***Official*** New Zealand Domestic Season 2018/19

[nzfan]

https://www.wisden.com/stories/features/five-breakout-international-stars-for-2019

Wisden picks the following players to have a breakthrough international year, although this is not NZ Domestic specific. Just happy they picked one player from NZ so posting here.

1. Will Pucovski - Did hear a bit about Will when he scored double hundred and then missed out on games due to health issues immediately after the knock. Won't put past him to make it to Aussie this year.

2. Qais Ahmad - Was quite impressed watching him in the under 19s, that said I don't necessarily believe Afgan players to be under the age of 19 playing for 19s or under. Rashid Khan, is he 18 year old now?

3. Shubman Gill - Very impressed by this lad, excellent player of fast bowling, plays off the back foot quite nicely and I believe this guy is better than Prithvi Shaw. He scored few runs vs NZ A and looked way more comfortable than Prithvi Shaw against our pacers.

4. Rachin Ravindra - Of course I'm a big fan of his coming from NZ. I wish he can go on to play for Black Caps earlier than later but given how he's now back to club cricket in town rather than play for Firebirds in the super smash that would have helped him grow I think it's going to be very hard for him to make it past NZ A in the next year or two. I'm guessing he's going to play more for NZ A than Firebirds. I can't fathom he's dropped without getting a chance to prove his worth in the super smash. Time for the young lad to move on to ND or Canterbury or Otago. He's going to suck here in town unless NZ Cricket comes to his rescue. Makes me wonder if Firebirds would have picked him at all if he didn't play for NZ A and perform. I'm guessing no... he likely would have played a token game and firebirds would have shunned him for the rest of the season. I hear he loves training otherwise he would have go on to play club cricket, learn the good life and end up like a Harry Boam or Henry Walsh. If he has to get the best out of his talent Wellington is a very bad place. He will never achieve greatness growing up in Wellington, he's got to play for ND or Canterbury. History is testament to that.

5. Jofra Archer - Extremely impressive player, I think he is going to make the England WC squad. Probably the best of the players from this list.

 

[nzfan]

How good is that timing from Widen? Few hours after the article came out Pucovski has been named in the Aussie test side.

 

[NZTailender]

You could make a living selling chin protectors to Aussie selectors.

 

[Immenso]

https://www.wisden.com/stories/features/five-breakout-international-stars-for-2019

Wisden picks the following players to have a breakthrough international year, although this is not NZ Domestic specific. Just happy they picked one player from NZ so posting here.

1. Will Pucovski - Did hear a bit about Will when he scored double hundred and then missed out on games due to health issues immediately after the knock. Won't put past him to make it to Aussie this year.

2. Qais Ahmad - Was quite impressed watching him in the under 19s, that said I don't necessarily believe Afgan players to be under the age of 19 playing for 19s or under. Rashid Khan, is he 18 year old now?

3. Shubman Gill - Very impressed by this lad, excellent player of fast bowling, plays off the back foot quite nicely and I believe this guy is better than Prithvi Shaw. He scored few runs vs NZ A and looked way more comfortable than Prithvi Shaw against our pacers.

4. Rachin Ravindra - Of course I'm a big fan of his coming from NZ. I wish he can go on to play for Black Caps earlier than later but given how he's now back to club cricket in town rather than play for Firebirds in the super smash that would have helped him grow I think it's going to be very hard for him to make it past NZ A in the next year or two. I'm guessing he's going to play more for NZ A than Firebirds. I can't fathom he's dropped without getting a chance to prove his worth in the super smash. Time for the young lad to move on to ND or Canterbury or Otago. He's going to suck here in town unless NZ Cricket comes to his rescue. Makes me wonder if Firebirds would have picked him at all if he didn't play for NZ A and perform. I'm guessing no... he likely would have played a token game and firebirds would have shunned him for the rest of the season. I hear he loves training otherwise he would have go on to play club cricket, learn the good life and end up like a Harry Boam or Henry Walsh. If he has to get the best out of his talent Wellington is a very bad place. He will never achieve greatness growing up in Wellington, he's got to play for ND or Canterbury. History is testament to that.

5. Jofra Archer - Extremely impressive player, I think he is going to make the England WC squad. Probably the best of the players from this list.

I'd say the recent examples of nz teenager batsmen getting opportunities young in all 3 formats domestically has been almost disastrous.

I'm very comfortable with Ravindra sitting out the T20s while still only 18/19.

He should concentrate on FC and List A at the moment and then work on his T20 game when he has consolidated those other 2.

Good work by Wellington. Avoiding the dogs breakfast that Auckland and Otago have made of Finnie and Allen by throwing them into all formats, in and out, too soon. Follow the ND and Kane W example as closely as possible is the better path.

 

[nzfan]

I'd say the recent examples of nz teenager batsmen getting opportunities young in all 3 formats domestically has been almost disastrous.

I'm very comfortable with Ravindra sitting out the T20s while still only 18/19.

He should concentrate on FC and List A at the moment and then work on his T20 game when he has consolidated those other 2.

Good work by Wellington. Avoiding the dogs breakfast that Auckland and Otago have made of Finnie and Allen by throwing them into all formats, in and out, too soon. Follow the ND and Kane W example as closely as possible is the better path.

