*Official* New Zealand in Australia 2019/20

[NZTailender]

Yeah we need a spinner of some variety. I'd have Somerville tbh seeing how well Lyon did, though Ajaz wouldn't be a bad shout - but if it comes down to batting Somers Somerville edges Patel.

It's really just trying to figure out who will be the least **** in a country unfriendly to touring spinners

 

[Jezroy]

While certainly not a ***y selection, there's gotta be an argument that Astle is as good as or better than Santner at basically all of Santner's roles

Plus, the 4 tests that Todd Astle has played, New Zealand have won.

#talisman

 

[Athlai]

Unless we can pick Lyon it's going to be much of a muchness.

Santa has bought himself enough rope with the England Tests that you know they're not gonna drop him.

 

[NZTailender]

At this point I'd send Kuggelejin if anything.

If only to see how Starc sledges him.

 

[thundaboult]

If only to see how Starc sledges him.

Hope so, might motivate the c*** to bowl 150 lol. Oh and Kuggs too.

 

[Jezroy]

Unless we can pick Lyon it's going to be much of a muchness.

Santa has bought himself enough rope with the England Tests that you know they're not gonna drop him.

I agree that's what they're probably going to do, but how ****ed is that? Keep the spinner in the team because he got a hundred in his last series?

Would have been like the Aussies keeping Dizzy because he got 200 against Bangladesh.

Or when Danny Morrison got 16* against England to save a test, then keep him even though he was done bowling wise.

He's picked to be a spin bowler. And he's not doing that job very well. It's so simple.

 

[Jezroy]

Hope so, might motivate the c*** to bowl 150 lol. Oh and Kuggs too.

He wouldn't want to call "no" when turning down a quick single.

 

[thundaboult]

I'd love to see Blundell play. Looks strong square of the wicket. But he is not an opener. Seifert can come in for Raval but I can't see him standing up to siddle, stork and cumcloth. Will young is another option, but not ideal as an opener. Guptill can stand up to the Aus attack but if it swings, the only place the ball is touching is his edge and one of the inbreds to jump 50 feet in the air and catch it.

Basically, we're f****d. Need Aus to roll for 100 something. Don't see this batting lineup touching 400 unless Kane And Ross partner up to save us for the 899th time. In Aus, the other batters we have are just there to make up the numbers.

 

[Athlai]

I agree that's what they're probably going to do, but how ****ed is that? Keep the spinner in the team because he got a hundred in his last series?

Would have been like the Aussies keeping Dizzy because he got 200 against Bangladesh.

Or when Danny Morrison got 16* against England to save a test, then keep him even though he was done bowling wise.

He's picked to be a spin bowler. And he's not doing that job very well. It's so simple.

Santner is not picked to be a wicket taker though is he? His role is as a rather thankless job of holding up an end and not letting the game run away from us.

 

[NZTailender]

Basically, we're f****d. Need Aus to roll for 100 something. Don't see this batting lineup touching 400 unless Kane And Ross partner up to save us for the 899th time. In Aus, the other batters we have are just there to make up the numbers.

Uh, CdG got sawn off in the first dig when looking well in control (striking over 100) and had played some delightful pulls with ease. He got a snorter which, as it turned out, was not out, but anyway. Second dig he was second top scorer behind Watling.

Like as a unit, the batting failed across both innings, but there were good signs from everyone except Raval, Santner and to some extent Latham. They just all need to tighten up and recognise the plans being set up on them.

 

[Jezroy]

Santner is not picked to be a wicket taker though is he? His role is as a rather thankless job of holding up an end and not letting the game run away from us.

Then that's even more ****ed

 

[TheJediBrah]

I was impressed with Santner's bowling, thought he did a very good job. He outbowled Yasir Shah who is supposed to be one of the best spinners in the world.

It's almost as if you guys expect an Ish Sodhi or Todd Astle-type or whoever they select to come in and take 5-80 when they're more likely to go for 0-130 at 5rpo

Then that's even more ****ed

no, it's common sense.

0-80 off 30 overs is better than 0-150 off 30 overs

 

[Bahnz]

Unless we can pick Lyon it's going to be much of a muchness.

Which is of course why Santner's record matches up so well against Ajaz and Sommerville's both in tests and FC cricket.

