*Official* New Zealand in England 2021

[Kippax]

Henry Nicholls heads to the middle with Kane Williamson retiring on 15* from 48 balls. Nicholls joins Rachin Ravindra 38* with the Williamson XI 56/1.

Lunch. Rachin Ravindra 60* (101 balls) and Henry Nicholls 14* (24 balls) head off with the Williamson XI 92/1.

Matt Henry strikes after lunch. BJ Watling out for 4 LBW. Williamson XI 110/2 as Daryl Mitchell joins Henry Nicholls 27* after 40 overs.

Another for the Latham XI after lunch. Henry Nicholls 27 from 54 caught by Tom Latham off Doug Bracewell whipping square. 114/3 as Mitchell Santner joins Daryl Mitchell in the 43rd over.

50 for Daryl Mitchell in quick time! Up off just 44 balls. Batting with real intent in this middle session. The milestone coming up with a big six down the ground off Ajaz Patel. Williamson XI 179/4 Santner 17* with Mitchell in the 56th over.

Tea. Big session post lunch. Wickets for Henry and Bracewell but a strong partnership since between Daryl Mitchell 64* and Mitchell Santner 41*. Williamson XI 218/3 heading into the final session of play.

 

[nzfan]

Looks like Young was out twice. Don't think that should matter. In any case he's not a starter.

Ravindra spoiling Santner and Ajaz's chances I see. Ravindra has the skills with the bat and the ball but they won't take a chance. Stead and Kane are a wee bit conservative. Can't see Darryl not featuring in the starting xi unless Ajaz has bowled really well but didn't pick a wicket and go with him. I don't see why they can't go with Ravindra but they'll probably keep him waiting in the wings like they did with Blundell and Young the last couple of years.

 

[Bahnz]

Kippax’s admiration for Jamieson only grows as he puts paid to any slim chance of Young playing by dismissing him twice for 10 runs

 

[Prince EWS]

Does Ravindra have any chance of featuring in the Tests or is he just touring for experience this time as the heir apparent? Seems he has way more upside than Santner given the latter doesn't tend to have much impact with the red ball. Other than Root, England are a pretty obliging side to bowl spin to right now so this wouldn't be the worst place for him to contribute some overs. In theory a spin bowling allrounder would really suit the makeup of the side to balance the 4 quicks when Boult comes back, though CDG has done so well I guess his spot is safe for now.

I think I'd pick him to open so there was room for Conway in the middle order. I don't see them biting the bullet on it though.

 

[nzfan]

Can't compare Santner to Ravindra though. Ravindra is a premier opening batsman, Santner is a part time bat that bats at no.8

If you'd want to compare it's the bowling. Ravindra turns the ball, Santner is very accurate and a premier white ball bowler, one of the very best. At the moment both aren't test quality, tbf Ravindra hasn't had a go yet so can't write him off yet. They both are very good white ball bowlers. I'm hoping both will play plenty of white ball together.

We can safely say Ajaz has no competition as for test spin bowling goes for the time being despite not picking up any wickets in the warm up.

 

[nzfan]

I think I'd pick him to open so there was room for Conway in the middle order. I don't see them biting the bullet on it though.

There's no room in the middle order.

Kane, Ross, Nicholls and BJ that's set on rock for the entire tour. No 7 for Conway is like driving a Ferrari in the garage.

 

[Prince EWS]

There's no room in the middle order.

Kane, Ross, Nicholls and BJ that's set on rock for the entire tour. No 7 for Conway is like driving a Ferrari in the garage.

I'd slot Conway in at 4 and slide the others down. It's obviously not going to happen though, as I said above.

 

[Flem274*]

i think pews wants

latham
ravindra (5th bowler)
williamson
taylor
nicholls
conway
watling (wk)
jamieson
southee
wagner
boult

conway is probably the only player i wouldn't hate dropping cdg for

 

[nzfan]

Fair number of batters got good runs, Latham, Conway, CDG, Doug, Ravindra, Mitchells but what of bowling?

Mitchell, CDG and Santner not bagging a single wicket. Bit of a concern or not? Early days for spinners though. We should know by second test if we need spinners at all. England has opted for one spinner in the squad.

 

[nzfan]

I'd slot Conway in at 4 and slide the others down. It's obviously not going to happen though, as I said above.

Conway at 4 and Taylor at 5 would be a great idea. Gives Rosco a bit more freedom to play his shots. I think they've decided on Conway as an opener otherwise they wouldn't have tried him.

 

[Prince EWS]

i think pews wants

latham
ravindra (5th bowler)
williamson
taylor
nicholls
conway
watling (wk)
jamieson
southee
wagner
boult

conway is probably the only player i wouldn't hate dropping cdg for

Yep this lineup except Conway moved up to 4.

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

Conway at 4 and Taylor at 5 would be a great idea. Gives Rosco a bit more freedom to play his shots. I think they've decided on Conway as an opener otherwise they wouldn't have tried him.

I like this idea.

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

Oh PEWS came up with it, too bad I already used up my like

 

[Flem274*]

im torn because i don't want to drop cdg. he can bat sides out of games in an hour and is the exact sort of bowler to be transformed by the duke into a demon.

 

[Nintendo]

im torn because i don't want to drop cdg. he can bat sides out of games in an hour and is the exact sort of bowler to be transformed by the duke into a demon.

Plus the mullet.

 

[ataraxia]

Boult's unavailable for the first test, so CdG batting at 8 is an option.

 

[Prince EWS]

Boult's unavailable for the first test, so CdG batting at 8 is an option.

A tail of Lord Colin, Jamieson, Southee and Wagner would be glorious fun.

He hasn't done a lot of bowling since his return from injury so it might be a no go with only really Rachin as the fifth bowler to back him up, but if he was in good rhythm I would absolutely back him in England as an opening bowler over Henry (despite Duke ball pedigree) and Duffy.

The idea of Rachin coming in right now with a dual role of opening and the fifth bowler/first spinner with Taylor dropping the order is very unlikely to actually go anywhere though, especially since Conway opened in the warmup. Conway will open, Colin will bat 7 if he's properly fit and Mitchell will otherwise.

 

[Flem274*]

yeah kane and stead aren't radical. i suspect the side will be

latham
conway
williamson
taylor
nicholls
watling
cdg
santner
jamieson
southee
wagner

fortunately a fit and in work cdg has the potential to be a genuine strike bowler in england, which covers the problem of essentially playing with ten test standard cricketers. i hope they do give ajaz patel a run though if they want a spinner. he and somerville are proven to be several levels above santner as bowlers.

 

[harsh.ag]

NZ don't need Santner's batting really. Not much point playing him, though I hope they do against India

 

[Kippax]

Santner can't take the knockers and will be following Jeets in directing his full attention to England in his thirties, they say.

After years of being abused with cries of "you're no crowd-pleaser of a cricketer, you're certainly no BMac, Seifert or Clarkson", he finds a new home. One that gives him just a little bit more.