*Official* Bangladesh in New Zealand 2016/2017

[thierry henry]

Is he really that enigmatic? As a batsman he's the type of "clean-striking" not-really-a-batsman who can play spectacular innings if you "bowl in his arc" but will never be a proper specialist batsman. It's a newish trope in cricket, the guy who can make a match winning 90 off 40 without being a "real" batsman, but I think it's an increasingly recognisable one.

As a bowler he has the raw materials when fit to be competent but neither the fitness nor the performances behind him to give any confidence.

I understand why people got excited about him in 13/14-14/15- batting all-rounders who are power-hitters and can bowl fast-medium are exciting. But realistically in order to become a true world-class player he was going to have to become a better bowler, and that was always more a hope than an expectation. If he remains unable to bowl at a suitable level I don't think it's ever going to happen.

This has come off sounding rather more negative than I expected it to. I actually like Anderson, I like his clean, uncomplicated striking but did anyone ever really think he was going to be a top-line international batsman?

 

[The Hutt Rec]

His most impressive innings for me was the World Cup semi. A hugely important innings under immense pressure against a quality attack ... even if it wasn't the most fluent knock, it showed me there's something there. But I haven't seen a lot of it since. Injuries haven't helped.

 

[thierry henry]

His most impressive innings for me was the World Cup semi. A hugely important innings under immense pressure against a quality attack ... even if it wasn't the most fluent knock, it showed me there's something there. But I haven't seen a lot of it since. Injuries haven't helped.

Absolutely there is "something there" and that means he is capable of playing good and important innings. Chris Cairns could do the same, Andrew Flintoff could do the same, but as far as being world-class players (or even worth their place in a full-strength team) they had to be all-rounders. If Anderson isn't an all-rounder he's a fringe player at best.

 

[Dick Rockett]

He'll have to significantly improve his batting at FC level and above to prove his worth in those formats, seeing as how he seems unable to take many wickets with the red ball.

He's pretty decent in both disciplines with the white ball, and about to resume bowling again apparently.

But if he can't keep his body in one piece....

 

[Daemon]

Come on dude, it was a joke about how they are the most consistent side in terms of losing, how are you not getting it.

ATG save

 

[cnerd123]

See I would normally buy this, but with Bangladesh it happens so often that they appear to compete for 50-80% of the match only to fall over ass backwards that I don't even know if you can say this anymore.

It's kind of like rugby teams playing the All Blacks & competing well for 60 minutes, only to get blown off the park in the final 20. The temptation in hindsight is to focus on how close the sides were for that 60 minute period, forgetting that rugby is played over 80.

Bangladesh are a poor side at the moment because they don't have the depth nor the class to play good enough cricket for long enough to be considered unlucky or not far off the pace for me.

In many ways NZ did blow them off the park if you look at the final margins as opposed to periods of the game in which it appear even, or that Bangers were even on top. The margins being 77 runs, 67 runs & 8 wickets, that represents hidings

The way I see it, if you take these same players and have them develop in other nations' teams/domestic structures, they'll be world class. The talent is all there. What they lack is the mental strength. And that can be taught. Talent cannot.

Compare this team to the days of Khaled Mahmud and Akram Khan -where they clearly weren't international standard- and you'll see the difference.

 

[Burgey]

I think that's right. It's not dissimilar to mid-late 80s Australia in that sense. They'd compete for portions of a game but lose the moments/ sessions which mattered. Having that extra bit of awareness can hopefully come from experience for them.

 

[Zinzan]

The way I see it, if you take these same players and have them develop in other nations' teams/domestic structures, they'll be world class. The talent is all there. What they lack is the mental strength. And that can be taught. Talent cannot.

Compare this team to the days of Khaled Mahmud and Akram Khan -where they clearly weren't international standard- and you'll see the difference.

Yeah, I think this assessment is fair enough, although I would take issue with the 'world class' label. But yes, it's the mental component and mostly a lack of belief that is the problem. I did think it was worth pointing out that in spite of Bangers getting themselves in good positions in some of those games, that the final margins were hidings.

