*Unofficial* New Zealand Black Caps Thread

[Kippax]

Trust the libertarian Aussie to be the only one who laughs. I engaged in naughtyspeech with that cheeky reference to Ajaz, you see.

High time for the 'Conway & Co.' NZ cricket forum already Cribb, ffs. Build it and I'll pay.

 

[nzfan]

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.

But then Kane doesn't bowl Santner enough or bowls 3 overs spells. Might as well pick a pacer instead.

 

[Zinzan]

I see Boult & Lord Colin are pulling out of the Indian Test series.

Don't think Boult is such a huge loss considering Southee is arguably the better red ball bowler in Indian conditions. Also means Wagner's a better shout of playing.

 

[Athlai]

I see Boult & Lord Colin are pulling out of the Indian Test series.

Don't think Boult is such a huge loss considering Southee is arguably the better red ball bowler in Indian conditions. Also means Wagner's a better shout of playing.

Oh hey I forgot that Boult genuinely isn't in our first XI there. India to counter by giving us green and swinging

 

[Bahnz]

Boult went pretty well on NZ’s last tour of India. Better than Wagner certainly.

 

[Flem274*]

Southee's got 40 wickets @ 25 in Asia, and that includes series from back when he was shithouse (36 @ 21 since 2012), so combine that with his off cutter and he's first quick on the sheet imo.

Unless the decks are ragging then I'd go a 3/2 split with Ravindra debuting and Kane being asked to throw a few down as well. Very harsh on Somerville but he hasn't had a bowl since last season and does need a bit of work, so I'd run with the guys who are warmed up. Someville's inclusion at Jamieson's expense also means Southee is at #8 which is just...no.

Latham
Conway
Williamson
Taylor
Nicholls
Blundell (wk)
Ravindra (5)
Jamieson (2)
Southee (1)
Wagner (3)
Ajaz (4)

 

[GoodAreasShane]

Southee's got 40 wickets @ 25 in Asia, and that includes series from back when he was ****house (36 @ 21 since 2012), so combine that with his off cutter and he's first quick on the sheet imo.

Unless the decks are ragging then I'd go a 3/2 split with Ravindra debuting and Kane being asked to throw a few down as well. Very harsh on Somerville but he hasn't had a bowl since last season and does need a bit of work, so I'd run with the guys who are warmed up. Someville's inclusion at Jamieson's expense also means Southee is at #8 which is just...no.

Latham
Conway
Williamson
Taylor
Nicholls
Blundell (wk)
Ravindra (5)
Jamieson (2)
Southee (1)
Wagner (3)
Ajaz (4)

Really rate your choice of wording here

 

[hendrix]

Southee's got 40 wickets @ 25 in Asia, and that includes series from back when he was ****house (36 @ 21 since 2012), so combine that with his off cutter and he's first quick on the sheet imo.

Unless the decks are ragging then I'd go a 3/2 split with Ravindra debuting and Kane being asked to throw a few down as well. Very harsh on Somerville but he hasn't had a bowl since last season and does need a bit of work, so I'd run with the guys who are warmed up. Someville's inclusion at Jamieson's expense also means Southee is at #8 which is just...no.

Latham
Conway
Williamson
Taylor
Nicholls
Blundell (wk)
Ravindra (5)
Jamieson (2)
Southee (1)
Wagner (3)
Ajaz (4)

Agreed, this is the line-up I'd pick too

 

[honestbharani]

I wouldn't be picking two spinners both of whom bowl the same variety as my lead spinners for a series in India, especially Mumbai with its red soil and good bounce and fast pace turning wicket. Would get Sommerville (sp?) in for KJ.

 

[nzfan]

More of an interesting question is if Boult and CDG were to tour who are the two that would have missed out? Rachin and Glenn?

 

[nzfan]

I wouldn't be picking two spinners both of whom bowl the same variety as my lead spinners for a series in India, especially Mumbai with its red soil and good bounce and fast pace turning wicket. Would get Sommerville (sp?) in for KJ.