You maybe right, perhaps I'm too excited to see him play given how Wellington has barely produced any recent young talents of substance. Perhaps I don't want to believe Wellington can do a good job with him :-)

That said speaking to couple of guys at NZC they are bewildered Ravindra's is not playing super smash. This is where the competition is at its best given every player worth his salt in playing. Plunkett Shield or Ford trophy doesn't show case that so you would get your future players playing in this format. Playing when there's decent crowd, against good opponents and imports, is very important for growth of players these days whether we rate T20s or not. It does put players under pressure both with the bat and ball. Players are carving out careers out of T20 these days and no sensible player would like to sit out of the most popular format. Perhaps Ravindra is different, he may be able to handle different format comfortably. I believe he is the most skilled player with amazing technique both in bowling and batting. There is no point sitting a player like that out for months. Every opportunity he gets to play will make him better I feel.

 

[_Ed_]

Foxcroft looked terrible early in his innings, but he's playing some nice shots now.

 

[_Ed_]

Bruce looks in tremendous form.

 

[_Ed_]

Catching's better in the Super Smash than the Big Bash, ftr.

 

[NZTailender]

They should really do a season ender of Big Smash Super Bash where the top 2 teams of each comp play in a mini tournament, or at least the winners in a best of three.

 

[nzfan]

Have seen BBL and Super Smash of late. I have to rate Super Smash as a much higher quality on all accounts. We have a good product but no idea about how to market it. Haven't seen over 200 runs per innings in the BBL, the grounds are quite large so the bowlers have a decent chance to pick up wickets. The only qualm I have is some of our grounds are a bit too small and mishits can go for sixes. Super Smash should be restricted to decent sized grounds such as Mount, Nelson, Hagley, Basin, Seddan , university oval there will be decent balance between bat and ball. Imagine finals at Pukekura park with 40 meters boundaries, it will end up a farce. We have less teams which helps keeping up the quality of the competition. I think BBL quality will go up if they can restrict the number of teams but obviously that is not going to happen, in fact there'll be more teams in future.

I haven't followed the Mzansii league so no idea about their quality. I expect them to be quite good given they have only 6 teams participating. Wouldn't it be great if they can include the likes of Zimbabwe, Namibia and Kenya in their league.

I don't know why the champions league didn't take off but that was an excellent concept. ICC should pick it up and run it. Ideally in UK or New Zealand. It'll be very well received now with the T20s attracting good crowd everywhere.

 

[Athlai]

The finals that occured at Pukekura park years ago was brilliant. Taylor and KNB were smashing sixes into the terraces and people were having to dive to avoid getting blasted. It was also my first proper look at Neesham. It's probably the domestic T20 thats most remained stuck in my memory ever.

Wish all T20 games were held there.

 

[nzfan]

The finals that occured at Pukekura park years ago was brilliant. Taylor and KNB were smashing sixes into the terraces and people were having to dive to avoid getting blasted. It was also my first proper look at Neesham. It's probably the domestic T20 thats most remained stuck in my memory ever.

Wish all T20 games were held there.

You my friend have no heart for bowlers The bowlers heart must sink every time they step on the ground

Has to be said the last CD vs Firebirds game, the sticky pitch actually helped the bowlers.

 

[Athlai]

Full Scorecard of Central Districts vs Auckland, New Zealand Domestic Twenty20, Final - Score Report | ESPNcricinfo.com

 

[Flem274*]

i've been at cow corner at pukekura park with taylor batting in a t20. you have to pay attention haha

 

[The Hutt Rec]

The free match at the Basin last Saturday was a really good promotion, I thought. Had a great atmosphere. Crowd of over 3000 ... it was interesting to read that was the biggest crowd for a Firebirds game since 2010 ... which was the Murali stint, of course. A decent quality higher profile import - say one per team, would definitely help with marketing, I think. We’ve seen the interest Stokes and Jayawardene created in recent times. I guess it’s not easy to get players of that caliber, though. And you wouldn’t want to dilute the quality by turning it into a Big Bash-ish retirement home.

 

[Howsie]

The finals that occured at Pukekura park years ago was brilliant. Taylor and KNB were smashing sixes into the terraces and people were having to dive to avoid getting blasted. It was also my first proper look at Neesham. It's probably the domestic T20 thats most remained stuck in my memory ever.

Wish all T20 games were held there.

Yeah me too actually. Still remember Napier bowling real gas and caving in Bopara’s helmet.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Yeah me too actually. Still remember Napier bowling real gas and caving in Bopara’s helmet.

"Right arm medium pace" - most misleading description ever. Was definitely the quickest from either side when I saw him.

 

[Flem274*]

that was the quickest pukekura park deck i've ever seen. michael mason is far from express and the pace and bounce he got was terrifying. either he or napier clunked kitchen in the helmet and im pretty sure it was mason.

auckland had no idea away from colin maiden and eden #2 (flat af back then)

 

[nzfan]

Looking forward to seeing how Troy Johnson goes. Kippax posts a while ago of Troy Johnson playing in India looks very exciting. Surprised he's making a debut to domestic cricket through t20 but very much looking forward to it. When local young ones make their way into the teams something about it, it gets exciting.

 

[Prince EWS]

"Right arm medium pace" - most misleading description ever. Was definitely the quickest from either side when I saw him.

Haha yeah he started off as a medium pacer and got much quicker in the mid-late part of his career (off a shorter run too), and cricinfo just never bothered changing it.