*Unofficial* New Zealand Black Caps Thread

[vandem]

Should just slot Ravindra in as opener as a direct replacement, but they’ll give it to Young as next batsman in line I suppose. I’d open with Rachin, give Young the no.4 slot and allow Ross to slide down to 5 or 6 though that won’t happen.

I don't think Ravindra will (should) open until Taylor retires. Then a re-jig with Conway to #4, Ravindra to open. Until then I think best fit for Ravindra is batting all-rounder, as an extra spinner in sub-continent, perhaps as only spinner at home if they keep picking 4 quicks?

Is a good chance for Will Young, any time he plays in the same test XI as Nicholls he can show selectors that he deserves a permanent test spot.

 

[NZTailender]

Latham
Young
Williamson
Taylor
Nicholls
Ravindra
Blundell+
Southee
Wagner
Somerville/Jamieson (at 8)
Patel

dayboo Rachin in India at 6 ala Kane, which might also mean he and Ajaz would be enough, tweak wise. With Jamieson, Southee and Wagner fitting in.

I do love me some Somerville though. Also I've been saying this for years but, Taylor's offies should make a return

 

[Immenso]

Ah, I thought Young wasn't even in the squad, and wasn't playing for CD due to injury.

So, yeah, that is the obvious replacement in the 11.

 

[Prince EWS]

Latham
Young
Williamson
Taylor
Nicholls
Ravindra
Blundell+
Southee
Wagner
Somerville/Jamieson (at 8)
Patel

dayboo Rachin in India at 6 ala Kane, which might also mean he and Ajaz would be enough, tweak wise. With Jamieson, Southee and Wagner fitting in.

I do love me some Somerville though. Also I've been saying this for years but, Taylor's offies should make a return

Whenever Taylor's bowling is mentioned I'm reminded of the time Ian Smith said he "couldn't bowl a hoop down a hill."

I cracked up at that. Hilarious.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Wow that's a huge loss.

 

[straw man]

Cricket gods extracting their pound of flesh here for our semi-final escape. Did you see how Conway sustained the injury? Absurd.

Conway sustained the injury when he struck his bat just after being dismissed in the semi-final against England in Abu Dhabi. An X-ray on Thursday confirmed "a break to his right hand fifth Metacarpal".

"It looked a pretty innocuous reactionary incident on the field, but the blow obviously caught the bat between the glove padding, and while it's not the smartest thing he's done, there's certainly an element of bad luck in the injury."

 

[NZTailender]

Whenever Taylor's bowling is mentioned I'm reminded of the time Ian Smith said he "couldn't bowl a hoop down a hill."

I cracked up at that. Hilarious.

Good quote but that was clearly part of Roscos master plan for the world to underrate his offies before he takes truckloads of wickets in his autumn years

 

[straw man]

Young is a better stand-in than most of the openers we've had over the last two decades - we know he doesn't like that corridor of uncertainty/lbwness if there's seam movement around, but there may or may not be in India. How he'll go against spin in India is anyone's guess - I usually have zero expectation for any first-time batting tourist of the subcontinent.

 

[hendrix]

Young has a good aggressive approach against spin from what I recall. Good on the slog sweep IIRC.

Conway has been somewhat unconvincing against spin right?

 

[Nintendo]

Young has a good aggressive approach against spin from what I recall. Good on the slog sweep IIRC.

Conway has been somewhat unconvincing against spin right?

Unconvincing when he starts vs spin, particularly off-spin if memory serves. Once he's set doesn't trouble him as much. Very rootescue in how he uses the sweep and reverse sweep to play it,, unsure if he's as good as root is at judging length.

 

[hendrix]

Unconvincing when he starts vs spin, particularly off-spin if memory serves. Once he's set doesn't trouble him as much. Very rootescue in how he uses the sweep and reverse sweep to play it,, unsure if he's as good as root is at judging length.

Rootesque is a ridiculously gun comparison for a tour of india

 

[ataraxia]

Conway getting out to Livingstone reaffirmed his weakness vs part-time offies. He might've been Vihari's bunny had he not gotten injured.

 

[Nintendo]

Rootesque is a ridiculously gun comparison for a tour of india

Should have been clearer, ment he plays the sweep alot like root, only works so well for root because he judges length so well and knows whether to go back or forwards early.

 

[Chewie]

Phillips is also in the squad and could open so he'd be another alternative.

 

[Chewie]

Would be harsh on Young, but they could play both Phillips and Rachin and then only have one full time spinner

 

[thierry henry]

Unbelievable that Conway was wearing gloves specifically designed to protect his hands from far harder blows, and manages to break his finger with an innocuous punch. Ugh.

 

[hendrix]

Would be harsh on Young, but they could play both Phillips and Rachin and then only have one full time spinner

We should only play one full time spinner regardless.

 

[TheBrand]

I dont hate the idea of Ravindra opening with Latham tbh. But they'll probably go Young.

Phillips at 6 is a good shout I reckon.

Probably going to come down to Southee/Wagner for the other seamer spot I think.

 

[nzfan]

Disappointing news about Conway, he only really had got better after the broken finger in England. Now this.... like mentioned earlier, not much of an impact in a t20. At the most he would have played 30 odd balls. The impact is going to be in test cricket where he was expected to play 100s of balls. Anyone can fill in for 30 odd balls but batting sessions and scoring big not everyone's cup of tea. It's a huge disadvantage not having him in India. I'd back Young to open and Ravindra to bat at 6, bowl heaps. I don't think that's going to change much but I strongly feel Ravindra can do a great job at the top of the inning on a flatter wicket. If he gets going he scores at a good clip.

Wonder who will replace Devon though? Not sure we will pick any like for like batsman for tests. Maybe they will go with Darryl Mitchell, he is in the form of his life and can bowl a bit if required. I remember vividly Santner doing really well last time when we toured India. He is still a chance to play the first test ahead of Ravindra. Young definitely deserves to open in Devon's absence. Latham will likely replace Devon for T20s vs India.

Why do I feel Kane is going to be missing a test at least with his troublesome elbow. Probably time to go under the knife and get it right. He's still got plenty of years.

 

[SteveNZ]

If anyone ever doubts the beauty of test cricket, they should point them to this thread which features fervent discussion of our five day side two days out from a world cup t20 final