The Hutt Rec
International Vice-Captain
Neesham must be eyeing up CDG’s spot, I think.
Yeah have a feeling we will regret that - who is going to create something when Pakistan have two batsman at the crease on fifty each? Southee is going to have to bowl well and get some reverse like Hasan Ali.haha did we really ****ing drop wagner on a deck with variable bounce
Just looked up the SL series and the first test is less than two weeks away! Can't see Santner being match-fit enough so Ajaz comes in for him.What do we reckon the home side is for the summer?
What we'll probably see:
Latham
Raval
Williamson
Taylor
Nicholls
Watling+
CdG
Santner
Southee
Wagner
Boult
I want to see how Ajaz goes in our home summer. de Gradnhomme has been a bit of a beast at home so it makes sense he stays however for our long-term development you feel like he's becoming a bit of a weight rather than benefit. Latham scored a 50 in the last test and has been in OK form but the way he gets out is worrying. I wouldn't want him to think he's undroppable. Young has been opening in the A series with good results but I don't actually want him to open. Break him in at 6 and then when Ross retires (after 100 tests?) he can move to 4 (or 5 if Nicholls moves up).Just looked up the SL series and the first test is less than two weeks away! Can't see Santner being match-fit enough so Ajaz comes in for him.
I don't see the need for huge changes tbh. De Grandhomme does make the side at home and the only other one there who's struggling is Latham, though I wouldn't drop him yet. Are we really considering Will Young an opener now? I hope not.
Only other point is that Ferguson needs a test debut some time this summer.
I don't think we have the depth of talent to discard someone just because they've proven themselves incapable of scoring runs in UAE conditions. Neesham didn't do anything with the bat or the ball last time we were here, and I've seen no indication his bowling has improved to a point where it's even serviceable at test level.Neesham must be eyeing up CDG’s spot, I think.
AgreeYoung has been opening in the A series with good results but I don't actually want him to open. Break him in at 6 and then when Ross retires (after 100 tests?) he can move to 4 (or 5 if Nicholls moves up).
Also agree. I'd bring Neesham into the ODI side tomorrow at number 6 (replaces Nicholls) but needs to perform for longer at FC level before another test chance. I don't think his bowling is ever going to improve significantly so he needs lots of runs.I don't think we have the depth of talent to discard someone just because they've proven themselves incapable of scoring runs in UAE conditions. Neesham didn't do anything with the bat or the ball last time we were here, and I've seen no indication his bowling has improved to a point where it's even serviceable at test level.
As primarily a bowler or batsman?I'd like to see how Somerville and Ajaz bowl this week before thinking about a side to play Sri Lanka. CDG must surely still be safe in the test team for NZ conditions though. If he were to be replaced I'd be tempted to go with D Bracewell at 7, rather than Neesham at 6. Long-term I think a 6-7-8 of Seifert (wk)- Nathan Smith - Michael Rippon (Jamieson at 9) would be pretty exciting.
As an allrounderAs primarily a bowler or batsman?
I would prefer easily half a dozen others to Bracewell as a bowler and many more as a batsman. Would be far better off not picking an all-rounder if Bracewell was next on that list, imo. His 5 wickets against India A weren't all that exciting either - Ferguson's were far better.