***Official*** New Zealand Domestic Season 2015/16

[Kippax]

Well not necessarily with Hesson tbh. He's been relaxed about the elevations of Neesham, Sodhi and Craig, none of whom really played or performed brilliantly (in Sodhi's case) at NZA level.

Hesson will take a punt on a roughly sketched theoretical skill set if it's the right fit for his squad, but it's doubtful Popli in South Africa would really fit into that.

 

[hendrix]

Well not necessarily with Hesson tbh. He's been relaxed about the elevations of Neesham, Sodhi and Craig, none of whom really played or performed brilliantly (in Sodhi's case) at NZA level.

Hesson will take a punt on a roughly sketched theoretical skill set if it's the right fit for his squad, but it's doubtful Popli in South Africa would really fit into that.

But Milne might.

 

[Kippax]

Yeah although I think Hesson could get hung up on the Highveld's dryness in August and may well use up his speculative 15th slot on 'Sodhi in Tests' shenanigans. Especially with two Tests in Zim that need to be won beforehand.

 

[Kippax]

Shenanigans with some merit, I mean.

 

[Hurricane]

Henry Nicholls - age at Test debut - 24
Peter Ingram - age at Test debut - 32

SPD Smith - first 4 Test innings (1, 12, 10, 77)

In summary, Nicholls and Ingram both have what you deign to be "loose technique". Ingram wasn't viewed as worth investing in as he was 32 by the time he got his Test shot. He was fully retired from all cricket in 20 months after his final Test match.

Smith has an unorthodox technique, one that you've criticised and meant that after his first dash at Tests he was dropped for a reasonable spell.

I'm not saying that you're definitely wrong about Nicholls not being up to it, but you're wrong to not give him more time.

This is what cricinfo has to say about Smith's early appearances:

Smith's talent was apparent early, but as a young batsman he had more moving parts than an orchestra, only they didn't always work in harmony. He went away and worked on his game and returned to the Test side two years later with a much tighter technique. He still fidgeted between balls but could play every shot in the book, and a few more that defied words besides.

Your Smith example is a point in my favour that Nicholls should be dropped given he Smith was dropped based on a small number of outtings but came back better. .Batsman simply don't develop in the test match arena. You develop in FC. We have seen this over and over again with our "up and comers".

The exception that proves the rule is people like Martin Crowe and Kane Williamson who got off to poor starts - yet their poor starts actually saw them average low thirties so we could put up with their performances. Nicholls is not averaging 30.

Overall I liked your post and admire your new(?) debating style.

Edit - Utlimately my position is that Popli has been hammering at the door and deserves a look in. 1000 FC runs is not to be sneezed at.

 

[Hurricane]

Shenanigans with some merit, I mean.

Does he have a top spinner now? I thought someone said so in another post. And I thought I spotted one on the highlights. If he has now got a top spinner that goes straight on with the arm then he is a must for tests in all conditions.

 

[Kippax]

Does Heef or anyone tap into free wifi at the Basin?

I'm sure Edgar would chuck me a gig or two of free Cricket Wellington internet while I lounge in the autumn sun. I'm working underhand to put some sting into his 2016/17 bowling attack, after all.

Intrigue alive in Plunket Shield final round

• Devon Hotel Central Stags v Mondiale Auckland Aces at McLean Park, Napier

Devon Hotel Central Stags (one change, Blair Tickner comes in for Kurt Richards (unavailable): Will Young (captain), Doug Bracewell, Tom Bruce, Dane Cleaver (w), Liam Dudding, Greg Hay, Ajaz Patel, Navin Patel, Mitch Renwick, Ben Smith, Blair Tickner, Ryan Watson

Mondiale Auckland Aces (one change, Elliott Herd for Mark Chapman (unavailable); if selected spinner Elliott Herd will be on debut): Michael Bates (captain), Brad Cachopa, Colin de Grandhomme, Elliott Herd, Lockie Ferguson, Donovan Grobbelaar, Michael Guptill-Bunce, Shawn Hicks, Tarun Nethula, Robbie O'Donnell, Matt Quinn, Jeet Raval

• Wellington Firebirds v Canterbury at the Basin Reserve, Wellington

Firebirds captain Michael Papps

Wellington Firebirds (two changes, Alecz Day and Jamie Gibson in for Brent Arnel and Scott Borthwick): Matt Bacon, Tom Blundell (w), Fraser Colson, Alecz Day, Jamie Gibson, Iain McPeake, Stephen Murdoch, Michael Papps (captain), Jeetan Patel, Michael Pollard, Anurag Verma, Luke Woodcock

