Grade 1 calf strain ATM, his availability is "uncertain."I thought spin bowlers for the WTC were crucial, now like 4 days later you're playing 5 pace bowlers at Lords, including a scrub like Henry. Also, has Taylor been ruled out or something?
Ajaz gets a game though the second one.I thought spin bowlers for the WTC were crucial, now like 4 days later you're playing 5 pace bowlers at Lords, including a scrub like Henry. Also, has Taylor been ruled out or something?
If that’s the top 6, would much rather Young and Conway switch. Young seems to have made some runs for Durham (actually one century, the rest are scores of 20 and below), but I don’t know, just get the feeling Anderson/Broad will make short work of him.Five Question Marks Over The New Zealand Test XI Ahead Of The England Tour
New Zealand have announced a 20-strong squad for their Test tour of England, and the World Test Championship final.wisden.com
Interesting stats that... spinners average 64 in NZ. That is the highest in any test playing nation.
Runs per wicket average are lot less scored in England surprisingly. I thought it'd be harder to score here than in England. At least once in a while they get drier flat pitches in England. I suppose the reason the average runs per wicket is lower is because none of the teams that visit our shores adapt meanwhile Kane, Nicholls etc score aplenty.
Time to make a team for Lords, my preferred XI is
Tom Latham
Will Young
Kane
Devon Conway
Nicholls
BJ (Tom will be playing full time cricket anyways after this tour)
CDG
Jamieson
Southee
Wagner
Henry
Second test
Tom Latham
Will Young
Kane
Devon Conway
Nicholls
BJ (Tom will be playing full time cricket anyways after this tour)
Mitchell
Jamieson
Southee
Wagner (Boult if he's available)
Ajaz
Santner, Blundell, Ravindra and few other guys miss out but that's probably all right. With the two teams above we will be able to make a call for the WTC final the best playing XI.
Oh I wouldn't take Latham as opener on a tour of Australia or South Africa again, I don't think. Beyond the numbers, I've just seen enough to know he'll always lead us into an arena slightly too ruefully in those conditions.i hope nzc drop the idea of young as an opener. at the A level sure, but he's very much a #4 at test level.
im a skeptic on the 'latham is world class opener' thing because as kippax points out he thrives on hawke cup bowling and his toughest runs come in asia, but he's the first opener picked.
latham and rachin are our long term pairing.
Actually thought during that Sydney test when he was stand in captain, he really seemed up for it. But yeah, poor returns for someone who’s toured Australia twice, and his record against South Africa is tailender-esque.Oh I wouldn't take Latham as opener on a tour of Australia or South Africa again, I don't think. Beyond the numbers, I've just seen enough to know he'll always lead us into an arena slightly too ruefully in those conditions.
and why would you have young opening when he's clearly a 4? conway to open insteadwhy would one of our most successful openers of all time drop to 5 when we have a backlog of middle order batsmen who can't break into the team?
Latham
Young
Williamson
Conway
Nicholls
CdG/Ravindra/Mitchell/other all-rounder
Blundell+
Think Conway is of more value down the order tbfand why would you have young opening when he's clearly a 4? conway to open instead
In all seriousness, I’d get away from this all rounder business once CDG and Taylor retire.Think Conway is of more value down the order tbf
That side but with Phillips at 6 instead of Young. He could change matches in a session and his off spinners would help with the over rateIn all seriousness, I’d get away from this all rounder business once CDG and Taylor retire.
1. Latham
2. Ravindra
3. Williamson
4. Conway
5. Nicholls
6. Young
7. Blundell+
8. Jamieson
9. Southee
10. Wagner
11. Boult
sub jamieson or wags for a spinner when needed otherwise Rachin and Kane as slow option relief at other junctures.
As much as I rate Daryl Mitchell, I could get behind this. Having a spinner gives us more value than another medium pacer, and filling that wonky opening slot is also a great bonus.In all seriousness, I’d get away from this all rounder business once CDG and Taylor retire.
1. Latham
2. Ravindra
3. Williamson
4. Conway
5. Nicholls
6. Young
7. Blundell+
8. Jamieson
9. Southee
10. Wagner
11. Boult
sub jamieson or wags for a spinner when needed otherwise Rachin and Kane as slow option relief at other junctures.
So Patel gets a contract for a year in which pretty much all tests are at home ( and eventually England), but gets cut from the list for the year which features an India tour, hmm. Can’t complain about the list really - everyone deserves their spot, but jeez it’s tough being a specialist spinner in NZ.NZ contracts list for 2021-22: Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Devon Conway, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor,Neil Wagner, Kane Williamson, Will Young
In: Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell
Out: Ajaz Patel, BJ Watling