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*Official* Pakistan in New Zealand 2020/21

Kippax

Kippax

Cricketer Of The Year
A lot of South Asian fans do enjoy the 'Kuggeleijn is a big scary stud, he'll be the next big blond bully to be top prospect for NZ' mythos, when I check some of my YT channel's comments.
 
The Hutt Rec

The Hutt Rec

International Vice-Captain
Kippax said:
A lot of South Asian fans do enjoy the 'Kuggeleijn is a big scary stud, he'll be the next big blond bully to be top prospect for NZ' mythos, when I check some of my YT channel's comments.
Click to expand...
What are they watching that I’m not.

FFS Henry ...
 
Blain

Blain

U19 Captain
Henry has had so many opportunity's, and hasn't played the games to justify form IMO. He's averaging 50 in test cricket. No other options out there? Obviously Ferguson would have had the spot. Nuttall is showing enough this season to be in contention also.

How long is Blundell going to treated as an opener I wonder? He's been OK - Obviously the 100 in 2019 boxing day test was fantastic. But let's get real, he was brought in as a make shift opener, and I can't see him developing into a full time opener. Stead did the same with Munro, got a few games as an opener, then didn't move despite failing far to often. I wonder if he's holding the spot for Ravindra to develop another season or so. I'd also think Conway would offer more as a batsmen, and clearly deserves a chance.. He's far better than a back up wicket keeper.
 
F

Fuller Pilch

Hall of Fame Member
So a low on form Boult, two guys who've REALLY struggled at test level in Henry and Santner, and Jamieson who is due (law of averages) for a quiet match.

Leaves a lot for Southee to do.
 
James

James

Cricket Web Owner
Blain said:
How long is Blundell going to treated as an opener I wonder?
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BJ is 35, and I reckon probably has another 2 years left in the game.

I'd imagine once he retires Blundell will move down the order to fill his spot, and Conway will fill the opening spot. Unless there's an injury, I don't see Conway cracking the Test team for another couple of years. It appears as though Will Young is higher up the pecking order and will slot it for Taylor once he goes.

Top 6 to look something like this:

Latham
Conway
Williamson
Young
Nicholls
Blundell
 
straw man

straw man

Hall of Fame Member
Blain said:
Henry has had so many opportunity's, and hasn't played the games to justify form IMO. He's averaging 50 in test cricket.
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Yes this, I was originally a big fan of Henry but even after applying a couple of early-career dispensations (played on a couple of mega-roads early + an unusually large number of catches dropped off him in his first few matches) he is still a loooong way off the pace, as revealed by that bowling average.

Think it was Flem that summed up in one of the other threads what I think has been commonly understood about Henry for the last couple of years. Bowls 'unlucky length' a touch short, gets floaty when fuller. Relies too much on the new ball (or a Duke ball), doesn't make enough happen with the old.

Old kookaburra on slow flat pitch - no thanks.
 
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F

Fuller Pilch

Hall of Fame Member
James said:
BJ is 35, and I reckon probably has another 2 years left in the game.

I'd imagine once he retires Blundell will move down the order to fill his spot, and Conway will fill the opening spot. Unless there's an injury, I don't see Conway cracking the Test team for another couple of years. It appears as though Will Young is higher up the pecking order and will slot it for Taylor once he goes.

Top 6 to look something like this:

Latham
Conway
Williamson
Young
Nicholls
Blundell
Click to expand...
Conway at 4 and Ravindra opening imo. Young fighting for no 5 vs Nicholls.
 
Blain

Blain

U19 Captain
James said:
BJ is 35, and I reckon probably has another 2 years left in the game.

I'd imagine once he retires Blundell will move down the order to fill his spot, and Conway will fill the opening spot. Unless there's an injury, I don't see Conway cracking the Test team for another couple of years. It appears as though Will Young is higher up the pecking order and will slot it for Taylor once he goes.