BTW, some of Shabbir's shots were as good as any played in either side all series. No doubting that guy's natural ability.

 

[Zinzan]

Unhappy Rossco -

Personally I think he's flattering himself a little if he thinks he'd have waltzed into a Big Bash side after his achievements (or lack of them) in T20 cricket in the last 4-5 years. He's not only been omitted from the IPL in recent years, but pretty sure he failed to even make a Caribbean side last time around. Someone needs to remind him that SRs of 130+ are what are required in T20 cricket, no the 110-115 he's been going at the last 4 years.

Anyway, good to see him back in the Test line-up, hopefully there'll be no further dramas for him for a while.

'Disappointed to be out of the T20 side' - Ross Taylor | Cricket | ESPN Cricinfo

New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor has expressed disappointment at being left out of the T20 matches against Bangladesh at the start of the year. In their first T20 campaign since the 2016 World T20, New Zealand tried newcomer Tom Bruce and Corey Anderson at No. 4, Taylor's usual batting position, where both batsmen were among the runs.

"I was disappointed to be out of the T20 side," Taylor said. "I love playing all formats for my country and to get the call on Boxing Day was disappointing. You've got to respect the selectors' decision. To answer it back with two 80s [in the Super Smash] was nice but at the same time it is nice to be back in Test cricket."

New Zealand Cricket also didn't allow Taylor to play in the Big Bash League this season due to their play-travel rule, after he had applied to play for the Melbourne Renegades. Taylor said that while New Zealand coach Mike Hesson was happy to let him go to Australia, NZC CEO David White didn't allow him.

"It would have been nice to play in front of 70-odd thousand in the Melbourne derby but New Zealand Cricket have got their protocols on play-travel and you've got to respect that.

"Hess was all for me going but David [White] had other reasons," Taylor said. "He didn't want me to go with the play-travel rule, and he didn't think it was a good idea with such a big summer ahead. I had a chat with him. He had his reasons. As it worked out I probably wouldn't have played anyway, with the side strain. It is what it is."

Taylor, though, now wants to move past these two selection decisions as he prepares for his first international match since undergoing eye surgery.

"I think my peripheral vision feels a little better," he said. "I went around to my manager's house and asked her if she bought a new fridge. She looked at me pretty strangely and said it has been around for the last 4-5 years. I don't know if it is a good or a bad thing.

"At the moment I'm just enjoying being back in the Test team and can hopefully score some runs and give a bit back to the youngsters and help Kane [Williamson] out along the way."

 

[Zinzan]

Compare this team to the days of Khaled Mahmud and Akram Khan -where they clearly weren't international standard- and you'll see the difference.

Btw, was Khaled Mahmud the funny looking short guy who used to run in bowling those 110-115 click skidding medium pacers? I remember I always backed myself to smack him out of the park.

 

[cnerd123]

Yup.

12 tests, a batting average of 12 (HS 45) and bowling average of 64 (BBI 4/37), Khaled Mahmud is arguably the least talented Test captain of all time.

Absolute legend tho.

 

[Flametree]

Someone once quoted : "an all-rounder in physique only"

 

[Flem274*]

Unhappy Rossco -

Personally I think he's flattering himself a little if he thinks he'd have waltzed into a Big Bash side after his achievements (or lack of them) in T20 cricket in the last 4-5 years. He's not only been omitted from the IPL in recent years, but pretty sure he failed to even make a Caribbean side last time around. Someone needs to remind him that SRs of 130+ are what are required in T20 cricket, no the 110-115 he's been going at the last 4 years.

Anyway, good to see him back in the Test line-up, hopefully there'll be no further dramas for him for a while.

