*Unofficial* New Zealand Black Caps Thread

[Zinzan]

Perhaps Munro just picked the wrong season to play BBL.

His last full season for NZ was 2019-20. He and Guptill had similar records, 313 and 264 runs, both @ 24, SR Munro 135 Guptill 153. But the team didn't do well, W4 L9 (yes, I know losses included 3 tied games lost in super overs).

2020-21 Munro not available (BBL) then not picked. Guptill 403 runs @ 31 SR 152 including 2 match winning knocks vs Aussie. Team record improved to W10 L3.

Stead's comment: "In the end, we've had a lot of success with guys in our squad in the last six months"

Surely the bigger point here is that both Allen and Munro are both superior T20 batsmen than Seifert, and with Philips and Conway we have two keepers already. Sounds like nothing more than stupid and potentially petty selection policy because Munro made himself unavailable for 1 BBL season.

 

[The Hutt Rec]

Munro did slightly dig his own hole by retiring from first class ... not many of the franchises in NZ will give a contract purely for t20/odi. And then when he missed out on an NZ contract, he didn't have any choice but to go for overseas leagues. Which most likely disenfranchised NZ selectors more.

(Hopefully I've got that sequence of events correct).

 

[thierry henry]

Why are we talking disenfranchised this and first class that…just pick the best ****ing players. No doubt in my mind Munro has suffered his whole career from the unfortunate combination of coming via an unorthodox career pathway and people disliking him personally

 

[The Hutt Rec]

Ok sorry

 

[thierry henry]

Just don’t do it again

 

[Flem274*]

Why are we talking disenfranchised this and first class that…just pick the best ****ing players. No doubt in my mind Munro has suffered his whole career from the unfortunate combination of coming via an unorthodox career pathway and people disliking him personally

huh?

 

[thierry henry]

huh?

Very well known, multiple sources

 

[The Hutt Rec]

Just don’t do it again

Just put me on ignore

 

[thundaboult]

Why are we talking disenfranchised this and first class that…just pick the best ****ing players. No doubt in my mind Munro has suffered his whole career from the unfortunate combination of coming via an unorthodox career pathway and people disliking him personally

always thought he should have been given a long run at 5 in tests

 

[Howsie]

Munro is a proven failure. People saying he’s been hard done by are you kidding? This is a guy who was given chance after chance in ODI’s, so let’s not play the whole ‘Isnt well liked card’

Against quality bowling his a goose, don’t read me his franchise 20/20 numbers, willing to bet he isn’t going up against the best bowlers in the world during that time. Likewise international 20/20 cricket for the most part isn’t taken seriously until the World Cup. Mitch Starc is a little different then facing up against some random Bangladesh or Sri Lankan seamer

 

[Nintendo]

Munro averages 30+ at one if the highest career Sr in t20I ever with a solid sample size, and has been making runs all over the world in franchise over the past 12 months, including massively outperforming Guptill on the same decks the WC will be played on.

Don't see what isn't in his favor tbh.

 

[M0rphin3]

Yeah look, you can say a lot of things re: Munro opting out and whatnot, but the last thing you'd want to say is surely that he's not good enough for T20s. Sure, it's a different thing facing international seamers, but he's got a good sample size under his belt already, in both intl and domestix. And compared to whatever option is available atm (Seifer etc), it's a no-brainer really. Not even like say, Eng not choosing Hales, for eg. Guy's a beast in T20s.

 

[thundaboult]

If you can take Bumrah to the cleaners, I think you'll do just fine against Mitchell Starc too.

 

[SteveNZ]

Munro did slightly dig his own hole by retiring from first class ... not many of the franchises in NZ will give a contract purely for t20/odi. And then when he missed out on an NZ contract, he didn't have any choice but to go for overseas leagues. Which most likely disenfranchised NZ selectors more.

(Hopefully I've got that sequence of events correct).

