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*Official* West Indies in New Zealand - Nov/Dec 2020

The Hutt Rec

International Vice-Captain
I think pretty much everyone agrees that the WTC isn't something to be taken seriously, given how covid has compromised (the already badly compromised) format. Still it would be fun to watch us play Aus or India at Lords in a sorta high-stakes match.

Btw, does anybody know if the WTC final is being played with the Duke or the Kookaburra? I'm guessing it's the later given it's an ICC event.
I'm still pumped for it (albeit acknowledging even at Lords we'd most likely mentally crumble in a final against Aus and lose by an innings and 317 runs).

But it would be great to see NZ's name on a trophy at long last ... and if the championship gets ingrained as a respected thing in years to come, nobody will look back and think about all the covid and weird schedule stuff when they see our name as the first winners.
 

Flem274*

123/5
nobody will look back and think about all the covid and weird schedule stuff when they see our name as the first winners.
oh yes they will, and the big three will whine about it for decades to come like the genetically, morally and ***ually inferior people they are.

remember the lesser twin spent last summer moaning we got to #2 because his lot couldn't even beat the bangers on rolled mud. if we actually won the wtc they couldn't deal.
 

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
No chance IMO. A couple of 40s for WI A is not enough to overcome the fact that he's not actually officially in the squad hadn't played a FC game for six years until this week.

I think the fact that he didn't play the FC season may even make his selection against the WICB rules, not that they don't break those when it suits them.
 

Beamer

International Vice-Captain
No chance IMO. A couple of 40s for WI A is not enough to overcome the fact that he's not actually officially in the squad hadn't played a FC game for six years until this week.

I think the fact that he didn't play the FC season may even make his selection against the WICB rules, not that they don't break those when it suits them.
I think it would be harsh on Da Silva, who deserves it more.

I'd play Pooran in the next A match and if he does we'll take him to Bangladesh.
 

Kippax

Cricketer Of The Year
Boy, some of the worst weather for preparing a New Zealand Test pitch in years could be on the cards this week. Rather than dazzling you with the Basin's pace and carry, just keeping this sort of first-class cricket from earlier in the season unseen by the wider world will probably become the goal.

 

Moss

International Captain
The spinners situation is a worrying one, keeping in mind not just tours to the subcontinent but also places like England and the Windies where pitches will dry out (and Mark Craig did play his part on the last tours to both places). Ajaz and Somerville would probably be automatic picks at least for the subcontinent but both are getting on and may not be around for that long. Astle even if he were not retired would be in the same bracket.

Think there has to be some acknowledgement around this and come up with a plan to develop them. I remember Vettori public endorsing Sodhi back in 2013 despite his poor FC numbers at the time, and though Ish has obviously put in the hard work in first class he never really kicked on at the international level, though he’s decent if not the most reliable in limited overs. Hope some lessons are being learnt there assuming someone like Ashok may be thrust into the spotlight sometime soon.
 

CharlesLara

U19 12th Man
The spinners situation is a worrying one, keeping in mind not just tours to the subcontinent but also places like England and the Windies where pitches will dry out (and Mark Craig did play his part on the last tours to both places). Ajaz and Somerville would probably be automatic picks at least for the subcontinent but both are getting on and may not be around for that long. Astle even if he were not retired would be in the same bracket.

Think there has to be some acknowledgement around this and come up with a plan to develop them. I remember Vettori public endorsing Sodhi back in 2013 despite his poor FC numbers at the time, and though Ish has obviously put in the hard work in first class he never really kicked on at the international level, though he’s decent if not the most reliable in limited overs. Hope some lessons are being learnt there assuming someone like Ashok may be thrust into the spotlight sometime soon.
It's interesting cause his best FC success if I recall was in his earlier days. I think the biggest question, and this is the worry, has Ish actually improved (just remember, he made his Test debut in 2013) or has he been relatively the same bowler? It's why I don't see there being any other option other than Ajaz spin wise, its the consistency and also consistent IMPROVEMENT that is really key. Ajaz types of dismissals, when he was getting them and how got better and better over time. Watching an Ish wicket bag from 2020 is like watching a more inconsistent version of the 2013 version of Ish, and its not like there hasn't been investment etc. The worry is why we are not seeing our spinners hit their prime (technically, mentally,) at all as an improved version unlike say for example (just an example, nothing much to read into) a Graeme Swann.

As far as Adi Ashok is concerned, all my sources been on my case about him for 18 months now. He's been working a tonne with Barrington and Tarun and they all rate him very highly. My only concern is that constant push for a leggie, (which I'm all for) but for the wrong reasons ("OMG he bowled a wrongun") type malarkey our commentators and generally public get sucked into. From what I've heard and the little clips I seen he seems a GENUINE talent but I would hate for him to be pushed TOO quickly and learning on the job.
 

Mike5181

International Captain
It's interesting cause his best FC success if I recall was in his earlier days. I think the biggest question, and this is the worry, has Ish actually improved (just remember, he made his Test debut in 2013) or has he been relatively the same bowler? It's why I don't see there being any other option other than Ajaz spin wise, its the consistency and also consistent IMPROVEMENT that is really key. Ajaz types of dismissals, when he was getting them and how got better and better over time. Watching an Ish wicket bag from 2020 is like watching a more inconsistent version of the 2013 version of Ish, and its not like there hasn't been investment etc. The worry is why we are not seeing our spinners hit their prime (technically, mentally,) at all as an improved version unlike say for example (just an example, nothing much to read into) a Graeme Swann.

As far as Adi Ashok is concerned, all my sources been on my case about him for 18 months now. He's been working a tonne with Barrington and Tarun and they all rate him very highly. My only concern is that constant push for a leggie, (which I'm all for) but for the wrong reasons ("OMG he bowled a wrongun") type malarkey our commentators and generally public get sucked into. From what I've heard and the little clips I seen he seems a GENUINE talent but I would hate for him to be pushed TOO quickly and learning on the job.
He averaged 45, 38, and 42 in his first three seasons. It's really only the success he's had after that that's pushed his ND average down to 29. Like the 2015/16 season is when he started to churn out some good results, and he's only played one test match in New Zealand since then. I think if we saw him consistently picked in home tests and handled better by captains he'd probably do okay, but it's hard to justify his presence with the strength of our pace attack. He's never going to bowl a lot of overs here, he doesn't and never had the confidence of captains, and he can get smacked around more so than players like Santner that have been preferred over him.
 

Flem274*

123/5
classic case of a kid being picked way too early and getting rekt. believing your own hype is a huge part of being a bowler and lining up against india and co. on nz test motorways requires experience.

adam milne getting picked for t20s on rugby grounds at 17 years old was another great idea.

no surprises our best spinners by far since vettori are both over 30 years old and have taken bucketloads of fc wickets.
 

Kippax

Cricketer Of The Year
The Lehmann-esque bowling from Cooper you enjoy could be gone for good though, Cribb. He's been sending down leg spin since March, despite that successful 2/9 cameo of offies vs. Wellington in February.

 

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
When I looked into it, Cooper had bowled heaps (for good reward) at levels slightly below FC cricket where you wouldn't really expect him to.

His action basically sucks but I think he plans his overs well and could be a great troll bowler, exactly like Lehmann. His recent attempts have been less than great though. I've been pivoting my meme posting about it to the complete opposite -- Phillips, who has never really been a bowler but kinda looks like one when he sends them down.
 
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straw man

Hall of Fame Member
Sounds like Watling may be back for the next test, with Blundell moving back to opener and Young dropping out. No mention of CDG returning though.
 

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