***Official*** England in New Zealand 2018

[Flem274*]

so i looked at the scorecard for the first time and my god they've literally selected a quarter of the plunket shield for this 2 dayer

edit - nevermind didn't realise everyone got 12 turns at bat each

 

[Zinzan]

I do hope this is something the think tank has at least considered (Watling as a specialist bat) . Blundell showing ability as a keeper-bat does make it a serious option.

I'm hoping Watling's injury woes don't see his glovework and batting fall off a cliff. We've really missed his ability to score stoic hundreds. He's the only player currently outside the team I'd immediately drop a Nicholls or CdG for to play as a specialist bat. Third best test batsman in the country.
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This is 2018, not 2015/16 anymore. Watling 3rd best Test bat we have? Really?

If you exclude Zim, who Watling dined out against, in the last 2 years in 10 test matches, Watling has averaged 26, with just 1 Test 50 in 14 innings. That is NOT the numbers of a 3rd best test bat, even by NZ standards.

He might have been one of our best a couple of years ago... but those recent numbers make the likes of Nicholls look like Don Bradman.

 

[Zinzan]

There's no reason at all Watling should be entitled to come back in ahead of Blundell when the latter has just come of a Test hundred, as well as a ton in the warm-up game against the opposition we're coming up against. At the same time factoring those horrible recent returns from Watling

 

[The Hutt Rec]

Yeah, he's really struggled with his strike rate in that time as well. He can still occupy the crease for a long time, but ever since that MOTM performance in the second test in England, he hasn't been been scoring runs. I hope he can get back to his best soon, though ... because he's one of my favourites when going well.

 

[Flem274*]

10 tests don't define your overall quality. He's done considerably more in his test career than any of Latham, Raval and Nicholls. I'm willing to back him and he was a major reason for NZs success under McCullum. Definitely not a player NZ can afford to throw away, even with the surge in young keepers.

Speaking of young keepers, guys like Blundell and Seifert might push for test selection on batting alone soon. Good news for Seifert especially given his sometimes dodgy glovework.

 

[Zinzan]

10 tests don't define your overall quality. He's done considerably more in his test career than any of Latham, Raval and Nicholls. I'm willing to back him and he was a major reason for NZs success under McCullum. Definitely not a player NZ can afford to throw away, even with the surge in young keepers.
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I'm not taking anything away from his excellent numbers from 2013-2016, nor his career record overall as a keeper. But 2 years is a long time and 14 innings (admittedly I omitted Zim) is more than enough of a run to be able to produce better results than a highest score of 50. Batsmen can deteriorate, it happens all the time.

Not suggesting Watling should be out of the picture entirely, but surely Blundell has to be the incumbent after coming off these two international tons.

 

[Flem274*]

runs against the windies in nz are almost meaningless and the other was in a 2 day warm up game

normally i'd say watling gets the season but it's a 4 test season so i guess he gets the year...

 

[flibbertyjibber]

So rumour is Broad will lose the new ball. First step to phasing him out of the team perhaps?

 

[vcs]

They should have started this game this weekend.

Who will take the new ball ahead of Broad, Woakes?

 

[TheBrand]

As well as nicking off to the new ball Guptill struggles against spin (hence lack of IPL contracts), so it's a no from for no 5. I'd prefer Watling as a specialist bat at 5 or even Anderson/Neesham etc.

Shame Mark Craig has fallen off the radar and had that horror tour of Australia - if he stopped bowling so many 4 balls he'd be a very good option at 8. I can't see any of Astle, Sodhi or Craig bowling us to as many overseas victories as Craig did

I think he mainly fell off because his injury didn't he? The last test he played was the first one in the India series, where I thought he bowled the best he's bowled yet. Great drift and flight, got Kohli and Rahane out as well. Would love to see him back in the fold.

 

[Dan]

The weirder thing surrounding Ish is that they dropped him out of the tour match squads tbh.

 

[Gnske]

As well as nicking off to the new ball Guptill struggles against spin (hence lack of IPL contracts), so it's a no from for no 5. I'd prefer Watling as a specialist bat at 5 or even Anderson/Neesham etc.

Shame Mark Craig has fallen off the radar and had that horror tour of Australia - if he stopped bowling so many 4 balls he'd be a very good option at 8. I can't see any of Astle, Sodhi or Craig bowling us to as many overseas victories as Craig did

I dunno, I think they can surpass two victories if you give them a decade.

Craig would be useful but he needs to take a leaf out of Lyon's book and learn that bounce won't take all your wickets especially if you're expecting half-trackers to spit violently.

 

[robbypark]

Very good chance of a draw in 1st test. Weather forecast looks absolutely awful. Better jump on that bet before sportsbooks adjust.

 

[Chewie]

Guptill scored runs, get him back in the Test team.

He's in the squad now hahaha

 

[Athlai]

He's in the squad now hahaha

Awwwww yeah baby

 

[Bahnz]

Very good chance of a draw in 1st test. Weather forecast looks absolutely awful. Better jump on that bet before sportsbooks adjust.

You do realise that weather forecasts beyond about 3 days are worth sweet FA right?

 

[SteveNZ]

GUPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

A quick bout of influenza to Nicholls and let's get Gup in at 5 under lights at Eden Park, where he does his best stuff.

 

[_Ed_]

It could easily have been Munro. Sucks that he gave this form of the game away.

 

[Blain]

Agh, Guptil. Getting real sick of Hesson and Larsens sh*t. No forward planning at all, don't get me started on Astle.. I can understand their thinking, thinking the white and the pink ball are similar.

Weather wise, lets face it, pink ball tests are 3 day games. Auckland is known as having changing weather, will be a bit of sun, some clouds, bit of rain etc. Not worried looking at the forecast.

 

[Immenso]

Agh, Guptil. Getting real sick of Hesson and Larsens sh*t. No forward planning at all, don't get me started on Astle.. I can understand their thinking, thinking the white and the pink ball are similar.

Can you elaborate on your first paragraph? " thinking the white and the pink ball are similar" Is that comment in re: to Guptill? or both Guptill and Astle?