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

[Flem274*]

I'm surprised Sodhi's getting dropped tbh...because though he often bowls pies he did bowl some very good deliveries that got Edwards and Blackwood. But i'm guessing they are keen to keep Craig for his batting down the order aswell.

Sodhi has as many batting chops as Craig I think, but the brains of the operation probably want the greater control of Craig if we're going in with one spinner on a pitch that will probably turn later on anyway. That and he has a match winning performance behind him which Sodhi isn't capable of yet.

 

[Maximas]

Can't wait for this, hoping WI win so that NZ don't leapfrog SL now that we've jumped ahead in the rankings

 

[GGG]

I'm surprised Sodhi's getting dropped tbh...because though he often bowls pies he did bowl some very good deliveries that got Edwards and Blackwood. But i'm guessing they are keen to keep Craig for his batting down the order aswell.

My thoughts exactly, he is capable of producing a jem in between the rubbish even on a non friendly wickets, not so sure about Craig. We are picking one of them to take wickets it shouldn't matter who is the better batsman, Sodhi is no mug with the bat either although he hasn't shown it in this test series.

 

[Prince EWS]

Our boffins campaigning for greater understanding of the laws of probability will be glad to know former test opener Bryan Young believes we need Taylor and McCullum to fire in this test match because the law of averages says Latham and Williamson are due to fail.

 

[Flem274*]

Can inform everyone PEWS is so angry he's added probability as an interest on facebook.

 

[Prince EWS]

Can inform everyone PEWS is so angry he's added probability as an interest on facebook.

Haha this probably sounds made up but it isn't. I genuinely did that.

 

[WindieWeathers]

Well more rumours coming through about Holder playing...really would be great to see the kid make his debut on his home track and he would add something totally different to what the NZ batsmen have faced thus far...massive bounce, good yokers and he can also swing it both ways...

I hope he's been taking notes from Sir Amby in the nets .

 

[Hurricane]

Yeah I hope Holder doesn't play for our sake, and I don't think he will as Gabriel will be hard done by to be dropped. unless you are suggesting they play 4 pacers.

 

[GotSpin]

Ambrose

 

[WindieWeathers]

Yeah I hope Holder doesn't play for our sake, and I don't think he will as Gabriel will be hard done by to be dropped. unless you are suggesting they play 4 pacers.

A source of mine has suggested Holder plays in place of Gabby...nothing confirmed yet but the suggestion is Jason can get more out of the pitch than Gabriel...tbh i'd be surprised aswell if it happens but in reality Holder is our new great hope as far as seam bowling is concerned so sooner rather than later he's gonna get a chance. Same thing with Benn..he could get a 5fer in this next test but the truth is Narine will be coming straight back for the next series vs Bang. harsh but just the way it is.

The ball Holder got Kane with HERE is what he's all about..yes he's still raw and can go for a few sometimes but there's no doubting the potential he has.

 

[Blocky]

I think Holder is definitely a big prospect for the future, but I think he's still requiring another 5 to 10kmh of pace which with his frame he should be able to generate. I was impressed in the one day series with what he produced.

Wagner is a no brainer, he's progressively getting better at test as he gets a little more relaxed and comfortable in the environment and means we're playing three bowlers who can all generate a potential match winning performance with Craig who will probably play more of a holding role which I think he's suited for. I think Wagner will produce a performance here, type of guy that will turn the hurt of being left out in the first two tests into a performance.

I'm also going to buck the trend and say that Rutherford will score some runs.

 

[BC_fan_abored]

Yeah I agree Wagner should do well here but if the pitch is anything like what they say its going to be like it might be all to easy to bounce Rutherford out. Pitch it short and on the legside and Rutherford's lack of an onside game will eventually force him into playing a rash shot. He can't take them all on the body like he did the last time it was tried.

 

[hendrix]

Yeah I agree Wagner should do well here but if the pitch is anything like what they say its going to be like it might be all to easy to bounce Rutherford out. Pitch it short and on the legside and Rutherford's lack of an onside game will eventually force him into playing a rash shot. He can't take them all on the body like he did the last time it was tried.

We're not expecting a score from Rutherford.

Him getting a duck and Wagner doing reasonably (maybe 2/70 from 25 overs) is already in bonus territory from the last test.

 

[Days of Grace]

The West Indies batsmen are clearly going to target Craig though, and have been doing so ever since the tailenders hit him for more than a couple of sixes at the end of the first test. So I can't see Craig performing the holding role too well. Better hope he takes wickets.

 

[hendrix]

The West Indies batsmen are clearly going to target Craig though, and have been doing so ever since the tailenders hit him for more than a couple of sixes at the end of the first test. So I can't see Craig performing the holding role too well. Better hope he takes wickets.

Yeah.

Even if Sodhi is somewhat erratic, he's been pretty good in limited overs cricket recently (in the same way that Tahir can be, really) and I'd feel more comfortable with them going after him than Craig, tbh. At least Sodhi can keep them honest with the odd googly to keep the lefties from coming down the wicket.

I would've gone Sodhi but oh well.

 

[Howsie]

Well more rumours coming through about Holder playing...really would be great to see the kid make his debut on his home track and he would add something totally different to what the NZ batsmen have faced thus far...massive bounce, good yokers and he can also swing it both ways...

Well we're ****ed then.

 

[Flem274*]

Will be interesting to see how Holder's fitness err, holds up if he plays. He's not especially quick to begin with which is fine when you're as tall as he is but if he isn't fit he's the sort of bowler where he'll go from 135kph deliveries with vicious bounce to floaty 125kph deliveries that come onto the bat nicely.

I say it because young bowlers often have this issue, especially if they're rushed into test cricket. Tim Southee was a chronic offender when he first came onto the scene and fitness is so undervalued by fans at least when they're watching a young quick. The Siddle's, Anderson's, Steyn's, O'Brien's, Martin's and Wagner's of the world who can just bowl and bowl and bowl bring so much to their sides.

If Holder is the third seamer (and his style suits it) then he'll be expected to do the hard work bowling long spells with the old ball so the glassware doesn't pull a hammy.

 

[GGG]

Yeah I am really curious as to why they went with Craig, because he got wickets on a very helpful track? It was painfully obvious from the last test and his FC statistics that in unhelpful condition he is cannon fodder. Maybe it is because he plays for Otago

 

[WindieWeathers]

Well we're ****ed then.

The baits are getting old Howsie...everyone has moved on.

 

[WindieWeathers]

Will be interesting to see how Holder's fitness err, holds up if he plays. He's not especially quick to begin with which is fine when you're as tall as he is but if he isn't fit he's the sort of bowler where he'll go from 135kph deliveries with vicious bounce to floaty 125kph deliveries that come onto the bat nicely.

I say it because young bowlers often have this issue, especially if they're rushed into test cricket. Tim Southee was a chronic offender when he first came onto the scene and fitness is so undervalued by fans at least when they're watching a young quick. The Siddle's, Anderson's, Steyn's, O'Brien's, Martin's and Wagner's of the world who can just bowl and bowl and bowl bring so much to their sides.

If Holder is the third seamer (and his style suits it) then he'll be expected to do the hard work bowling long spells with the old ball so the glassware doesn't pull a hammy.

Yeah it remains to be seen how his fitness holds up..to his credit though he's lost about a stone recently and looks very lean and in good shape...i wouldn't expect him to bowl anymore than what Gabby did tbh and i'm sure he can handle that.

I'm still not 100% sure he plays but the source seems convinced.