The scouts like Michael Bracewell and if he either volunteers to open or Baz moves up and Bracewell is the new boy at five, we would have four past or present keepers in the eleven.

If I was the new kid on the block like Mitchell or M Bracewell, I would be targeting McCullums 5 spot when he retires in a years time (I have no inside information that he will retire I just don't see him playing long past the world cup)

 

[Blocky]

If we don't go in with Wagner and potentially Anderson (in place of Rutherford) then we deserve to have our noses bloodied again. I still think New Zealand are heads and shoulders above this West Indian team on man to man talent so really it comes down to application, selecting the right combinations and seeking to play to a strategy that gives you every chance of winning.

 

[Blocky]

I don't think McCullum will retire as soon as most think, I think he may take a break post world cup and try to get his back into shape, but he strikes me as a guy who has some statistics in mind for where he wants to finish - things like an average of 40, 15 centuries.

He's only 32. He's still easily the best fielder in our side which indicates his eye and athleticism hasn't gone too far away. The only thing tempering that is the potential for him to become a T20 superstar, but my gut feel is that's secondary for him establishing himself as one of NZ's best.

I think he's perplexed as I am at times around how much hate he gets, considering he's performed more roles for NZ than almost anyone else I can think of, done so at an average that puts him at the upper edge of NZ players, has more centuries than most players for NZ and that comes on the back of a career where he started as a lower order keeper batsman, has batted every single position from 1 to 8 for the side, has captained the side probably better than anyone not named Fleming and has been one of our few players who can produce world class performances in all forms.

 

[kyear2]

If we don't go in with Wagner and potentially Anderson (in place of Rutherford) then we deserve to have our noses bloodied again. I still think New Zealand are heads and shoulders above this West Indian team on man to man talent so really it comes down to application, selecting the right combinations and seeking to play to a strategy that gives you every chance of winning.

You are still going on with this? Really?

The W.I also made some questionable selection decisions, you are just looking for excuses for a team that just lost by 10 wickets. The teams are more or less evenly matched and I look forward to a competitive encounter.

 

[Flem274*]

A man with no taste buds.

 

[Kippax]

I still think New Zealand are heads and shoulders above this West Indian team on man to man talent so really it comes down to application.

A player's application, and their track-record of clever shot selection and heady play, are quantifiable parts of a cricketer.

Reminds me of the way a young New Zealand golfer (who'll tend to never amount to much) will often say "I played awesome, as usual, I just need better course management and more luck on the greens". As usual.

 

[hendrix]

I still think New Zealand are heads and shoulders above this West Indian team on man to man talent

nope.

 

[Blocky]

Select an #11 out of the two squads for the test.

1. Gayle
2. Latham
3. Williamson
4. Taylor
5. Bravo
6. Neesham / McCullum
7. Watling
8. Shillingford ( Preferably Narine )
9. Southee
10. Taylor
11. Boult

Edit: Forgot Shiv

1. Gayle
2. Latham
3. Williamson
4. Taylor
5. Chanderpaul
6. Bravo / McCullum
7. Watling
8. Shillingford / Neesham / Narine (ideally)
9. Southee
10. Taylor
11. Boult.

 

[Prince EWS]

Select an #11 out of the two squads for the test.

1. Gayle
2. Latham
3. Williamson
4. Taylor
5. Bravo
6. Neesham / McCullum
7. Watling
8. Shillingford ( Preferably Narine )
9. Southee
10. Taylor
11. Boult

Please tell me leaving Chanderpaul out was an oversight. Don't do this to me, man.

 

[Blocky]

7 NZ'ers, 4 West Indians - with Shilly being debatable.

 

[Blocky]

Actually yes - haha.. ****, I rate Chanderpaul as one of the ATGs

So Bravo to 6, Chanderpaul to 5? Does Bravo beat out McCullum? Who captains the side without McCullum?

 

[hendrix]

yes, Bravo beats McCullum, and captaincy doesn't matter when you're doing an 11 based on the talent of the sides.

