***Official*** New Zealand Domestic Season 2014/15

[Flem274*]

Will be good watching the more parochial ND brigade bigging him up along with other noted homegrown players Corey Anderson, Ish Sodhi and Dean Brownlie.

 

[Kippax]

The perfect bat sticker for agribusiness.

 

[Blocky]

What is it with these leggies and spinning the ball downwards, rather than spinning up like every successful leg spinner not named Kumble did.

 

[SteveNZ]

Impressed with the progress Mathieson has made in his action, looks a completely new bowler.

 

[BWSport]

I never actually looked at Bracewells record close enough to know his average was that good! Pretty impressive start to his career.

Do you know if he is any chance of being considered an opening prospect? There's no room into the middle order for the next few years so if he had the ability to open then surely he would be worth a try up there if Rutherford continues to fail?

 

[Athlai]

I never actually looked at Bracewells record close enough to know his average was that good! Pretty impressive start to his career.

Do you know if he is any chance of being considered an opening prospect? There's no room into the middle order for the next few years so if he had the ability to open then surely he would be worth a try up there if Rutherford continues to fail?

Yeah he opens.

 

[Kippax]

Not Wagner and Wellington again. What is it about the man who finds it the easiest to jack himself up for domestic cricket, and the team who finds it the most difficult.

 

[Kippax]

Cricket: Bracewell knocking on door of higher honours | Otago Daily Times Online News : Otago, South Island, New Zealand & International News

That begs the question whether Bracewell will switch from No 3 and open the batting for Otago to push his claim for higher honours.

''The way that I look at it is if you score runs, then you will get the selectors looking at you,'' Bracewell said.

''I don't really like to think about batting in a position just to impress the selectors. I just want to go about my business and at the moment No 3 is the best for the team.''

Bracewell has opened in the past and also had stints further down the order. But the move to No 3 suits him.

He does not get particularly nervous waiting to bat and has a routine where he stretches every five overs to keep the body moving.

''I used to get nervous. But once you've batted there [No 3] a few times and been in during all the sorts of situations you can come in to, you relax a wee bit, I guess.''

Cricket: Neesham stoical about omission | Otago Daily Times Online News : Otago, South Island, New Zealand & International News

 

[Kippax]

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Went along to Wellington vs. Otago today. Had to leave early due to upset baby, but still.

Notes:
Murdoch was too focused on his century and went really slowly between the mid-80s and his ton before unleashing. This seemed to heap pressure on his batting partners who fell to injudicious shots (Franklin, Day, Taylor) and exposed the tail early. After reaching his ton, he hit a couple of decent looking shots. When he was on 99, Otago brought in all the fielders giving Murdoch a wonderful opportunity to hit the ball over the top for a boundary, but he waited 3/4 balls in order to just work the single. Hard to complain though when, with the benefit of hindsight, Murdoch's was the winning hand. Pretty sure his mum was in the crowd as a middle aged woman started dancing a jig when he worked away that single to bring up his ton.

Day hit one pretty decent sized six which I'm pretty sure he didn't hit anywhere near perfectly. Clearly has a good eye for the big hits.

Day also seemed to be a more handy bowler than I expect. He does have the "dart delivery", but he floated a few up too and proved difficult for de Boorder and Redmond to score off.

Rutherford got out to what looked like a typical Rutherford dismissal, one ball after having hit a delightful cover drive for four.

Wellington are going to struggle when they have to piece together a fifth bowler out of part timers. Day did a good job today, but before that Matt Taylor was being milked with consummate ease.

Wagner looked to be bowling quite well, but 3 of his wickets were the result of tail end biffing. Franklin had hit Wagner for a lovely boundary the ball before he was dismissed, and hit the wicket ball quite nicely - only to have hit it too well and picked out the deep mid-wicket fielder. Woodcock looked to have been undone by a good ball.

 

[Kippax]

Is that a typical Rutherford dismissal? Well I suppose for being randomly poor, it is.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Is that a typical Rutherford dismissal? Well I suppose for being randomly poor, it is.

It looked from square on (with no replays, I hasten to add) that he'd played a hook/pull which looped up off the top edge. I'm not quite sure exactly what is going on in the replay, but it's much, much worse than I thought.

 

[Kippax]

Just watched a bit of that good spell from Wagner. Surprisingly good quality, nice release and everything.

