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*Official* World Test Championship Final 2021
- Thread starter CricAddict
- Start date
BeeGee
International Captain
Yeah, Boult's a lock as far as I'm concerned.
With an almost guaranteed five days of play, I'd stack the bowling:
Latham
Conway
Williamson
Taylor
Nicholls
Watling
Jamieson
Southee
Wagner
Ajaz
Boult
20 wickets needed to win, so the captain needs the best bowling options available. I also have great faith in our top 6's ability to get enough runs.
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Apex Predator
State Vice-Captain
As an Indian fan I clearly won't fancy facing an in form Henry here.. And also we have so many RHBs already. Plus I will never forget how he ripped through our top order in WC. Similar type of spell he bowled yesterday in England inns.
Southee is biggest threat of them all.
Southee is biggest threat of them all.
RossTaylorsBox
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Let's drop Ross and play 5 seamers.
Arachnodouche
International Captain
From what I've seen of Ajaz, which is admittedly very little, he's the loopy sort of spin which rarely bothers Indian batsmen. Short in stature too so even if he pushes it through it won't have the same impact and trajectory as a taller spinner would.
hendrix
Hall of Fame Member
Yeah that's what I'm thinking. He's not someone who's gonna get extra bounce or something.
Like qualitatively he is good with the peak of his type of bowler being Herath - which can be amazing obviously - but I'm not sure I'm picking him in a one off test against India in England.
Moss
International Captain
Yeah I suspect they’ll try to have it both ways by picking Santner - token spin option plus batting ability at 7 where he’s been before, allowing them to select 4 quicks. Had CdG or Mitchell put some runs on the board they’d have probably put this issue to rest.
It’s a tough one. Play the 4 best bowlers should be the approach I guess, if that doesn’t include a spinner fair enough unless the pitch demands it.
Bijed
International Regular
Presumably if NZ do select a spinner, it would be Ajaz? Both of their spin options had one game each and he did considerably better than Santner. Fair play if they just don't think either would do well against India and just go all pace (I'm not sure I'd agree, but it'd be a decision you could justify with a bunch of good pace options to choose from), but if they do want one of the two, Santner's batting really isn't good enough to make up for the fact that he just isn't a test bowler imo. I like him but having your best bowling figures be a 3-fer after 24 tests isn't great.
Immenso
International Vice-Captain
Man, I just don't know the final NZ X1 we should go with. That 11th spot - the allrounder spot.
Definitely think the 4 seamers should be picked, don't throw away the formula that got you here.
Until about half an hour ago, I was fairly certain in my 11, it would have excluded the spinner. But listening to Adam Collins on his podcast mentioning that the test is 6 days if required so almost certainly going the 5 days unless one team bombs. So, a spinner would have a role. Until considering the spinner necessity ... I would have been livid at any suggestion of Jamieson at 7 and playing 5 bowlers. Too unbalanced. Especially as our batting is a bit dodgier than it was 2 or 3 years ago.
Ever since Jamieson has come along, I think CdG role has been rubbed out. So, definitely not CdG for me, as much I like him and have truely appreciated his bowling the last 5 years.
I'm not a Santner hater. I've been prefectly OK with his selection at times as a holding spinner. But, his batting currently just stinks the house out too much for that allrounder spot. So, he's my last pick.
I was going wither Will Young or Darryl Mitchell. As I have doubts about our batting (Taylor and Watling), and I have doubts about the batting of the other 2 allrounders (CdG and Santner). Mitchell's batting fills me with much more confidene than CdG, has certainty in his mind and looks a big match temperament. But now Ajaz has wormed his way into my thinking. Taylor has re-assured me a bit with the second half of his 80.
I'd rather be in India's position on the selection POV. They have some tough choices, but none of their conundrums really affect the balance of the 11. Well, maybe ... unless they don't pick Jadeja. I'd rather be in NZs position in terms of match-play.
Definitely think the 4 seamers should be picked, don't throw away the formula that got you here.
Until about half an hour ago, I was fairly certain in my 11, it would have excluded the spinner. But listening to Adam Collins on his podcast mentioning that the test is 6 days if required so almost certainly going the 5 days unless one team bombs. So, a spinner would have a role. Until considering the spinner necessity ... I would have been livid at any suggestion of Jamieson at 7 and playing 5 bowlers. Too unbalanced. Especially as our batting is a bit dodgier than it was 2 or 3 years ago.
Ever since Jamieson has come along, I think CdG role has been rubbed out. So, definitely not CdG for me, as much I like him and have truely appreciated his bowling the last 5 years.
I'm not a Santner hater. I've been prefectly OK with his selection at times as a holding spinner. But, his batting currently just stinks the house out too much for that allrounder spot. So, he's my last pick.
