*Unofficial* New Zealand Black Caps Thread

[SteveNZ]

They were both dropped IMO

Does IMO mean opinion? Because it's wrong. Both would have been picked. Both have young families and are feeling the strain away from home. Boult having played in the IPL, CDG going to Bangladesh/Pakistan and the English county season.

 

[Nintendo]

If Latham and Conway are opening then Latham needs to protect Conway from Ashwin early on. Little man is dynamite in home conditions and Conway has a history of struggling early vs off spin.

 

[Howsie]

Yep, I mean I could be wrong but…. Boult would be behind Southee and Jamieson for sure, and quite possibly Wagner at the moment. It’s a two test series and only two quicks will play, you don’t need four seamers. de Grandhomme definitely, he’s done and either one of Rachin or Phillips will bat at 6-7 with Patel and Somerville the two main spinners

 

[SteveNZ]

Getting yourself into a massive amount of trouble if you're trying to protect your opening partner from a bowler in Test cricket. Yeah, Conway can battle (Ashwin trapped him early in the 4th innings in the WTC final) but he'll hopefully adapt and get better.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Young would open and Latham would bat at 5, I imagine.

Yeah that could work. Maybe Latham at 6 if he is keeping- no point moving Nicholls from 5

 

[Kippax]

Yeah Latham's a bit too good as a batsman in these conditions to play at 6 for my personal taste.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

I predict:

Conway
Latham
Williamson (c)
Taylor
Nicholls
Phillips/Ravindra (depending if they want 3rd spinner as part-time offie or SLA)
Blundell (wk)
Jamieson
Southee/Wagner
Somerville
Ajaz

 

[NZTailender]

I suspect Santner will play and bat 7 in a fairly safe choice lineup. Tbh I'd prefer we give Ravindra a run.

I feel Daryl Mitchell is a bit stiff to miss out - think he obviously offers more with the bat than Santner and as a seam option probably provides more with the ball in terms of team balance too.

 

[Immenso]

I was thinking a 4D chess move could have been to play both Boult and Wagner to protect the pitch a bit for our LHB heavy lineup and rough it up for India's RHB heavy lineup. Probably overthinking it .... But anyway, freed from that dilemna now.

 

[Immenso]

I predict:

Conway
Latham
Williamson (c)
Taylor
Nicholls
Phillips/Ravindra (depending if they want 3rd spinner as part-time offie or SLA)
Blundell (wk)
Jamieson
Southee/Wagner
Somerville
Ajaz

That's my team as well.
I'd definitely play Wagner in second test, just for fairness of opportunity, it nothing else.

 

[Flem274*]

Santner will definitely play

 

[Nintendo]

Feel like Jamieson will be a tad pedestrian in these conditions. He's a great bowler but has never shown an ability to get reverse or use cutters. Height+solid length is still a huge threat though.

 

[Immenso]

Feel like Jamieson will be a tad pedestrian in these conditions. He's a great bowler but has never shown an ability to get reverse or use cutters. Height+solid length is still a huge threat though.

Yes, quite possibly.

But he deserves a chance to get to find out, and IMO, Wagner deserves a chance to replace whoever is least effective in the next match.
No drama IMO, just rotation in spin conditions.

 

[straw man]

I posted after the first test in England that Taylor should play the WTC final but absolutely not the India series, due to his clear decline, the fact he was awful last tour of India and we have a good replacement. However he scored a fifty in the low-scoring WTC final so I guess he'll make the team after all. He's surprised us once, will need to surprise again to score runs against Ashwin and Jadeja in India.

Agree Fuller Pilch's XI the most likely... provided that the selectors can bring themselves to leave out Santner.

 

[straw man]

If Latham and Conway are opening then Latham needs to protect Conway from Ashwin early on. Little man is dynamite in home conditions and Conway has a history of struggling early vs off spin.

Remembering our last tour of India the discussion always looked ahead to facing spin bowling, and then the top order (including Latham, arguably best player of spin in the side) were knocked over by India's pace bowlers instead. Especially the second test iirc. Need Conway and Latham to meet that challenge first.

 

[straw man]

There's noone you'd pick over Somerville but he's had **** all cricket.

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

Ross will use this tour as a launchpad for his legspin career, extending it for another ten years.

 

[vandem]

Was interesting that the NZC release mentioned Phillips as a spin option ("Experienced spin trio ... supported by rising stars Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips .... The five spin options ...."

So perhaps some serious consideration about Phillips as the batting all-rounder? Bowling 5 - 10 overs a day to give the four main bowlers a break. Similar role to what Mitchell was picked to do last home season. And a different role to de Grandhomme / Santner who you could expect to bowl 10 - 20 overs a day.

 

[Kippax]

Santner will definitely play

Kane's no stranger to Santner. Ajaz knew the rules, and couldn't go outside. A full commitment's what Santner's dreaming of. He wouldn't get this from any other side.

 

[Prince EWS]

Kane's no stranger to Santner. Ajaz knew the rules, and couldn't go outside. A full commitment's what Santner's dreaming of. He wouldn't get this from any other side.

"Rickrolled by Kippax" was not on my list of expected events today.