***Official*** India in New Zealand 2020

[Bahnz]

Milne was the only express out of the current line who I saw swing the new ball (white ball) a bit and reverse the old one a lot...at times. Lockie could possibly swing it if given more chances to open the bowling but he probably won't get the chance in ODI's at least. Saw him swing it in the air/off the seam a bit when he opened in T20's. In his cameo against aus in the first test he did move the ball off the seam when hitting good line/length.

Would be seriously helpful if Sears could do it but from what I've heard so far, he can't.

Lockie from what I've seen is more of an inswing bowler with the new ball. Sears can definitely swing the ball. He cleaned up Raval at the Basin earlier this season in an almost identical manner to which Hazelwood knocked him over at Perth. We'll have to wait until we watch him play some televised cricket to see if he can do it consistently though.

 

[nzfan]

Quite relieved to know Rohit Sharma is out. That's like 30% of Indian line up. That said will miss watching him bat though. He's so good on the eyes.

Gill likely to go into the test squad I'm guessing? Lovely player, hope he gets a go. Scored lots in the recent A game. Still he isn't Rohit Sharma and don't expect him to do miracles. Our bowlers would rather have Gill playing than Rohit Sharma.

Shaw for one day I guess confirmed. Again our bowlers won't mind bowling to Shaw compared to Sharma. He may smack a quick hundred on his day but we have good chances against him. The thought of bowling to Rohit Sharma at the top of the inning is a very daunting task.

Starting to feel a bit more confident now with our chances. Any day Shaw/Gill or Shaw/Rahul over Dhawan/Rohit. The left right combination of Dhawan and Rohit have smashed many bowling attacks all over the world. You don't want to see anyone missing out on injury but this one will work in our favour.

 

[thierry henry]

they stood opposite each other after a wicket chatting and that's when i realised.

thierry to comment indeed

Actually I was thinking about this on Sunday, at first I thought Bennett was a bit taller, then later Southee seemed taller. Bennett is sort of like Neesham or McClenaghan in that they have hefty builds and big heads compared to a gangly pinhead like Southee, which can make them seem shorter.

I'd say Bennett and Southee are both about 6'3" with a chance of Bennett being a smidge shorter. Southee isn't the listed 6'4". I did see Bennett in person at the airport once too and this feels about right. Not as hefty in person (cricketers are skinny/I'm fat).

 

[mr_mister]

When did your height obsession start?

 

[thierry henry]

Speaking of constantly posting about the same thing - how are people coming out of this series thinking Munro should be dropped? 2 50s and a 36 average over a 5 match series and made at least a start every time.

It's total bizarro world. He was "lucky", yet Seifert scored less runs, got dropped about 30 times across the series, had one of the worst series of late-innings choking with the bat in cricket history (seriously, he did) and apparently was great?

I don't even think Seifert had a bad series (he was obviously pretty good), it's just crazy what can be ok for one guy and unacceptable from another.

 

[Athlai]

Munro is locked in for the WC I reckon, and there is no reason to be mad about it either. Hes good at T20. Averaging 25 and striking at 150 is ****ing awful in ODIs, but in T20, ****, you'd take that. And Munro has been doing even better than that for years in the format, even if he declines to only doing that, he still warrants a spot IMO.

 

[thierry henry]

On that note - I am very much a firm believer in "don't blame the guys who actually scored all the runs". Guys like Bruce, Mitchell and Santner either didn't do their jobs up the order or didn't do their job of finishing games, and probably deserve blame over and above those who contributed significantly but couldn't get us over the line.

HOWEVER - if Taylor and Seifert just bat somewhat competently late in games 3, 4 and 5, we win the series 3-2 and we aren't having any of these conversations about a team in turmoil, sack 'em all, blah blah blah.

Both things are true.

 

[NZTailender]

He's amde me eat my words this series. Looked streaky in the first innings but he consistently got runs. I think the WC should be his last hurrah though, same for a few others.

 

[thierry henry]

Munro is locked in for the WC I reckon, and there is no reason to be mad about it either. Hes good at T20. Averaging 25 and striking at 150 is ****ing awful in ODIs, but in T20, ****, you'd take that. And Munro has been doing even better than that for years in the format, even if he declines to only doing that, he still warrants a spot IMO.

My whole thing is he clearly warrants his spot, his production in T20Is has not really dropped off at all, and he just had a pretty good series.

The calls for his head aren't based on anything performance-related in this format. There is absolutely nothing there to go on.