 

[Blocky]

yes, Bravo beats McCullum, and captaincy doesn't matter when you're doing an 11 based on the talent of the sides.

I don't think there is much difference between them in batting. Both tend to be boom or bust, Bravo has better results this series but you've also got to take into account the captaincy McCullum brings and his fielding ability. In their last ten matches, McCullum has a higher average, more runs, the same amount of centuries - Bravo has been more consistent though.

Personally I wouldn't select Bravo ahead of him.

 

[hendrix]

It's tough to say that McCullum is more talented than Bravo. It's the equivalent of saying that McCullum is better than Williamson. It might be true in terms of their career, but that doesn't mean an awful lot when we're talking about talent. Or similarly, Ryder.

I'd be taking Bravo, anyway.

you're not going to have anyone agreeing with you in saying NZ is "head and shoulders" the more talented team.

 

[RxGM]

I don't think McCullum will retire as soon as most think, I think he may take a break post world cup and try to get his back into shape, but he strikes me as a guy who has some statistics in mind for where he wants to finish - things like an average of 40, 15 centuries..

I disagree on your view that Brendon needs to hunt numbers, I think that his raison d’etre is winning, which has lead to him moving around the order because he thinks it will help the team to win. His 302 has cured how he will be perceived as a batsman (Greatbatch is remembered for the innings at perth not as a guy that only averaged 30) and I don’t think he is capable of the numbers that you suggest given how average his away form is. His current average is almost identical to where it was at when Vettori gave up the captaincy. He will still finish with Most runs (Right Hander), most fifties (Right Hander) and most consecutive games from debut (Internationally).
If you look at the current international calendar post world cup he is only scheduled for 4 weeks off till the end of the next NZ summer, he could potentially drop Zim series and ODIs but it is still very hectic.
I disagree on your view that Brendon needs to hunt numbers, I think that his raison d’etre is winning, which has lead to him moving around the order because he thinks it will help the team to win. His 302 has cured how he will be perceived as a batsman (Greatbatch is remembered for the innings at perth not as a guy that only averaged 30) and I don’t think he is capable of the numbers that you suggest given how average his away form is. His current average is almost identical to where it was at when Vettori gave up the captaincy. He will still finish with Most runs (Right Hander), most fifties (Right Hander) and most consecutive games from debut (Internationally).
If you look at the current international calendar post world cup he is only scheduled for 4 weeks off till the end of the next NZ summer, he could potentially drop Zim series and ODIs but it is still very hectic.

The only other milestones I see him want are a 100 at lords and a Trans Tasman Trophy win (if he stays on this will be the reason imo)

He's only 32. He's still easily the best fielder in our side which indicates his eye and athleticism hasn't gone too far away

.

After the world cup he will be 33, though young by many international standards compared to nz players it is relatively similar to when other players finished there test careers, Vettori (33), Crowe (33), Cairns (34), Parore (31), Astle (35), Fleming (34) Richardson (33). Really the only guys to play on the other side of 35 are Chris Martin and John Wright.
I don’t know the state of his back but he has been affecting his cricket since 2008, odds on it is pretty buggered by now. Presently he has a goal in mind being CWC which must be fuelling him. – but if he is not scoring the runs it will be hard for him to continue on
Also he has watched everything Vettori has been through over the last 3 years, and maybe conclude that it would be easier to make a clean break from NZC.

think he's perplexed as I am at times around how much hate he gets, considering he's performed more roles for NZ than almost anyone else I can think of, done so at an average that puts him at the upper edge of NZ players, has more centuries than most players for NZ and that comes on the back of a career where he started as a lower order keeper batsman, has batted every single position from 1 to 8 for the side, has captained the side probably better than anyone not named Fleming and has been one of our few players who can produce world class performances in all forms

Maybe he cares what other people thinks but last summer fixed that, those people that still dislike him are never going to come around and frankly it doesn’t matter, he is not planning a career within cricket, and he has a need to raise capital for his bloodstock company.