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

[nzfan]

On the Firebirds front, Luke Woodcock, Jeetan Patel, Papps, Brent Arnel will have another season or two easily. Some of them did quite well too so no reason why they shouldn't.

Fraser Colson has shown he has loads of ability, I think the coming season he will come good and will be like Steve Murdoch for us. Matt Bacon and McPeake will hold their spots next year along with Dane Hutchinson. I can't quite see the team changing too much next season barring couple of guys of the same sort of skill making way. I can't see much from the club sides though. The Onslow side has an A player called Alex Ridley that may get a hit or two for Firebirds next year.

Meanwhile the Rachin Ravindra dude scored a hundred yesterday at Basin in Gillette regional finals vs Wellington College to book HIBS berth again in Gillette cup. https://www.crichq.com/#matches/366508/2nd_innings

Rachin Ravindra was awarded the under 19, under 20 and under 23 player of the year in the Wellington Cricket awards function as well two nights ago https://www.facebook.com/WgtnFirebirds/ He's just 16 years old

 

[RxGM]

6) Lachie Ferguson. Career before season was useful, 28 wickets @ 30. This season 31 wickets @ 22, 3 x 5-wicket bags, best seam bowler I saw on EPOO alongside Mitch McC (from a small sample of games).

Not so sure about Chapman, a couple of good performances is not the same as a breakthrough.

7) Scott Kuggelijn average 25 with the ball (38 wickets) and was the best bowler on his team and 50 with the bat, up till this season he average about 35 with the ball and about 30 with the bat.

I know his name has been around for a while now but he has always been a "talented" player without the numbers, now he is starting to get the numbers next to his name. If it wasnt for Scotts off field issues Jimmy Neesham would be pretty nervous.

 

[Immenso]

Yes. Fergusson and Kuggeleijn good shouts.

Kugg actually had an amazing season and might push Nutall off my biggest mover list.

Fergusson also excellent in 2 of the formats. That he was good in any white ball format this season was a surprise to me tbh. That has made me take notice.

 

[Neil Young]

Thought Tom Bruce deserves a mention.

 

[jcas0167]

6) Lachie Ferguson. Career before season was useful, 28 wickets @ 30. This season 31 wickets @ 22, 3 x 5-wicket bags, best seam bowler I saw on EPOO alongside Mitch McC (from a small sample of games).

Not so sure about Chapman, a couple of good performances is not the same as a breakthrough.

Yes, Chapman, who had limited opportunities, perhaps belongs in an 'exciting prospect' category. I'd add Glenn Phillips with his century against Otago & Josh Clarkson with his all-round performances in the HRV Cup. Notable mention to Zac Gibson & 17 yr old Nathan Smith who came in towards the end of the Plunket Shield. Smith on the disapointing under 19 WC campaign:

Bangladesh was a broadening and valuable experience. But the cricket did not go so well.

New Zealand lost to South Africa by 138 runs in the playoff for 11th.

‘‘It was a bit disappointing to see how the team went. We just really struggled against spin and teams were able to figure us out pretty quickly.

‘‘But I was pretty happy with the way I went. I got the ball to talk and got a bit of shape . . . ''.

Smith was the best performed of the New Zealand bowlers, taking seven wickets at an average of 26.28 in five games...

Smith's main weapon is his ability to swing the ball away from right-handers.

He is quick at school level but at the next level his pace, which he estimates in the high 120s to 130kmh, is not going to present a challenge.

‘‘It is a pretty big opportunity and I'm really grateful for it,'' he responded when ask how he was finding being with a first-class side.

‘‘I'm just trying to pick up as much as I can off the older guys. Hopefully, over the next six months, I can get in the gym, get a bit of strength and impress over the winter.

