Any updates on NZ's tour of Oz later this year?

[hendrix]

I don't know if it's really Wagner's bounce or change-ups that get the wickets. I think Henry is far more likely to get something to hop off a length.
I wonder whether they might look at playing both Corey and Neesh (in place of Craig), and unleash Milne...

#Bangladeshselectionpolicy

 

[Hurricane]

I don't know if it's really Wagner's bounce or change-ups that get the wickets. I think Henry is far more likely to get something to hop off a length.
I wonder whether they might look at playing both Corey and Neesh (in place of Craig), and unleash Milne...

#Bangladeshselectionpolicy

Yes another one for the Milne train.

 

[Skyliner]

I don't know if it's really Wagner's bounce or change-ups that get the wickets. I think Henry is far more likely to get something to hop off a length.
I wonder whether they might look at playing both Corey and Neesh (in place of Craig), and unleash Milne...

#Bangladeshselectionpolicy

At my signal, unleash Milne.

 

[Skyliner]

David White runs NZC and also spends a lot of time on my TV selling Chanui tea.

 

[CaptainGrumpy]

I'm Milne's biggest fan, but he cannot keep his pace anywhere near as well as someone like Mitchell Starc can his over a day.

Milne's first spell in an ODI is fast. He slows down.

Starc, Johnson (up until Hughe's death), Pattinson, Cummins - Aussie batsmen are used to fast bowlers, who can bowl heat all day.

Just because its the WACA does not mean the fastest bowler should automatically be selected. If there are major cracks - any bowler can expose those.

I know I'm talking to a brick wall.

I just Milne injuring himself trying to bowl fast all day, or being smashed by the batsmen.

 

[Hurricane]

I'm Milne's biggest fan, but he cannot keep his pace anywhere near as well as someone like Mitchell Starc can his over a day.

Milne's first spell in an ODI is fast. He slows down.

Starc, Johnson (up until Hughe's death), Pattinson, Cummins - Aussie batsmen are used to fast bowlers, who can bowl heat all day.

Just because its the WACA does not mean the fastest bowler should automatically be selected. If there are major cracks - any bowler can expose those.

I know I'm talking to a brick wall.

I just Milne injuring himself trying to bowl fast all day, or being smashed by the batsmen.

What's that you say....you agree that Milne should play at the WACA? most excellent.

 

[Skyliner]

I reckon use Milne as a shock weapon. Just the idea of someone getting it through at that pace in spells of a few overs at a time, just short spells bowling flat out at key periods of the game. Pure pace is such a trump card.

 

[CaptainGrumpy]

What's that you say....you agree that Milne should play at the WACA? most excellent.

When he breaks down or fails - you get a massive serving of "I told you so" with a side dish of "Australians plays at the WACA all the f*n time".

 

[CaptainGrumpy]

I reckon use Milne as a shock weapon. Just the idea of someone getting it through at that pace in spells of a few overs at a time, just short spells bowling flat out at key periods of the game. Pure pace is such a trump card.

Aussie batsmen are so used to pure pace its not funny.

Boult (and maybe Tim to the right handers) swinging it is the biggest threat to them. Make no mistake.

If Milne wants to develop a mean streak, and bowl menancing short pitched bowling spells like Johnson Ashes 2013 - I'm all for it. But at the moment, the kid bowls too nice for that. Even then Aussie batsmen love the hook and pull shot. And they play it well. Warner would not back away. Smith would not back away. Aussies will fight it, and tough it out or destroy it. Its what they do.

Just seems every year whoever is touring Australia sees the WACA and thinks I know - I'll bowl so and so...

I think I follow too much Australian cricket.

 

[Hurricane]

When he breaks down or fails - you get a massive serving of "I told you so" with a side dish of "Australians plays at the WACA all the f*n time".

I think you are overselling how effective they are against raw pace.

Dale Steyn averages 28 in Australia which while not amazing is decent enough.

Also Shane Bond used to have them in all sorts in certain games.

It is true that raw pace will not be enough by itself, but Milne if he can find his swing will be a handful. He is also not as stupid as he once was.

Remember him at 18 years old in that 20 20 vs Pakistan. He was getting it down at 152kms and they were smacking him for six. He has learned and grown.

Is he the finished article - hell no. Is he good enough to be a regular fixture in the test team. Probably not because he is not durable enough.

I have proposed he be a part of a four man pace attack. If he falls over then Corey can finish his overs for him.

He must play at WACA. Yes it is true that bowlers can fall in the trap of bowling too short there. I am not advocating that he bounce anyone out. I want him to bowl wicket taking lengths. I just know it will fly through and given that is a fortress for them lets take a risk and drop the spinner for the game.

 

[CaptainGrumpy]

I think you are overselling how effective they are against raw pace.

Dale Steyn averages 28 in Australia which while not amazing is decent enough.

Also Shane Bond used to have them in all sorts in certain games.

It is true that raw pace will not be enough by itself, but Milne if he can find his swing will be a handful. He is also not as stupid as he once was.

Remember him at 18 years old in that 20 20 vs Pakistan. He was getting it down at 152kms and they were smacking him for six. He has learned and grown.

Is he the finished article - hell no. Is he good enough to be a regular fixture in the test team. Probably not because he is not durable enough.

I have proposed he be a part of a four man pace attack. If he falls over then Corey can finish his overs for him.

