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

[Moss]

Depressingly predictable from the Windies but sounds like Jaimeson put in a seriously good performance there. Been a bit too easy for him so far - assuming they follow on, hope the Windies batsmen do bat long and well not only so that they have something to take away from the tour but the NZ quartet is faced with a proper challenge besides Blackwood.

 

[Burgey]

They're just getting worse every year, not better. Absolute junk.

 

[Moss]

Appreciable movement from Jamieson TSTL. Wont NZ be the top ranked side after they win this by an innings? They have the relentlessness of an absolute top side. Jamieson, Southee and Boult extract every inch of assistance they can and they have the luxury of the 3rd seamer's 3rd seamer in Wagz. The lower order doesn't go down without a fight either. BJ's heroics in SL stupidly underrated. Hope this is a new dawn for Nicholls too. Oh and Williamson is pretty good too.

Definitely a great side for the conditions they play regularly in, and the performances in Sri Lanka and the UAE have shown there’s more to them than thriving in swing and seam-friendly environments. Pace and bounce is their undoing and apart from the Australia debacle I don’t see the batsmen enjoying themselves in South Africa at all though the bowling would do well. In India, well, the current lot wouldn’t disgrace themselves but still distinctly second best. A test series in England if it happens next year would be really exciting.

There are a couple of problems though, namely one opener and spinner. Just don't see Blundell as a long term solution and can only hope he makes a decent fist of it before Rachin Ravindra is ready. The two best spin options in the country are well into their thirties and the captain just doesn’t appear to have much use for them outside the subcontinent. all that aside it’s a very appealing core group of players, and the thing I’m very happy about is that they’ve forced their way into the fans’ consciousness, at least here in India, and are part of the conversation. 8-10 years ago nobody here gave them a second look, which wasn’t the case with players from the West Indies or Sri Lanka for example.

 

[Binkley]

Did I read that viewing rights for NZ games in India are now held by Amazon? Have you seen any of their coverage @Moss? I am curious about whether they just carry the local commentators and coverage, or whether they are doing something a bit different.

 

[Moss]

Did I read that viewing rights for NZ games in India are now held by Amazon? Have you seen any of their coverage @Moss? I am curious about whether they just carry the local commentators and coverage, or whether they are doing something a bit different.

That’s correct, but the coverage starts from 2021/22 so we’ll have to wait! I think India might visit again sometime around then which may have been the catalyst. Currently been watching on a streaming app called FanCode (whose existence I had no idea of prior to this series, but they’re currently offering coverage of NZ games at extremely low rates which was a pleasant surprise). The coverage is pretty much the Spark Sport coverage with the same commentary team.

 

[nzfan]

Two good days at Basin, enjoyed it. Lovely day today, great crowd. Couldn't be a part of it most of the times but it was awesome to see from the long room. That over from Killer that was amazing, 2 wickets in one over awesome stuff. Quietly hoped from WI counter punch and a good thrilling run a ball from Bravo but it never came. Felt a bit sad for WI to be honest. They looked absolutely out of depth or should I be crediting the current Black Caps team? We'll never know. To be fair to WI, even England and India looked bamboozled visiting our shores last year.

I'm quite sure we are playing best ever cricket I've known of since the 80s (way too young then to rate that team). We have won consistently at home but not in this fashion like absolutely mopping the floor no matter who the opponent is. We have been finding new heroes on the way as well. Dare may I say we haven't missed an absolute beast of a player Kane in this test match and that is saying something.

Shows how much bowling in proper areas and catching of the highest order makes a difference to the game. Wagner's knock was icing on the cake, some serious shots. The cover drive stood out. I'm still hoping for WI to come up with a massive fight back in the second dig although it looks fairly unlikely at this stage.

 

[Bahseph]

Good bowling performance from New Zealand but the batting was terrible. I guess Blackwood is going to just play the way he knows, which is working for now.

Braithwaite plays the long game but I feel like his patience is his asset more than his defensive game. Bravo has been on the decline for ages, Chase has fallen off after a good start to his Test career and Brooks and Campbell don't look up to it. Disappointing from Holder so far. Really been a let down.

 

[nzfan]

On the positive note for WI, two bowlers from WI A catch the eye. They didn't have wickets to show but Mayers and Seales look like good upcoming bowling talents.

