**Official** Pakistan v New Zealand in the UAE 2014

[Hurricane]

Loving the new meme

 

[Prince EWS]

I can't help it if everyone outside of this forum knows that Sodhi is utter **** and shouldn't even be in the ND side, let alone NZ.

I'm pretty sure everyone on this forum knows it too, bar maybe Howsie.

In fact I think if you polled CW and then polled the general NZ public, this forum would probably align with your views better on this issue.

 

[Blocky]

I always thought Howsie was more representative of the mood on Sodhi within the ND camp. That's why Santner will miss out on this NZA team on Friday, despite being very good in the Ford Trophy last season, very good last week, and tipped for the Black Caps in the next 12 months by Prince EWS.

See, I'd say that Santner needs more performances at the first class level before being thought about for NZA, but considering Craig, Sodhi, Patel, et all - he's probably only one five wicket bag away from being selected.

Personally I see him having more of a future (in the short term) at limited overs level, I'd dare say based on the performances from last year he'd be close to selection for the limited overs stuff for NZA and considering our difficulties finding a Top 3 player who can also bowl, if he's able to translate ND A and Age Group form into List A form with the bat, he'll get his chance for ND in the next couple of years to show that side of his bow too.

Sodhi on the other hand, other than being a tall leg spinner who doesn't mind being clattered to the boundary every ball and remains upbeat and somehow confident, I imagine he must give a mighty good blowie to be making the teams he makes.

 

[Kippax]

Only a short series of 50-over games this NZA tour. and you can't go wrong in the UAE with an accurate left-arm orthodox, some turning, others sliding on with the arm. An ideal star vehicle for Santner.

 

[Blocky]

Only a short series of 50-over games this NZA tour. and you can't go wrong in the UAE with an accurate left-arm orthodox, some turning, others sliding on with the arm. An ideal star vehicle for Santner.

I think he'd do better on tour than the spinners they're likely to select, he also has a higher ceiling than they do across the board - batting, bowling and fielding.

He worked very hard in the off season around improving his flight and trying to add drift/dip to his deliveries, not to mention facing approximately 2000 balls a week in training with the bat. He's also completely given away Golf ( he was a -2 handicap ) for the season to concentrate on cricket so I think this could definitely be his year domestically. I'd still love to see him bowl the faster ball and bouncer that he's pinned me with personally a couple of times too.

 

[Hurricane]

C

See, I'd say that Santner needs more performances at the first class level before being thought about for NZA, but considering Craig, Sodhi, Patel, et all - he's probably only one five wicket bag away from being selected.

Personally I see him having more of a future (in the short term) at limited overs level, I'd dare say based on the performances from last year he'd be close to selection for the limited overs stuff for NZA and considering our difficulties finding a Top 3 player who can also bowl, if he's able to translate ND A and Age Group form into List A form with the bat, he'll get his chance for ND in the next couple of years to show that side of his bow too.

Sodhi on the other hand, other than being a tall leg spinner who doesn't mind being clattered to the boundary every ball and remains upbeat and somehow confident, I imagine he must give a mighty good blowie to be making the teams he makes.

#teamblocky

 

[Meridio]

It's official then, Ryder selected for the NZA tour: Cricket: Ryder makes New Zealand A tour - Sport - NZ Herald News

You heard it here first - Jesse to go out in Dubai one night, get smashed, abuse a public official, get arrested and deported, and never play for NZ again.

 

[hendrix]

not that easy to get smashed in Dubai.

 

[Blocky]

Jesse will be fine in Dubai, more than likely crack a couple of tonnes and put the onus on NZ to select him later in the season.

 

[Flem274*]

New Zealand A squad for four matches in the UAE
Kyle Mills - Auckland Aces (c)
Dean Brownlie - Northern Knights
Derek de Boorder - Otago Volts
Colin de Grandhomme - Auckland Aces
Anton Devcich - Northern Knights
Martin Guptill - Auckland Aces
Matt Henry - Canterbury
Mitchell McClenaghan - Auckland Aces
Nathan McCullum - Otago Volts
Adam Milne - Central Stags
Colin Munro - Auckland Aces
Jesse Ryder – Otago Volts
Daniel Vettori - Northern Knights

Am I the only one who thinks that's light on middle overs batting? Guptill, Devcich, Brownlie, Ryder, Munro, de Grandhomme, de Boorder, Vettori/McCullum, Mills, Henry, McClenaghan

It's all openers and allrounders. Ryder is the only one known for playing spin well too.