 

[jcas0167]

A suggested 23 & under NZ test team. Craig Cachopa shouldn't really be included.

The 23 and under NZ Test team | Sportsfreak

 

[Hurricane]

Went along to Wellington vs. Otago today. Had to leave early due to upset baby, but still.

Notes:
Murdoch was too focused on his century and went really slowly between the mid-80s and his ton before unleashing. This seemed to heap pressure on his batting partners who fell to injudicious shots (Franklin, Day, Taylor) and exposed the tail early. After reaching his ton, he hit a couple of decent looking shots. When he was on 99, Otago brought in all the fielders giving Murdoch a wonderful opportunity to hit the ball over the top for a boundary, but he waited 3/4 balls in order to just work the single. Hard to complain though when, with the benefit of hindsight, Murdoch's was the winning hand. Pretty sure his mum was in the crowd as a middle aged woman started dancing a jig when he worked away that single to bring up his ton.

Day hit one pretty decent sized six which I'm pretty sure he didn't hit anywhere near perfectly. Clearly has a good eye for the big hits.

Day also seemed to be a more handy bowler than I expect. He does have the "dart delivery", but he floated a few up too and proved difficult for de Boorder and Redmond to score off.

Rutherford got out to what looked like a typical Rutherford dismissal, one ball after having hit a delightful cover drive for four.

Wellington are going to struggle when they have to piece together a fifth bowler out of part timers. Day did a good job today, but before that Matt Taylor was being milked with consummate ease.

Wagner looked to be bowling quite well, but 3 of his wickets were the result of tail end biffing. Franklin had hit Wagner for a lovely boundary the ball before he was dismissed, and hit the wicket ball quite nicely - only to have hit it too well and picked out the deep mid-wicket fielder. Woodcock looked to have been undone by a good ball.

I have seen Matt Taylor bowl a lot obviously. He actually won't for sensible reasons bowl to me in the nets for fear of hurting me. He has a good wrist snap on his delivery. But just judging from how our Pearce Cup batsman bat against him and other pace man who plays for Wellington A - Matt bowls a lighter ball and doesn't have the same height to get troubling bounce off a length. Still his bowling is sharp and is a valuable asset at club level and he will develop it a provincial level. He needs more opportunities to learn.

Edit I am rooting for him. He is a modest bloke who is friendly enough to everyone. He devoted some time to going away to England to further his game one off season as well.
My lasting memory of him is that I was bowling my rubbish 105 kmh seam up deliveries to him. And he let one go outside off stump because it was in a good channel and he takes his nets seriously.

 

[Flem274*]

Jamie Siddons' interview yesterday was so great. When he got asked about his technique regime he's brought to Welly he basically admitted it's all about hitting sixes.

 

[Meridio]

I have seen Matt Taylor bowl a lot obviously. He actually won't for sensible reasons bowl to me in the nets for fear of hurting me. He has a good wrist snap on his delivery. But just judging from how our Pearce Cup batsman bat against him and other pace man who plays for Wellington A - Matt bowls a lighter ball and doesn't have the same height to get troubling bounce off a length. Still his bowling is sharp and is a valuable asset at club level and he will develop it a provincial level. He needs more opportunities to learn.

Edit I am rooting for him. He is a modest bloke who is friendly enough to everyone. He devoted some time to going away to England to further his game one off season as well.
My lasting memory of him is that I was bowling my rubbish 105 kmh seam up deliveries to him. And he let one go outside off stump because it was in a good channel and he takes his nets seriously.

Yeah, I've played against Matt Taylor a few times - admittedly a few years ago - and he's very, very hittable. Bowls at that lovely pace where it's quick enough that you can use it, but not so quick that you feel rushed. Doesn't really move the ball either, and he's not tall, so just slides onto the bat nicely.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Which is what looked to be the case when I watched him the other day. Looked easy to play for de Boorder and Redmond. That's not to say that Taylor shouldn't be invested in, perhaps there's a chance of him being a Harry Boam type player, but he's still a fair way from that as things stand. It would be good to see some locals developed and succeed. I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see Aleks Day get a first class game this season with the way Wellington are going.

 

[Hurricane]

He would have learned a lot by bowling to those two name players. One is a former international and the other is probably good enough to be an international if we weren't so stacked with keepers.

 

[African Monkey]

Auckland choking a bit here