 

[Hurricane]

Yes, Chapman, who had limited opportunities, perhaps belongs in an 'exciting prospect' category. I'd add Glenn Phillips with his century against Otago & Josh Clarkson with his all-round performances in the HRV Cup. Notable mention to Zac Gibson & 17 yr old Nathan Smith who came in towards the end of the Plunket Shield. Smith on the disapointing under 19 WC campaign:

This year seemed more prosperous in terms of future prospects than previous years,

 

[nzfan]

Biggest busts of the year:

1) Leopard - why was he even hyped.
2) Seifert - I would say his last game notwithstanding - he would be starting to try the patience of management

Touche... Christian Leopard scores 100 in national club championship with 7 sixes and 9 fours. Think what you may about the way he goes about batting this lad can score 100s and in quick time.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/78591925/Eastern-Suburbs-start-club-cricket-nationals-with-a-win-over-Napier-Tech

 

[Blain]

Leopard is an exciting prospect, no doubt. He's only 18 straight out of school, of course he will be batting low for his new club team.. All the old buggers will be pulling rank no doubt. The fact he also bowls pushes him further down the order.

His bowling looks pretty standard medium pacer stuff, could be CD's Mitchell Marsh like player, 4th seamer ball basher at No 7.

 

[Dan]

It was also a big season, across formats, for Ish Sodhi. Which he then carried on at international level upon his recall.

And before Dan pipes in with a season full of jammy long hops etc etc . One mediocre haul does not a season make.

His RPO was still a very expensive 4 during plunket though, keep in mind if test recall drum beats get loud.

Hey, I reckon Ish has improved dramatically and I'm very happy to see that. He's bowled extremely well in a lot of spells (especially in white ball cricket).

It's just that the 7-fer was not one of those spells. A lot of the 2-3 wicket hauls >>>>> the 7-fer IMO, and are more telling of his ability.

 

[Hurricane]

Touche... Christian Leopard scores 100 in national club championship with 7 sixes and 9 fours. Think what you may about the way he goes about batting this lad can score 100s and in quick time.

Eastern Suburbs start club cricket nationals with a win over Napier Tech | Stuff.co.nz

Leopard is an exciting prospect, no doubt. He's only 18 straight out of school, of course he will be batting low for his new club team.. All the old buggers will be pulling rank no doubt. The fact he also bowls pushes him further down the order.

His bowling looks pretty standard medium pacer stuff, could be CD's Mitchell Marsh like player, 4th seamer ball basher at No 7.

No - I was leading the charge, well no jcas was I think - but I was right on board the Leopard train. When I was 18 I opened the batting for my Senior A side. Your batting position is based on how good you are and not old farts pulling rank on you.

100% of my opinion that he is a storm in a tea cup is based on how all of his coaches rate him as a batsman. He is down the order even for CD under 19s and can't crack the top 6 batsman.

Also that 170 he scored last year in the under 18s age group stuff that first turned all those head's wasn't actually scored against a provincial side. Somehow they let an extra team in the tournament to make up the numbers. They were bits and bobs players from here and there. The bits and bobs team lost every game and gave up 5 centuries in the tournament compared to the other provinces who gave up 2 centuries between all of them over all the games. Leopard destroyed the bits and bobs guys but didn't ton up against any of the serious teams.

I realise he has quite a few knocks - but basically he has been to the Munro school of batting and there is no future for him in the long form of the game as a batsman unless he has an epiphany and remodels his game.

Even that knock in the article you have linked to was 100 off 77 balls. That is not test match batting.

 

[Hurricane]

They were 180-8 and on track for a miracle when Dry took matters into his own hand.

The spinner took the last two wickets in four balls to leave Leopard stranded and earn his side a 17-run win.

What the hell was that hungus Dry even doing in the match?

Surely we have to at this point organise a CW interview of Dry - Dan to get on it.

 

[jcas0167]

No - I was leading the charge, well no jcas was I think - but I was right on board the Leopard train. When I was 18 I opened the batting for my Senior A side. Your batting position is based on how good you are and not old farts pulling rank on you.

100% of my opinion that he is a storm in a tea cup is based on how all of his coaches rate him as a batsman. He is down the order even for CD under 19s and can't crack the top 6 batsman.