I think there will be a massive build up about playing Rachin and then Santner will make the team on the morning of the match. Ajaz and Will will play there's no doubt about that. If you listen to Gary and read between the lines, he already says one of Rachin, Glenn or Santner is his third choice spinner. He also says they may not play meaning Glenn and Rachin will not play. I can't see how Santner is considered an all rounder. I definitely think he can bowl but can he bat, I don't think so despite a test hundred to his name. Just doesn't have enough batting skills to warrant a place even as a no.8 bat. Definitely useful as a no.9 bat ahead of Southee and Wagner.

 

[honestbharani]

How good are Ajaz and Sommerville with the bat? I reckon that should be the clincher.

 

[Chewie]

How good are Ajaz and Sommerville with the bat? I reckon that should be the clincher.

@Prince EWS ?

 

[morgieb]

How good are Ajaz and Sommerville with the bat? I reckon that should be the clincher.

Looking at their FC stats Somerville's probably about the standard of a #9, Patel the standard of a #11.

 

[nzfan]

How good are Ajaz and Sommerville with the bat? I reckon that should be the clincher.

Not good.. although Somerville has shown he can block for sometime.

If I remember correctly the reason we have been playing Santner as an all rounder is because he scored some reasonable runs the last time we toured India. Maybe 50+ in one of the tests batting quite high, maybe 6 or 7 and took few wickets. That's when we had Mark Craig and Sodhi as his bowling partners. Guppy opening and Ronchi now the batting coach then batting in the middle order.

I still think there's a chance for Santner to resurrect his test bowling career but not at the expense of say Ajaz or Rachin. These guys are consistently playing first class cricket (although Rachin bowls like 6 overs an inning at an average in a first class match given the green carpets we roll out at Basin). I hope they do the right thing and play Rachin in the xi. His bowling is way underrated and if he gets on a roll he's quite an attacking spinner. He's not a part timer by any means. Hope they go with Ajaz, Somerville and Ravindra in the first test rather than fall back on Santner just because he had a reasonable time last time around but I guess we will see Santner batting at no.7 and bowling couple of overs here and there. From what I have watched Rachin is a good player of spin. Not sure how he has managed to learn playing spin in Wellington so well but he blocks in front of the pads, very quick to either go forward or back all the way deep in the crease, can attack and defend equally, plays with soft hands. Pretty good batting skills vs spin for a guy that has grown up on green grass tracks in Wellington.

Phillips has that x factor so can't quite rule him out to play an active part. I don't rate his bowling in red ball cricket but can be a game changer with the bat if he gets struck in. Plays with freedom. Not a great watch aesthetically but very effective nevertheless.

 

[Prince EWS]

@Prince EWS ?

They suck.

 

[Moss]

Santner has been living off that allround performance in that Mt. Manganui test vs England. Or rather, the selectors continue to be swayed by the idea of Santner the allrounder based on that test.

They may not have had much cricket of late but Ajaz/Somerville actually have a past record of bowling NZ to test wins in the subcontinent (and comfortably outbowled Santner when the three played together in Sri Lanka). Funny how this is still a debate.

 

[hendrix]

I wouldn't be picking two spinners both of whom bowl the same variety as my lead spinners for a series in India, especially Mumbai with its red soil and good bounce and fast pace turning wicket. Would get Sommerville (sp?) in for KJ.

KJ is our best strike bowler, I don't think we should leave him out. Neither can we leave out Southee or Wagner.

It should be Ajaz or Somerville + a spin bowling allrounder.

We have Wagner to bowl the long spells if need be.

 

[hendrix]

Santner has been living off that allround performance in that Mt. Manganui test vs England. Or rather, the selectors continue to be swayed by the idea of Santner the allrounder based on that test.

They may not have had much cricket of late but Ajaz/Somerville actually have a past record of bowling NZ to test wins in the subcontinent (and comfortably outbowled Santner when the three played together in Sri Lanka). Funny how this is still a debate.

Agreed Santner should not even be in the squad.

 

[Moss]

KJ is our best strike bowler, I don't think we should leave him out. Neither can we leave out Southee or Wagner.

It should be Ajaz or Somerville + a spin bowling allrounder.

We have Wagner to bowl the long spells if need be.

If there’s one part of the world Wagner hasn’t been that effective, it’s the subcontinent. Did play a big role in NZ successfully defending 175 in that 1st test against Pakistan on the 2018 tour, but apart from that wasn’t a big factor on that tour or the last one to India. Would be a huge call to leave him out still.