 

[NZTailender]

On that note - I am very much a firm believer in "don't blame the guys who actually scored all the runs". Guys like Bruce, Mitchell and Santner either didn't do their jobs up the order or didn't do their job of finishing games, and probably deserve blame over and above those who contributed significantly but couldn't get us over the line.

HOWEVER - if Taylor and Seifert just bat somewhat competently late in games 3, 4 and 5, we win the series 3-2 and we aren't having any of these conversations about a team in turmoil, sack 'em all, blah blah blah.

Both things are true.

Bruce basically got one chance after being run out in the 2nd. Can't shoulder a huge amount of blame.

Mitchell and Santner could've done better with the bat though.

 

[Mike5181]

I don't understand how Williamson being out = Chapman in. Pick the guy that's a natural top order player (1-4), a guy that performed against the best there is over in Australia. I'm fine with him missing the squad to play NZA test, but if Williamson's out, this is a proper opportunity to introduce Young.

 

[cnerd123]

I don't understand how Williamson being out = Chapman in. Pick the guy that's a natural top order player (1-4), a guy that performed against the best there is over in Australia. I'm fine with him missing the squad to play NZA test, but if Williamson's out, this is a proper opportunity to introduce Young.

Chapman was basically HKs Williamson for a while tbf

 

[NZTailender]

Chapman was basically HKs Williamson for a while tbf

tbf Anton Devcich could get a gig as HKs Williamson

 

[NZTailender]

I don't understand how Williamson being out = Chapman in. Pick the guy that's a natural top order player (1-4), a guy that performed against the best there is over in Australia. I'm fine with him missing the squad to play NZA test, but if Williamson's out, this is a proper opportunity to introduce Young.

I don't dislike Chapman's inclusion but it is a bit weird. Are they super worried about Young's fitness? Which is a bit strange when you consider they rush Boult and Kane back before they're ready and exacerbate their injuries.

 

[Daemon]

Chapman is a filthy yeerk, hope the animorphs get him soon

 

[SteveNZ]

Speaking of constantly posting about the same thing - how are people coming out of this series thinking Munro should be dropped? 2 50s and a 36 average over a 5 match series and made at least a start every time.

It's total bizarro world. He was "lucky", yet Seifert scored less runs, got dropped about 30 times across the series, had one of the worst series of late-innings choking with the bat in cricket history (seriously, he did) and apparently was great?

I don't even think Seifert had a bad series (he was obviously pretty good), it's just crazy what can be ok for one guy and unacceptable from another.

Yeah I feel the same way about Seifert. I rate him to a point, he clearly has ability and a lot of shots in his arsenal, no better than that incredible lofted off drive off Chahal the other night.

But I can't remember a cricketer who has had more fortune in his brief career. He had it against Pakistan (?) in that 80 odd he scored early on, and this series he has rode an incredible amount of fortune to score the scores he did. I won't hold it too much against him in terms of the poor finishes, he's learning. But I certainly don't think he's a sure fire bet, the next McCullum (later version), the answer to our prayers etc. I actually rate Phillips higher but giving away the gloves is going to end up being to his detriment, in limited overs at least.

And yeah, Munro's only currency is runs. And he scored some in this series. He's still relevant in T20s, not so in other formats.

 

[_Ed_]

Chapman is a filthy yeerk, hope the animorphs get him soon

What an outstanding reference.

 

[Athlai]

Rachel

 

[Athlai]

10 - Animorphs - In the Time of Dinosaurs - Megamorphs #2

Man when I was growing up between around 8-13 Animorphs were my ****ing jam. This is definitely up there with my most re-read books. I devoured this one again and again. I spent a year or so in Africa more or less just rereading books in my free time and a lot of that time was spent between Harry Potter and Animorphs. But the random seemingly non-canon adventure when the team all time travels into the time of the dinosaurs due to a nuclear explosion while they're all dolphins. That shits REAL art.

This is what literature is about. It crudely and awesomely pasted together some of my great loves, dinosaurs + sci fi and even gave a fairly neat alien bad guy/species to enjoy.

It's dumb. It's "young adult". But man, I loved this so much.

Also probably the first book I ever read that had multiple narrator characters, really enjoyed it. Except for ****ing Cassies chapters, god do something interesting Cassie. #teamRachelTobiasAx

Reminder of when I placed an Animorphs special as my #10 of favourite books of all time.

 

[Daemon]

What a great series. I love animals and this series really spoiled you with them. I could imagine myself flying around on thermals with tobias and punching hork bajir’s in the face as a gorilla/marco.