Top 6 to look something like this:

Latham
Conway
Williamson
Young
Nicholls
Blundell
Click to expand...
I'd put money on Blundell not being able to hold the opener spot for 2 years. I agree Young will get in there somehow also, but I think Conway is far too good to sit on the sideline until Watling wraps things up.

I'm not trying to bash Blundell, but it's clear to me he isn't a test match opener, and he fell into the job when Raval (who was also clearly flawed but preserved with) was all at sea in Australia. In terms of being the long term wicket keeper, guys like Tim Seifert and Glenn Phillips have better FC records than Tom, and are 4 years+ younger. Or Conway, who is clearly in my eyes a better batsman.

In a couple years I would currently guess something more like;

Latham
Ravindra
Williamson
Young
Nicholls
Conway (WK)

With perhaps Phillips, McClure and Seifert putting pressure on Young and Nicholls. Or Conway at 4, with Seifert taking the gloves.
 
F

Fuller Pilch

Hall of Fame Member
Also Phillips is a chance to play all formats, especially if his spin develops.

In NZ conditions I'd be happy with Ravindra and Phillips in the top 6, Blundell at 7 and 4 quicks
 
F

Fuller Pilch

Hall of Fame Member
Blain said:
I'd put money on Blundell not being able to hold the opener spot for 2 years. I agree Young will get in there somehow also, but I think Conway is far too good to sit on the sideline until Watling wraps things up.

I'm not trying to bash Blundell, but it's clear to me he isn't a test match opener, and he fell into the job when Raval (who was also clearly flawed but preserved with) was all at sea in Australia. In terms of being the long term wicket keeper, guys like Tim Seifert and Glenn Phillips have better FC records than Tom, and are 4 years+ younger. Or Conway, who is clearly in my eyes a better batsman.

In a couple years I would currently guess something more like;

Latham
Ravindra
Williamson
Young
Nicholls
Conway (WK)

With perhaps Phillips, McClure and Seifert putting pressure on Young and Nicholls. Or Conway at 4, with Seifert taking the gloves.
Click to expand...
I don't think Phillips, Seifert, and Conway are good enough with the gloves at test level. T20 is another story. Dane Cleaver might be a chance if Blundell doesn't succeed (although he's been great so far). Longer term Max Chu might be an option if his batting kicks on.
 
James

James

Cricket Web Owner
Blain said:
I'd put money on Blundell not being able to hold the opener spot for 2 years. I agree Young will get in there somehow also, but I think Conway is far too good to sit on the sideline until Watling wraps things up.
Click to expand...
Totally agree with you, and I'd love to see Conway in the team too. I'm just thinking they're doing what the All Blacks do now and it's harder to get in than it is to get out now that we're regularly winning. Hence why I think they'll persist with Blundell for a while to come. Especially as we aren't playing Test cricket again until October of this year I don't think (excluding the WTC Final), so another 2 seasons I don't think is beyond Blundell with a score here and there before becoming the WK.

Fuller Pilch said:
Also Phillips is a chance to play all formats, especially if his spin develops.

In NZ conditions I'd be happy with Ravindra and Phillips in the top 6, Blundell at 7 and 4 quicks
Click to expand...
It's amazing that we have this depth now, and options to go to. Just need to somehow keep Ferguson and Milne fit which would be the icing on the cake.
 
jcas0167

jcas0167

International Regular
Fuller Pilch said:
So a low on form Boult, two guys who've REALLY struggled at test level in Henry and Santner, and Jamieson who is due (law of averages) for a quiet match.

Leaves a lot for Southee to do.
Click to expand...
Jamieson is our most dangerous bowler to face imo.

In terms of future games it would be amazing if England did offer a couple of tests - I guess with covid that is unlikely.
 
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The Hutt Rec

The Hutt Rec

International Vice-Captain
Some of these possible future teams crack me up. Under the NZ selection ranking scheme, Henry will fill any fast bowling vacancy, Santner any spin bowling vacancy, and Young any batting vacancy. Blundell will be opening until he's dead.

Sorry, these are non-negotiable. Conway can average 5000 but the order must not be questioned.
 
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