WIth Ravindra making his T20 debut, My general thoughts on young players and T20.
T20 is a game for old batsmen, wrist spinners, darty finger spinners, and fast bowlers.
Batsmen who I think have a good chance of being 3 format players at a high level, I'm not a fan of them playing the Super Smash in their teen years. T20 batsmen need either power and/or 360 degree scoring options. Not many teens have that and in attempting to compromise they turn to ****.
I've seen Finnie time a cricket ball and he has no issues with his power even back in his teens. But being a good hitter plus a part-time spinner (the holy grail of the T20 pro) has seen him as a number 8 or 9 for Otago when his coach’s ambitions should have been so much higher for him, but it required a bit of patience.
I don't think Ravindra should play much T20 this year and probably next year. Just wait for the power or 360 degrees to form at a natural maturing pace. Let him nail down his read and butter. Like Finnie he could play and bat at 8 because of his bowling, but thank God Edgar has resisted this for most of the season.
Finn Allen looks like he should be a natural in the white ball stuff, but will be good enough to play all 3 formats. With the wealth of options Auckland have I'd hold him back in the super smash.
Glenn Phillips: I'm not opposed to his early white ball exposure for Auckland. I think he'll end up a white ball specialist.
Young batting all-rounders like Clarkson and Leopard, I'm also not opposed to their early T20 exposure. Actually, I'm surprised at Leopard's lack of chances. These guys look like white ball players going forward (Clarkson definitely due to his injury limitations), although Leopard may still have broader ambitions.
Young wrist spinners: get them in there.
Young finger spinners: Hmmmm, probably no harm. But let Nick Beard serve as a cautioning reminder.
Young scatterball fast bowlers (like Sears). Yep, get them in there, Unpredictability is ok in T20. Control can be developed as they mature and in the mean timer no harm is done as they learn on the job.
Young swing bowlers: Like the potential 3 form batsmen these I think are vulnerable. I think Southee and Duffy were not helped. I'd like to wrap Nathan Smith up in cotton wool if Otago had the depth and if the T20 comp was a month shorter. Nuttall (who I rate the most promising) seemed to successfully transform from swing to bouncy/pace bowler. Although his back is stuffed? however he's having an absolute nightmare season this year.
or maybe all the above is a waste of words, and the real problem was with the coaching at Otago (Duffy, Beard, Finnie)