'Disappointed to be out of the T20 side' - Ross Taylor | Cricket | ESPN Cricinfo

New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor has expressed disappointment at being left out of the T20 matches against Bangladesh at the start of the year. In their first T20 campaign since the 2016 World T20, New Zealand tried newcomer Tom Bruce and Corey Anderson at No. 4, Taylor's usual batting position, where both batsmen were among the runs.

"I was disappointed to be out of the T20 side," Taylor said. "I love playing all formats for my country and to get the call on Boxing Day was disappointing. You've got to respect the selectors' decision. To answer it back with two 80s [in the Super Smash] was nice but at the same time it is nice to be back in Test cricket."

New Zealand Cricket also didn't allow Taylor to play in the Big Bash League this season due to their play-travel rule, after he had applied to play for the Melbourne Renegades. Taylor said that while New Zealand coach Mike Hesson was happy to let him go to Australia, NZC CEO David White didn't allow him.

"It would have been nice to play in front of 70-odd thousand in the Melbourne derby but New Zealand Cricket have got their protocols on play-travel and you've got to respect that.

"Hess was all for me going but David [White] had other reasons," Taylor said. "He didn't want me to go with the play-travel rule, and he didn't think it was a good idea with such a big summer ahead. I had a chat with him. He had his reasons. As it worked out I probably wouldn't have played anyway, with the side strain. It is what it is."

Taylor, though, now wants to move past these two selection decisions as he prepares for his first international match since undergoing eye surgery.

"I think my peripheral vision feels a little better," he said. "I went around to my manager's house and asked her if she bought a new fridge. She looked at me pretty strangely and said it has been around for the last 4-5 years. I don't know if it is a good or a bad thing.

"At the moment I'm just enjoying being back in the Test team and can hopefully score some runs and give a bit back to the youngsters and help Kane [Williamson] out along the way."

honestly i think the papers are trying to imply this is more than it is. taylor is disappointed he didn't make the team and wasn't allowed to try out for a BBL side. that's understandable, and im sure kane was disappointed back in the day to not play T20 or colin munro to be in the test team. media asked him a question, he answered and they're doing their best to subtly imply taylor wants to stab hesson and white in the face

 

[Zinzan]

They always look to sensationalise things, that's the media for ya. His direct quotes did seem to imply he felt he would have made the Renegades XI, whereas I'm not sure he's got the recent T20 form in the last 4-5 years (outside NZ domestic level) to warrant selection at that level as the specialised overseas pro. Unless unbeknownst to us he was actually offered a contract.

 

[91Jmay]

Nah he'd 100% of got a BBL contract. Plenty of very ordinary players in that comp.

 

[Zinzan]

Nah he'd 100% of got a BBL contract. Plenty of very ordinary players in that comp.

Not if they've been paying attention to his last 3-4 years, especially at anything outside NZ domestic level. His career record is deceiving since he was dead-set one of the best T20 bats around between 2008-11, used to have a SR close to 150 in those early days.

 

[The Hutt Rec]

I am certain he would have been offered a contract, otherwise it would never have even come up! Why would he go to the trouble of getting all the approvals etc if it wasn't actually all good to go ... he even mentions the specific game he would have played in.

 

[Zinzan]

I am certain he would have been offered a contract, otherwise it would never have even come up! Why would he go to the trouble of getting all the approvals etc if it wasn't actually all good to go ... he even mentions the specific game he would have played in.

I read it as being denied to go any further with his application, but either way my point stands. There's more valuable T20 bats around these days, even in NZ, Munro, Anderson & Bruce for starters imho. I see Munro was snared by the Sixes the other day.

 

[Dan]

BBL is just as much about marketability as T20 ability. There's no way in hell that the Renegades turn down the opportunity to play a big name player who made a Test 290 in his last trip to Australia.

 

[91Jmay]

Not if they've been paying attention to his last 3-4 years, especially at anything outside NZ domestic level. His career record is deceiving since he was dead-set one of the best T20 bats around between 2008-11, used to have a SR close to 150 in those early days.

They literally pick names. Andrew Flintoff played two years ago.