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

[Hurricane]

Random thoughts I reckon

1) WI can go at 3.3 an over max on a 5th day wicket. This will require 93 overs of batting to get 307.
2) New Zealand need just over 90 overs to get them out
3) If it rains then we will probably lose an hour and it will be a draw - WI are good enough to bat out 80 odd overs especially if Bravo is fit and ready to go.

 

[Days of Grace]

Hang on, the obvious might be Jesse and Ross.

Does Jesse have 1000 career runs?

 

[Bahnz]

Yeah Jesse and Ross in 2011 would be the answer.

 

[Flem274*]

Does Jesse have 1000 career runs?

yeah 1200 or so

 

[Swingpanzee]

And on another side note, congrats to Kemar Roach on taking your 100th test wicket at a very respectable average of 27. Take your overseas average to sub 30 and you're well on your way. Him, Holder and a certain Narine should form the backbone of our attack for many years to come (if injuries permit and if our selectors have any sense).

Now you're asking too much...

 

[Hurricane]

I've got another one - when was the last time New Zealand had four batsman averaging over 35 with more than 1000 runs?

 

[Slifer]

Now you're asking too much...

I probably am...but one can only hope. I still can't get over the 6 bowlers in this test Jeez!!!!

 

[Slifer]

I've got another one - when was the last time New Zealand had four batsman averaging over 35 with more than 1000 runs?

No offense but have the batting resources of NZ been this bare??

 

[Hurricane]

No offense but have the batting resources of NZ been this bare??

Pretty much. Times were quite bleak 3 or 4 years ago.

 

[Hurricane]

No offense but have the batting resources of NZ been this bare??

Also before you give me grief - it should be pointed out that WI don't have 4 batsman averaging more than 35 with 1000 career runs in this match.

 

[Bahnz]

Probably the 2006/07 series v SL when we had Fleming, Styris, Astle and Oram. Also while his career average never got much above 30, Vettori had been averaging 40 for close to 4 years by this point, so you could probably include him as well. Perhaps unsurprisingly, that series was the last time I can remember New Zealand being competitive in a series against one of the major test nations prior to Kane and Southee's emergence (excepting Bond's one-off test v Pakistan).

 

[Hurricane]

Also before you give me grief - it should be pointed out that WI don't have 4 batsman averaging more than 35 with 1000 career runs in this match.

I have also checked historically and if the definition of averaging 35 is based on their career average on cricinfo today rather than at time of the match - then you have to discount Samuels. Which means you have to go back to 2005/2006 and the days of Lara, Sarwan, Gayle, and Chanders to find 4 West Indians in the same match.

 

[Hurricane]

Probably the 2006/07 series v SL when we had Fleming, Styris, Astle and Oram. Also while his career average never got much above 30, Vettori had been averaging 40 for close to 4 years by this point, so you could probably include him as well. Perhaps unsurprisingly, that series was the last time I can remember New Zealand being competitive in a series against one of the major test nations prior to Kane and Southee's emergence (excepting Bond's one-off test v Pakistan).

I also spotted the 2004 series in england when all of our top 6 averaged more than 35. Perhaps our strongest batting line up ever?

 

[Slifer]

Also before you give me grief - it should be pointed out that WI don't have 4 batsman averaging more than 35 with 1000 career runs in this match.

True that which is why we are a team in our rebuilding phase (yet again lol) and this is going to be even more so, when Chanderpaul eventually retires. I'm more concerned with us having at least 3 bowlers with sub 30 averages tbh!!! IMO we can finally have that with the bowling resources we have in the pipeline.

 

[Hurricane]

True that which is why we are a team in our rebuilding phase (yet again lol) and this is going to be even more so, when Chanderpaul eventually retires. I'm more concerned with us having at least 3 bowlers with sub 30 averages tbh!!! IMO we can finally have that with the bowling resources we have in the pipeline.

I think both teams have on the field their strongest and most promising line ups in some years. Both teams could beat higher ranked units with these line ups. I also suspect that NZ may have been in more strife had you had Narine and the future looks promising for the West Indies.

I don't know if Edwards is the answer for you but the test standard players I see are

1) Braithwaite
2) Gayle (I am not sold on him but he gets starts)
3)
4) Bravo
5) Chanders
6) Too soon to comment on young Blackwood
7) Ramdin
8) Holder
9) Narine
10 Roach
11 Taylor

That's a solid core

 

[kyear2]

I think both teams have on the field their strongest and most promising line ups in some years. Both teams could beat higher ranked units with these line ups. I also suspect that NZ may have been in more strife had you had Narine and the future looks promising for the West Indies.

I don't know if Edwards is the answer for you but the test standard players I see are

1) Braithwaite
2) Gayle (I am not sold on him but he gets starts)
3)
4) Bravo
5) Chanders
6) Too soon to comment on young Blackwood
7) Ramdin
8) Holder
9) Narine
10 Roach
11 Taylor

That's a solid core

Edwards is pretty solid and with time and patience a Test level No. 3

 

[Hurricane]

Here is another one for Bahnz or anyone else.

Southee's average is currently 30.07

If he finishes with less than 30 tomorrow - when will be the last time that NZ had two bowlers with 75+ wickets and sub 30 averages.

 

[Howsie]

On a different topic, I just wanted to comment about what a massive difference Williamson makes to this team. In my opinion he's probably the 2nd biggest factor (behind Southee's bowling) in the turnaround that NZ has achieved over the past 2 years. Having a genuine test class (soon to be world class if he keeps improving at his current rate) bat at number 3 just makes this side look so much more well balanced, and gives me so much more confidence when we lose an early wicket or two. Seven test 100's and an average of 40 (fingers-crossed) before the age of 24 - this guy is going to ruin those NZ batting records.

His record stacks up to the likes of Ponting, Kallis, de Villers and Cook's in terms of 100's scored and average before the age of 24. Five 100's in his last 17 tests, he'll chase down Crowe's record of most 100's before Taylor does IMO (that's if Taylor even makes it).

 

[Kippax]

Here is another one for Bahnz or anyone else.

Southee's average is currently 30.07

If he finishes with less than 30 tomorrow - when will be the last time that NZ had two bowlers with 75+ wickets and sub 30 averages.

March 2000, is it? Doull and Cairns.

2nd Test: New Zealand v Australia at Wellington, Mar 24-27, 2000 | Cricket Career averages | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[Bahnz]

We were very, very close in the same series against SL in 2006 - Franklin had 76 wickets at 29 and Bond 74 wickets at 22. Before that, I would guess 01/02 series v Australia when we had Cairns and Nash in the first test.