Seriously, Santner got outbowled by Travis Head and Jeet Raval. Saying there's nobody who could possibly do better is ridiculous.

In the end it might not matter much. Unless we get more 40 degree weather in Melbourne and Sydney were unlikely to face a pitch that turns that much again.

 

[thundaboult]

I've lost half my interest in this series now mainly because of Lockie's injury. Was our first chance in a decade to see a genuine 150km bowler bowling on spicy pitches in whites...and not belonging to the opposing team's attack.

 

[Bahnz]

I've lost half my interest in this series now mainly because of Lockie's injury. Was our first chance in a decade to see a genuine 150km bowler bowling on spicy pitches in whites...and not belonging the opposing team's attack.

Ferguson will never have much of a career for New Zealand because the three guys in front of him are too good. I had my doubts about Southee before this series, but after Perth I don't know how you could advocate dropping any of them for Ferguson.

Tbf, he makes a better option for injury cover than Henry, so that's good for the team's depth.

 

[thundaboult]

Which is of course why Santner's record matches up so well against Ajaz and Sommerville's both in tests and FC cricket.

Seriously, Santner got outbowled by Travis Head and Jeet Raval. Saying there's nobody who could possibly do better is ridiculous.

In the end it might not matter much. Unless we get more 40 degree weather in Melbourne and Sydney were unlikely to face a pitch that turns that much again.

Don't worry, their next justification in making santner play again is because he can hit security guards in the head with 100% precision.

 

[Spark]

Which is of course why Santner's record matches up so well against Ajaz and Sommerville's both in tests and FC cricket.

Seriously, Santner got outbowled by Travis Head and Jeet Raval. Saying there's nobody who could possibly do better is ridiculous.

In the end it might not matter much. Unless we get more 40 degree weather in Melbourne and Sydney were unlikely to face a pitch that turns that much again.

If the way this summer has been so far is any indication, ther'es a decent chance of this.

 

[Jezroy]

I was impressed with Santner's bowling, thought he did a very good job. He outbowled Yasir Shah who is supposed to be one of the best spinners in the world.

It's almost as if you guys expect an Ish Sodhi or Todd Astle-type or whoever they select to come in and take 5-80 when they're more likely to go for 0-130 at 5rpo


0-80 off 30 overs is better than 0-150 off 30 overs

I think the thing is that a lot of NZ fans are sick of seeing this guy continue playing, who's now taken 38 wickets in 21 tests. Strike rate 94. Average 43.15.

And we've seen both Somerville and Patel get a bowl overseas and do pretty well. So we're confused as to why Santner jumps them in the pecking order as soon as it's not the subcontinent.

And we're so frustrated that, yes, Todd Astle seems like a better option because MAYBE he might get 2 for 90 off 25 overs. Which is better to me than 0-90 off 35 overs. Batsmen know when they face Santner, there is a low chance of them getting out. It's like a pressure relief (if you pardon the expression).

And the whole "he's tying up an end" thing is such a weak argument.

Boult goes for 2.97
Southee goes for 3.01
Wagner goes for 3.10
CDG goes for 2.41(!)

Santner goes for 2.75 - it's not like he has a RPO a million miles better than the other guys. If they want a guy who can "tie up an end" and not worry at all if he gets wickets or spins the ball or not, just use CDG. Or anyone else that could go for 2.75 an over.


PS: We all know that Sodhi shouldn't be in the team. He's had his chances to prove himself at test level and it didn't work, which is what they should have figured out with Santner. He's great with the white ball, but not with the red. Took them ages to figure it out with Martin Guptill too.

 

[Athlai]

Only NZ fans spend all their time complaining about the spin bowling allrounder at 8 from a Test where we scored 343 total from both innings, and didn't even bowl poorly after losing a frontline bowler. Jesus ****ing christ, get a grip.

 

[TheBrand]

The other punishing thing on commentary was how the Aussie commentators kept going on about Starc and Cummins being 15kph faster than Wagner and Southee and so it was going to be harder for NZ to face bouncers blah blah blah. But as Ian Smith pointed at some point, the problem with Wagner is not his pace but because he's a lot shorter than those two bowlers and that's why he's more awkward to play. Well from a viewer's perspective anyway...