Canterbury: (two changes, Kyle Jamieson and Ed Nuttall for Logan van Beek and Matt Henry): Peter Fulton (captain), Todd Astle, Hamish Bennett, Chad Bowes, Leo Carter, Michael Davidson, Andrew Ellis, Cameron Fletcher (w), Kyle Jamieson,Tim Johnston, Ken McClure, Ed Nuttall

• SKYCITY Northern Knights v SBS Bank Otago Volts at Cobham Oval, Whangarei

SKYCITY Northern Knights (one change, Scott Kuggeleijn returns from injury for Zak Gibson): Daniel Flynn (captain), James Baker, Dean Brownlie, Anton Devcich, Tony Goodin, Brett Hampton, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Bharat Popli, Tim Seifert, Joe Walker, BJ Watling

SBS Bank Otago Volts (one change, Rhys Phillips in for Blair Soper): Michael Bracewell, Derek de Boorder (w), Jacob Duffy, Ryan Duffy, Josh Finnie, Anaru Kitchen, Jimmy Neesham, Rhys Phillips, Craig Smith, Nathan Smith, Christi Viljoen, Brad Wilson (captain)

 

[Kippax]

Pleased to see Nathan Smith debut at the venue where Elliott's outswing was seen sending one of Popli's stumps flying, a couple of seasons back. Day 2 of this will be good vault viewing.

 

[Kippax]

 

[Immenso]

Trying to work out where Auckland's engine room begins, Is it at 4? Or 5? Is Hicks a potential bat or potential bits and pieces engine roomer?

Disappointed Chapman is unavailable this round, as I like the cut of his gib.

Disappointed an association as large as Auckland are engine roomed to the max. But no, I'm not advocating giving a debut to a 16 year old.

 

[Kippax]

Yeah Shawn Hicks fits the big biffing South African archetype of an engine roomer. Strong on the pull, never seen much else to write home about. Coach rates him highly enough to have put him at 3 in 50-over cricket though.

 

[Kippax]

Bowes looks in the mood to improve his red ball record today. Bacon gentle enough for even Bowes to rock back and pull to the fence with disdain.

 

[Blain]

Classic youth overlook for Wellington? Talking about Sears.. Probably has an injury on his lanky frame.

 

[Immenso]

Classic youth overlook for Wellington? Talking about Sears.. Probably has an injury on his lanky frame.

He got injured in U19WC. Know nothing more than that.

 

[Bahnz]

Does he have a top spinner now? I thought someone said so in another post. And I thought I spotted one on the highlights. If he has now got a top spinner that goes straight on with the arm then he is a must for tests in all conditions.

He does - see below:

https://daa6b1tdaf5ub.cloudfront.net/7946HQ/221063

 

[SteveNZ]

He does - see below:

https://daa6b1tdaf5ub.cloudfront.net/7946HQ/221063

Yeah I thought it was when I saw it live too. Good top-spinning revs that you can noticeably see bounce more. I'm not necessarily in the hurry Ish in to Tests camp (although India and Bangladesh(?) is tempting on the upcoming calendar) but a top-spinner is a long-form wicket-taking delivery with gloves and shoulders of bats, not to mention LHers outside edges.

 

[Hurricane]

He does - see below:

https://daa6b1tdaf5ub.cloudfront.net/7946HQ/221063

Yeah I thought it was when I saw it live too. Good top-spinning revs that you can noticeably see bounce more. I'm not necessarily in the hurry Ish in to Tests camp (although India and Bangladesh(?) is tempting on the upcoming calendar) but a top-spinner is a long-form wicket-taking delivery with gloves and shoulders of bats, not to mention LHers outside edges.

As long as it doesn't bounce too much then it also brings lbw and clean bowled into play. If he can land it right it could be as effective as a flipper.

When I watched him two years ago - I concluded we needed to throw him back into the Plunket Shield sea because of how ineffective his googly was a wicket taking option.

A typical "threatening spell" by Sodhi might go as follows:

95.1 Sodhi to Watson, left alone outside off stump, that one turns sharply but it is wide and harmless enough
95.2 Sodhi to Watson, Watson looks to get back and cut this one but pulls out at the last minute as it spins away from his bat and he decides discretion is the better part of valour.
95.3 Sodhi to Watson It's the googly, and he's been hit on the pad right in front of middle and off, the new zealanders have all gone up, but the umpire is shaking his head and indicating this one is going down the leg side.


Get him in the team, with a top spinner he is good for an additional wicket every match beyond what he did last time.

Previously he averaged 2.5 wickets per match - 3.5 wickets per match will make him test match quality.

 

[hendrix]

No.

 

[Neil Young]

Ken McClure is taking his retro show on the road.

Go, Ken.

 

[Blain]

Nathan Smith looks like a right handed Ben Wheeler...?