 

[Blocky]

New Zealand A squad for four matches in the UAE
Kyle Mills - Auckland Aces (c)
Dean Brownlie - Northern Knights
Derek de Boorder - Otago Volts
Colin de Grandhomme - Auckland Aces
Anton Devcich - Northern Knights
Martin Guptill - Auckland Aces
Matt Henry - Canterbury
Mitchell McClenaghan - Auckland Aces
Nathan McCullum - Otago Volts
Adam Milne - Central Stags
Colin Munro - Auckland Aces
Jesse Ryder – Otago Volts
Daniel Vettori - Northern Knights

Am I the only one who thinks that's light on middle overs batting? Guptill, Devcich, Brownlie, Ryder, Munro, de Grandhomme, de Boorder, Vettori/McCullum, Mills, Henry, McClenaghan

It's all openers and allrounders. Ryder is the only one known for playing spin well too.

I'm sure I left a post, it seems to have gone...

The sad thing about that team is you almost have to play both Guptill and Devcich in order to make a side, unless you want NcCullum batting 7.

I'd have liked to see Kuggs given a chance as a future option and I'd have taken Darryl Mitchell too.

 

[Pratters]

Ryder couldn't have asked for a better tour really. Luxurious hotels and Associate teams to stake a claim. I hope he does. A Jesse Ryder on song in the World Cup would be nice. Greatbatch redux.

Will be interested to see how Henry performs.

 

[Flem274*]

yeah munro and CdG shouldn't really be batting higher than six above domestic level. Good hitters but they're not guys who knock it around. the squad lacks someone who can knock it around in the middle overs. watling would have been perfect but it looks like derek de boorder has become the second choice limited overs keeper bat.

 

[Blocky]

I get the sense they want Watling to concerntrate on being the best test #7 in the world and feel the ODI game would distract him..

Shame they don't feel the same about other players. (Boult, Southee)

 

[Immenso]

This A tour is concurrent to the test series.

 

[Flem274*]

ah, makes sense

 

[Mike5181]

Ronchi will probably be available as well.

Players who are not involved in the second and third Tests of New Zealand's series against Pakistan in the UAE will also be used for the four New Zealand A matches. New Zealand's limited overs squad for two Twenty20 matches and five ODIs against Pakistan in the UAE will be named on December 1 ahead of the first Twenty20 in Dubai on December 4.

 

[Kippax]

Cricket: Taylor in doubt for first test - Cricket - NZ Herald News

New Zealand's leading batsman Ross Taylor is uncertain whether he will recover from a calf injury in time to play in the first test against Pakistan.

Taylor missed the one-day series games against South Africa last week, and was still troubled by the injury when the 15-man New Zealand squad left for the United Arab Emirates on Monday.

He said "it's probably going to be a push to play that warmup game (against Pakistan A from Monday), and see how (that medical staff) think it's going and whether it's good enough to play that first test."

Taylor said he occasionally feels the injury while batting. He is a key player for New Zealand, having scored 861 test runs at an average of 78 so far this year.

Cricket: NZA selection a 'stepping stone' - Ryder - Cricket - NZ Herald News

 

[Flem274*]

at least this means he's going to be one of the best batsmen in the world now with a nice 50+ average. as soon as crowe and bond got good they fell to bits.

dose him up with painkillers and tear his legs off. let's push his test average over 60.

 

[Hurricane]

I get the sense they want Watling to concerntrate on being the best test #7 in the world and feel the ODI game would distract him..

Shame they don't feel the same about other players. (Boult, Southee)

There should be a button next to like on each post that says - teamblocky

would have checked it for this post - there is a good argument for picking them in big ICC tournaments - but not so much in meaningless bilateral tours. Let the Henry's and Mills get a game. Also have Mitch and Bennett in the mix so we will go "ok" without them.

The only other argument for picking them that always gets thrown at me is cold hard cash - there simply isn't enough money to be made as a test specialist.