 

[Days of Grace]

Could Southee get close to Hadlee’s record? It would probably take him another 40 matches and since we probably average 6 tests a year I don’t see him doing it.

 

[straw man]

I had a nice cool day in the shadey museum stand (downside of being pale as a sheet) until an old man with binoculars stole my seat and I was too polite to say anything.

should've Wagnered him

 

[straw man]

That was a lovely day to spend sitting on the bank. Not that I did much sitting. Or saw much cricket. Perils of taking a 5 year-old with me. But the conditions were near perfect for running around the bank yelling at her stop running away, climbing up trees to try and reach her, and apologising to that poor lady whose beer is still pooled in my daughter’s shoes.

Are you the one who posted that you lost your toddler for a while at a previous test match? So today was an improvement then.

 

[Bahnz]

Could Southee get close to Hadlee’s record? It would probably take him another 40 matches and since we probably average 6 tests a year I don’t see him doing it.

He's 32, so let's say he's got a maximum of 4 years left. If Southee stays 100% fit, he might have 30 games. That would require him to take 140 wickets in 30 games. If we look at his last 30 games as a guide, he took 136 wickets, so extremely close. But I kinda think that Tim is the kinda guy who's not too bothered by stats and will just retire when he's had enough, which may well be after the 2023 World Cup.

 

[The Hutt Rec]

He's 32, so let's say he's got a maximum of 4 years left. If Southee stays 100% fit, he might have 30 games. That would require him to take 140 wickets in 30 games. If we look at his last 30 games as a guide, he took 136 wickets, so extremely close. But I kinda think that Tim is the kinda guy who's not too bothered by stats and will just retire when he's had enough, which may well be after the 2023 World Cup.

I dunno, the way he’s clinging to those T20 and ODI sides, and his (justifiable) fury at being dropped from the test team in Australia tell me he’s probably targeting 500 test wickets and will only surrender his spot when it’s wrested from his cold dead rigor-mortisy grip.

 

[Days of Grace]

It’a maybe just me but it looks like Southee has a very easy action. Doesn’t seem to overly exert himself. Unlike Boult. But Boult looks fitter and more athletic. So who knows which of them will play the longest. We should enjoy it while they are playing, that much I know.

 

[Beamer]

So context is important and I can absolutely see why NZ have thrashed everyone at home recently, they are a very very good side.

But as a lesser side you have to set a minimum standard to try and keep things competitive. We have plenty of talented bowlers, so we can win the odd test of we field well and scramble together a few partnerships.

But on this tour the batting and fielding has been borderline club level. The same guys who aren't scoring any runs can't even catch. I'd be fuming if I were a windies test bowler.

I don't think I can watch this side anymore unless wholesale changes are made. At this stage I honestly don't care who comes in, just try something different. It hasn't worked for years and they have given this group every chance. Just try something different ffs.

 

[Beamer]

So context is important and I can absolutely see why NZ have thrashed everyone at home recently, they are a very very good side.

But as a lesser side you have to set a minimum standard to try and keep things competitive. We have plenty of talented bowlers, so we can win the odd test of we field well and scramble together a few partnerships.

But on this tour the batting and fielding has been borderline club level. The same guys who aren't scoring any runs can't even catch. I'd be fuming if I were a windies test bowler.

I don't think I can watch this side anymore unless wholesale changes are made. At this stage I honestly don't care who comes in, just try something different. It hasn't worked for years and they have given this group every chance. Just try something different ffs.

Kraigg, Campbell and Chase have to go IMHO.

 

[Pup Clarke]

It's possibly a microcosm of West Indies cricket that Chase is vice-captain. I mean, he has some ability but just appears far too off the pace at this level. As Beamer alluded too previously, his body language has looked really poor in general

 

[Beamer]

It's possibly a microcosm of West Indies cricket that Chase is vice-captain. I mean, he has some ability but just appears far too off the pace at this level. As Beamer alluded too previously, his body language has looked really poor in general

Mind-blowing that averaging 22 with the bat at number 5 for three years gets you the VC role. Being best buds with the captain is probably useful.

 

[trundler]

He's just not any good but he keeps getting by because of that century was England 2 years ago.

 

[Beamer]

He's just not any good but he keeps getting by because of that century was England 2 years ago.

Same with Kraigg. He used to be a test quality opener but the reality is he had been awful for over 3 years now.