***Official*** Sri Lanka in New Zealand 2015

[kiwiviktor81]

If two of Anderson/Neesham and Santner are in the side, who bats 6 and who 8 (assuming we don't mess with Watling at 7)?

 

[Bahnz]

Neil Wagner: military medium battler, not test quality.
What a disappointment, after all the hype about how he was hungry, generating pace, swinging it again etc.

Wagz: WHERE ARE MY HATERZ?!?!? WHERE ARE THOSE GUTLESS ****S?!??!?

Boulteh: Ok, Neil I know you're excited but let's try take it down a notch.

 

[Athlai]

McCullum is undefeated at home as captain.

 

[BeeGee]

So it seems likely that Santner's secured his place for the remainder of the summer anyway. What do we think about the potential makeup of the side going forwards? Keeping going with the 4 specialist quicks, or bring back Anderson/Neesham to shore up the batting once they're fit?

Anderson in for Bracewell. That's the only change I'd make.

 

[Stace]

NZ are great to watch, they have the best batsman in the world who is absolutely box office to watch, with Latham he's still getting better but seems like a solid opener to me who can become world class with more experience, Guptill and McCullum can be devastating on there day, if Taylor can be more consistent he would be truly world class, Watling is the best Test keeper in the world and can he's more then handy with the bat (reminds me a bit of Matt Prior in the sense that he will bat for the team and enjoys the fight). The bowling department is very good too but like England think they need a 90mph bowler to be complete but cant not love a workhorse like Wagner and Santner is the coolest cricketer there is right now.

I like SL too and miss Sanga sooo much, he's being wasted playing in the big bash ****.

 

[straw man]

So it seems likely that Santner's secured his place for the remainder of the summer anyway. What do we think about the potential makeup of the side going forwards? Keeping going with the 4 specialist quicks, or bring back Anderson/Neesham to shore up the batting once they're fit?

I don't like the suggestions replacing one of the fast bowlers with Neesham or Anderson, while retaining Santner. Too much of a 3 bowlers plus two part-timers attack. It's possible Neesham could improve his bowling enough to make it work, however doing that and staying fit are big challenges.

While Santner's in the side I think Anderson and Neesham are just going to have to stay fit, perform at domestic level and wait their chance (i.e see if Santner doesn't succeed with the bat)..

 

[Bahnz]

Way more excited for the limited overs matches. Mainly because of Milne and heavier/louder crowds. Hopefully Lockie Ferg, Nutall or Duffy get called up for a shot as well. Give Southee a rest for those...he's deserved it and needs a rest for the Aussie series.

Let's just get this test series wrapped up first.

Doubt we'll see Ferguson, in spite of his pace he's had a fairly forgettable comp. Kuggs would probably be a lot closer to a callup if it weren't for his legal situation.

 

[Stace]

Who is Ferguson? How old is he? Also who are the other 2 guys mentioned Nutall and Duffy ?

 

[Bahnz]

Lachie Ferguson is a big 24 year old with good pace and an uncomplicated action. He's had a decent start to his first class career, but he's a long way from international duties.

Ed Nutall, is 22, a left-armer, whippy and swings the ball nicely. Shane Bond rates him as the next big thing and he looks pretty classy from the little that we've seen of him in first class cricket. Had a strong T20 comp and might not be far from a go given that there are a few injuries afflicting the 2nd stringers atm.

Jacob Duffy has been on the domestic first class scene forever, and he's still only 21. 6'6", and generates good late swing when he's bowling well. Unfortunately he's been having problems with his action lately, and has been well down on pace and accuracy this season. Still promising, but he needs to get some work done with a good bowling coach (maybe a move to Canterbury would be in his best interests).

 

[BeeGee]

I don't like the suggestions replacing one of the fast bowlers with Neesham or Anderson, while retaining Santner. Too much of a 3 bowlers plus two part-timers attack.

In the last 3 years:

CJ Anderson 11 tests, 13 wickets, average 38, econ 2.87
DAJ Bracewell 10 tests, 21 wickets, average 52, econ 3.33

Anderson's bowling is more than good enough to fill that fourth seamer role.

And Santner is not a part timer, he's in the team as our no. 1 spinner. He bowled more overs than Boult, Wagner or Bracewell in this game.

 

[thundaboult]

Let's just get this test series wrapped up first.