I don't know if the retirement from FC cricket did anything, but certainly taking a BBL contract over a domestic one would have. I'm not sure whether anyone at the time said to him that he'd still be considered for NZ selection. Certainly despite his hot form, they seem reticent to pick Milne too (I know he's been around squads now). He made the best decision for his family, and unfortunately for him that's counted against him for NZ selection. I'm not sure he can feel too perturbed about that to be honest, everyone knows that going elsewhere and making yourself unavailable for domestic comps doesn't sit well with national selectors.

Very well known, multiple sources

Sorry, this is rubbish. Colin is a very well liked person across NZ cricket. He can occasionally get a bit fired up on field but he's a team mate everyone is happy to have.

 

[The Hutt Rec]

I don't know if the retirement from FC cricket did anything, but certainly taking a BBL contract over a domestic one would have. I'm not sure whether anyone at the time said to him that he'd still be considered for NZ selection. Certainly despite his hot form, they seem reticent to pick Milne too (I know he's been around squads now). He made the best decision for his family, and unfortunately for him that's counted against him for NZ selection. I'm not sure he can feel too perturbed about that to be honest, everyone knows that going elsewhere and making yourself unavailable for domestic comps doesn't sit well with national selectors.

I’m pretty sure Larsen was asked and said the Big Bash thing wouldn’t impact on his Blackcaps chances … but it seems like the proof is in the pudding. Munro is right to be gutted at being left out of all the squads.

 

[NZTailender]

The fc retirement is particularly a shame in the sense a side like Otago would greatly benefit from his experience.

 

[Bahnz]

The fc retirement is particularly a shame in the sense a side like Otago would greatly benefit from his experience.

And he’d benefit university oval’s turgid clays and toy boundaries.

 

[Immenso]

I’m pretty sure Larsen was asked and said the Big Bash thing wouldn’t impact on his Blackcaps chances … but it seems like the proof is in the pudding. Munro is right to be gutted at being left out of all the squads.

But he wasn't available for all the squads. He was only available for 1 of the 4.

 

[SteveNZ]

I’m pretty sure Larsen was asked and said the Big Bash thing wouldn’t impact on his Blackcaps chances … but it seems like the proof is in the pudding. Munro is right to be gutted at being left out of all the squads.

Howsie will tell you Gavin Larsen is full of hot air. I'm not sure whether he is or isn't, but we hear that all the time, don't we?

The fc retirement is particularly a shame in the sense a side like Otago would greatly benefit from his experience.

He has two young kids, he's spent **** tons of time in quarantine, away from home in various leagues etc providing for said family. It was never a consideration for him to continue in FC cricket, as dominant as he'd probably be. You're not being critical but I think we can be as fans, rather than put ourselves in their shoes and realise we'd do exactly the same

 

[Immenso]

I think all parties on Munro are doing the right thing.

If you drop out of the 20 central contracts, if 21st player, that is a tough spot if at point of career & family life Munro was at. So, yes, understandable you'd take the 'certainty' and flexibility of T20 freelancing. We, as fans, under-estimate the amount of away from home work there is in going to play in Dunedin or Napier etc for a 4 day match, not really compatible if you also want to spend some away from home months in the winter in the T20- leagues and have a young family.

I also find it understandable that NZC are likely not going to select you if you opt for this path. NZC are flexible with the T20 tournament that fit in outside of our season. IPLO, CPL, Blast/Hundred. So, there is plenty of scope to earn bigger dosh from outside of the domestic contracts, while also remaining within the domestic contracts system.

Once you get to a point of stretching the depth to pick 32 players for these 4 squads over a 2 month period, it's understandable that NZC would look outside their unofficial homebased selection policy, and look at Munro.

It's understandable if Munro has already been away in PSL, Blast, Hundred that he doesn't want to do Bangladesh and Pakistan tours. Especially if the WT20 squad is already finalised.

It's only really become an issue as it has meant Munro has been shuffled out maybe 18 months earlier than ideal from an NZ T20 POV, and he has maintained his performances while Guptill hasn't really. It's not a situation so profound it would break the 'system'. I mean - they've also left out Allen from the main squad who is the other contender for the position so depth isn't threadbare.

Sheesh, So many 'understandables' I should be a counsellor or a diplomat.