I was going wither Will Young or Darryl Mitchell. As I have doubts about our batting (Taylor and Watling), and I have doubts about the batting of the other 2 allrounders (CdG and Santner). Mitchell's batting fills me with much more confidene than CdG, has certainty in his mind and looks a big match temperament. But now Ajaz has wormed his way into my thinking. Taylor has re-assured me a bit with the second half of his 80.
I'd rather be in India's position on the selection POV. They have some tough choices, but none of their conundrums really affect the balance of the 11. Well, maybe ... unless they don't pick Jadeja. I'd rather be in NZs position in terms of match-play.
hendrix
Hall of Fame Member
Agreed but there are two caveats
1) his record is built on bowling in nz where spinners die (not that I'm suggesting he's good or anything)
2) his limited overs skills might be pretty useful given that India will almost certainly attempt to dominate the spinner given the chance.
Athlai
Not Terrible
3) Santa may not be as good a batsman as CDG or Mitchell, but he would allow us to play 4 seamers which Ajaz doesn't.
Latham
Conway
Williamson
Taylor
Nicholls
Watling
Santa
Jamieson
Wagner
Southee
Boult
IMO
failing that I'd have CDG over Santa, or even YOLO punting Rachin in thee. Ajaz is 100% our best Test spinner but our best Test spinner shouldn't keep out any of our four best bowlers in England IMO.
Latham
Conway
Williamson
Taylor
Nicholls
Watling
Santa
Jamieson
Wagner
Southee
Boult
IMO
failing that I'd have CDG over Santa, or even YOLO punting Rachin in thee. Ajaz is 100% our best Test spinner but our best Test spinner shouldn't keep out any of our four best bowlers in England IMO.
Flem274*
123/5
cricinfo and simon doull seem convinced it's ajaz v wagner v santner
would be absolutely insane to leave wagner out imo
@Athlai the problem with santner is he is nowhere near a test #7. id be fine with him being the token 5th bowler in SENA tests if he could actually bat at test level, but he can't play the short ball or anything that moves.
i think we just have to nut up and leave out the worst performing opening bowler (boult) but stead and williamson won't do that. unless it's ragging day 1 kane's going to be in camp 4 quicks and cdg.
would be absolutely insane to leave wagner out imo
@Athlai the problem with santner is he is nowhere near a test #7. id be fine with him being the token 5th bowler in SENA tests if he could actually bat at test level, but he can't play the short ball or anything that moves.
i think we just have to nut up and leave out the worst performing opening bowler (boult) but stead and williamson won't do that. unless it's ragging day 1 kane's going to be in camp 4 quicks and cdg.
nzfan
International Vice-Captain
I haven't been averse to Santner playing in the past but not till he works on his long format bowling and shows he can bat/bowl should he be making the team. His batting is not good enough to be in the top 7 and his bowling is not good enough to win him a selection as a bowler. If he gets a county stint and bowls reasonable overs he's got a good chance to come back as a better performer. I think BCs will be looking to play him still in my opinion.
I'd rather go with 4 fast bowlers and CDG/Mitchell combination.
Latham used Ajaz well despite the faster bowlers taking most wickets the last test match. He didn't have to use Ajaz at all but he did and did very well. Kane would have bowled Ajaz for about 2 3 overs spell in similar situation so no point in picking a spinner.
I do rate Ajaz and want him to do well but the wickets he took, all of them were pretty much due to batsman error. Sounds harsh but all four wickets were result of batsman error rather than great deliveries. I don't think Indians will be gifting wickets to short balls outside off with width. Indian batters play with full face and look to hit through extra covers unlike England batters trying to cut the ball behind point. Indians don't sweep as much, they use the crease better, they use the feet, play both sides of the wicket and those that sweep do that quite well from what I've seen.
No disrespect to Ajaz's 4 wickets but 2 out to sweeping and 2 to cuts with cross bat. On that account if they didn't play Ajaz and went with 4 fast bowlers I can understand why. If we didn't have the luxury to chose as many high performing fast bowlers then obviously Ajaz is a shoo in.
I'd rather go with 4 fast bowlers and CDG/Mitchell combination.
Latham used Ajaz well despite the faster bowlers taking most wickets the last test match. He didn't have to use Ajaz at all but he did and did very well. Kane would have bowled Ajaz for about 2 3 overs spell in similar situation so no point in picking a spinner.
I do rate Ajaz and want him to do well but the wickets he took, all of them were pretty much due to batsman error. Sounds harsh but all four wickets were result of batsman error rather than great deliveries. I don't think Indians will be gifting wickets to short balls outside off with width. Indian batters play with full face and look to hit through extra covers unlike England batters trying to cut the ball behind point. Indians don't sweep as much, they use the crease better, they use the feet, play both sides of the wicket and those that sweep do that quite well from what I've seen.
No disrespect to Ajaz's 4 wickets but 2 out to sweeping and 2 to cuts with cross bat. On that account if they didn't play Ajaz and went with 4 fast bowlers I can understand why. If we didn't have the luxury to chose as many high performing fast bowlers then obviously Ajaz is a shoo in.