Doubt we'll see Ferguson, in spite of his pace he's had a fairly forgettable comp. Kuggs would probably be a lot closer to a callup if it weren't for his legal situation.

With no disrespect to Sri Lanka...the series looks pretty wrapped up already. They're raw and just seem to be going through the motions. Obviously we have to win the second as well to really get that 2-0 result but the second test just looks like a formality atm. Just my opinion.

Well I would still try and get each of the three guys a taste of international cricket during the Sri lanka and pakistan limited overs. There's enough games to be played in those and really, not much to be worried about. Give Fergy's pace, nutall's promise and Duffy's bounce/swing a chance. Sometimes the international stage proves out to be a much better training/'learning camp than any domestic arena. And its sad to not be able to mention Matt Henry anymore along with Mccelenaghan anymore.....If Bond was around they'd be getting better and better instead of the opposite.

 

[Dan]

Santner will always be considered a part-timer because he can bat though. Moeen syndrome.

I wouldn't mind Milne as the 4th seamer. Southee/Boult open up, Wagner and Santner are the workhorses (Wagner jamming wickets, Santner bowling economically), while Milne is the world's fastest Gavin Larsen/shock factor, as required.

 

[thierry henry]

Jacob Duffy ain't 6'6" man #stuffTHpostsabout

 

[Bahnz]

Santner will always be considered a part-timer because he can bat though. Moeen syndrome.

I wouldn't mind Milne as the 4th seamer. Southee/Boult open up, Wagner and Santner are the workhorses (Wagner jamming wickets, Santner bowling economically), while Milne is the world's fastest Gavin Larsen/shock factor, as required.

Yeah, but I'd want to see Milne get through at least a few first class before we give this a go. We need evidence that he can consistently get through 15 overs a day without breaking down.

 

[kiwiviktor81]

Milne is the world's fastest Gavin Larsen

Can someone explain this to me? Was thinking about it yesterday. If Milne was as accurate as Larsen with Milne's pace he'd be more dangerous than McGrath ever was. Clearly he isn't, so what's the go?

 

[Bahnz]

Can someone explain this to me? Was thinking about it yesterday. If Milne was as accurate as Larsen with Milne's pace he'd be more dangerous than McGrath ever was. Clearly he isn't, so what's the go?

It comes from Milne's roll in the ODI side. He doesn't really get lots of wickets, but he's damn hard to score quickly off of, and tends to get quite a few of his wickets from scoreboard pressure.

 

[thierry henry]

Can someone explain this to me? Was thinking about it yesterday. If Milne was as accurate as Larsen with Milne's pace he'd be more dangerous than McGrath ever was. Clearly he isn't, so what's the go?

I wouldn't say that someone like McGrath was *just* about accuracy. He also had immaculate control over subtle variations in seam and swing. On top of that he was very tall so got awkward bounce. He could pound away back of a length for awkward bounce, or bowl a more wicket-taking length with subtle movement.

AFAIK the Milne-meme is that he doesn't have McGrath's subtle movement or bounce but is good at bowling just short of a wicket-taking length and drying up the runs. Much like Larsen, who was also a more "skiddy" type bowler but bowled just the right length where he couldn't be pulled or driven but also wasn't threatening the edge or the stumps much.

 

[thierry henry]

....I may have slightly misconstrued the Milne-meme, so read my post as "an explanation of why Adam Milne isn't the greatest bowler ever" instead

 

[Bahnz]

With no disrespect to Sri Lanka...the series looks pretty wrapped up already. They're raw and just seem to be going through the motions. Obviously we have to win the second as well to really get that 2-0 result but the second test just looks like a formality atm. Just my opinion.

Well I would still try and get each of the three guys a taste of international cricket during the Sri lanka and pakistan limited overs. There's enough games to be played in those and really, not much to be worried about. Give Fergy's pace, nutall's promise and Duffy's bounce/swing a chance. Sometimes the international stage proves out to be a much better training/'learning camp than any domestic arena. And its sad to not be able to mention Matt Henry anymore along with Mccelenaghan anymore.....If Bond was around they'd be getting better and better instead of the opposite.

McLeakinruns is totally still in the frame, just had a very good T20 comp.

 

[BeeGee]

If two of Anderson/Neesham and Santner are in the side, who bats 6 and who 8 (assuming we don't mess with Watling at 7)?

6 Anderson
7 Watling
8 Santner

That's a great lower order.