Also that 170 he scored last year in the under 18s age group stuff that first turned all those head's wasn't actually scored against a provincial side. Somehow they let an extra team in the tournament to make up the numbers. They were bits and bobs players from here and there. The bits and bobs team lost every game and gave up 5 centuries in the tournament compared to the other provinces who gave up 2 centuries between all of them over all the games. Leopard destroyed the bits and bobs guys but didn't ton up against any of the serious teams.

I realise he has quite a few knocks - but basically he has been to the Munro school of batting and there is no future for him in the long form of the game as a batsman unless he has an epiphany and remodels his game.

Even that knock in the article you have linked to was 100 off 77 balls. That is not test match batting.

Yes, I think it all started during that under 17 tournament last year when I found an old quote by a coach saying he was better than Jesse or Kane as a 13 yr old. It seems he gave cricket away at one point due to a back injury & focused on athletics where he clearly had some talent. It does look like he might be more of a big hitting all-rounder though, than a top or middle order batsman.

 

[Hurricane]

Yes, I think it all started during that under 17 tournament last year when I found an old quote by a coach saying he was better than Jesse or Kane as a 13 yr old. It seems he gave cricket away at one point due to a back injury & focused on athletics where he clearly had some talent. It does look like he might be more of a big hitting all-rounder though, than a top or middle order batsman.

Great post

 

[Neil Young]

No - I was leading the charge, well no jcas was I think - but I was right on board the Leopard train. When I was 18 I opened the batting for my Senior A side. Your batting position is based on how good you are and not old farts pulling rank on you.

100% of my opinion that he is a storm in a tea cup is based on how all of his coaches rate him as a batsman. He is down the order even for CD under 19s and can't crack the top 6 batsman.

Also that 170 he scored last year in the under 18s age group stuff that first turned all those head's wasn't actually scored against a provincial side. Somehow they let an extra team in the tournament to make up the numbers. They were bits and bobs players from here and there. The bits and bobs team lost every game and gave up 5 centuries in the tournament compared to the other provinces who gave up 2 centuries between all of them over all the games. Leopard destroyed the bits and bobs guys but didn't ton up against any of the serious teams.

I realise he has quite a few knocks - but basically he has been to the Munro school of batting and there is no future for him in the long form of the game as a batsman unless he has an epiphany and remodels his game.

Even that knock in the article you have linked to was 100 off 77 balls. That is not test match batting.

The bloke is 19. Give him a break.

 

[Hurricane]

The bloke is 19. Give him a break.

I hope nothing I said was mean spirited. I do stand behind it however. If he goes on to great things I will be happy to eat humble pie.

 

[Immenso]

The bloke is 19. Give him a break.

Actually I think you may be wrong. I don't he's even 19 yet.

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

Sounds like Leopard needs to change his (batting) spots.

 

[nzfan]

I hope nothing I said was mean spirited. I do stand behind it however. If he goes on to great things I will be happy to eat humble pie.

There was nothing mean. Not that everyone had to rate him and to a certain extent you may even be correct. His batting is not Kane like but in this time and age you don't need to be a Kane Williamson to be successful. He may well end up like Corey Andreson or Colin Munro with a bit more ability with the ball.

As I'm typing this I see Leopard nearly scored a 100 again yesterday in the club finals.

 

[Immenso]

I hope nothing I said was mean spirited. I do stand behind it however. If he goes on to great things I will be happy to eat humble pie.

I think it was **** posting.

You're ripping into an 18 year old kid, rubbishing his prospects in a format you've never seen him play before. Because you had mistakenly categorised him in your head as a top order bat.

 

[Hurricane]

I think it was **** posting.

You're ripping into an 18 year old kid, rubbishing his prospects in a format you've never seen him play before. Because you had mistakenly categorised him in your head as a top order bat.

I think you are being ott and your tone is not appreciated and an apology is warranted.

He was initially compared to Kane on this message board. I legitimately had an expectation he would be a top order bat and not Simon O'donnell reincarnate.