He must play at WACA. Yes it is true that bowlers can fall in the trap of bowling too short there. I am not advocating that he bounce anyone out. I want him to bowl wicket taking lengths. I just know it will fly through and given that is a fortress for them lets take a risk and drop the spinner for the game.

Wait what? Corey is back in the test team? Okay... So Corey, I get injured after bowling three overs in England will finish Milne's overs off in a test? Right. Sounds like you have thought this through.

You're calling the artful, the creative, the "I slowed down because I can make the ball do what I want" Dale Steyn a pure pace bowler.... You're comparing Adam Milne to Dale Steyn? I think Milne would like that.

So Bond... has a test average against Australia of 96. In Australia it is also 96. Don't know how he came into the discussion. Played his second test at Perth. 2 wickets for 154 runs. You want Milne to play his first there? And use Bond as an example?

Wicket taking lengths? Aussie batsmen know that they can leave a "wicket taking length" at the WACA. It bounces straight over the stumps. They even beat England in 2010 there. The WACA is their ground. Tourists just do dumb stuff because its the WACA.

 

[Hurricane]

....

 

[CaptainGrumpy]

....

Look you'll get no argument from me if we're playing that West Indies team at the WACA in an ODI.

But this is test cricket. Against Australia.You havn't even seen the pitch and you're calling for a four prong pace attack.

You will not find a bigger Adam Milne fan than me. I really enjoy watching him bowl and when he troubles the batsmen - I really like it. He had Younis Khan in all sorts of bother last year - you should have used that example.

You strike me as a massive cricket fan. As am I. Be sensible. The WACA is still a pitch, and its test cricket against Australia.

If he plays and gets 12 or 15 wickets. I will be estatic and look forward to any condemnation from you. If he fails, I will say I told you so.

I believe that we will have more success with sticking to the NZ tried and true formula. Southee and Boult swinging it and pitching it up, Wagner hitting the deck all day, (or Henry doing that and pitching it up) and maybe looking for Doug Bracewell if there is no sign of turn. But spinners at the WACA can still be effective and dangerous. Look at the pitch first. And see how Milne goes through the first class warm up games.

 

[Hurricane]

Wait what? Corey is back in the test team? Okay... So Corey, I get injured after bowling three overs in England will finish Milne's overs off in a test? Right. Sounds like you have thought this through.

You're calling the artful, the creative, the "I slowed down because I can make the ball do what I want" Dale Steyn a pure pace bowler.... You're comparing Adam Milne to Dale Steyn? I think Milne would like that.

So Bond... has a test average against Australia of 96. In Australia it is also 96. Don't know how he came into the discussion. Played his second test at Perth. 2 wickets for 154 runs. You want Milne to play his first there? And use Bond as an example?

Wicket taking lengths? Aussie batsmen know that they can leave a "wicket taking length" at the WACA. It bounces straight over the stumps. They even beat England in 2010 there. The WACA is their ground. Tourists just do dumb stuff because its the WACA.

I should have specified white ball exploits for Shane Bond - he averages about 16 against them over 17 ODIs.

His tests you reference were his initial tests ever - so I don't think can be used either for or against him.

 

[Skyliner]

I reckon play Milne in all 3. Pure pace will be a handful under lights at Adelaide, and also at the Gabbatoir.

I think as NZers we've earnt the right to be aggressive. Our brand is all out aggression, and pure pace = all out aggression.

I know BMac thinks as I do, so I'm not bothered by the naysayers. Cry havoc, and let loose the dogs of war!

 

[Hurricane]

I reckon play Milne in all 3. Pure pace will be a handful under lights at Adelaide, and also at the Gabbatoir.

I think as NZers we've earnt the right to be aggressive. Our brand is all out aggression, and pure pace = all out aggression.

I know BMac thinks as I do, so I'm not bothered by the naysayers. Cry havoc, and let loose the dogs of war!

Brilliant!

If I had a better mouse on this computer I would spend the rest of the evening in MS paint creating an image of Milne at the battle of sitting bull.

 

[CaptainGrumpy]

Wow. This NZ cricket team sure has everyone's hopes raised to the point of expectation. I hope its not irrational expectation or there could be a lot of broken hearts at the end of the year.

 

[Hurricane]

I would like to remind everyone that Adam Milne = Pure Pace.

 

[CaptainGrumpy]

Adam Milne cannot even bowl pure pace for ten overs in an ODI yet. I would wait for him to do that regularly, before describing him as a pure pace for a test match.

I reckon Starc will easily out pace throughout a day. And swing it.

People are losing their heads.

Poor kid cannot even get through an ODI season without being injured, and you want a debut test series in Australia?

Aussies top order batsmen will not be bothered by fact bowling that does not deviate (either by swing or by seam). They will smash 150-155km that is not doing something. They are raised on fast bowling. They have a never ending supply of fast bowling.

 

[Skyliner]

I'm all for raising expectations, and I think one of the things that makes elite sports teams elite is that they have no option but to perform, as the consequences are too unpalatable.
Look at the Aussies, they talk themselves into a position where they have to go out and back it up. But crucially they do ensure they have the weapons to back it up.
Pure pace is the lethal cutting edge. Milne needs to develop a persona based around several gold chains, a moustache like Pancho Villa, wristbands, and a shaven head. He needs to exude menace and arrogance from every pore. He needs to be nasty, vicious, and mean.