*Unofficial* New Zealand Black Caps Thread

[jcas0167]

Obviously I’ve never been a fan of Tom Blundell but even the Wellington contingent on CW would have to agree if he doesn’t produce by the end of the summer he’s bbq chicken?

He’s a 31 going on 32 year old keeper who after this test will average in the 20’s with the bat.Yep, he gets the South African serious but he has to score runs by then.

Dane Cleaver is way to good to leave out and he’s done what the selectors wanted him to do by batting in the top 4. He’s all class and just because Blundell has been the understudy for 5 years behind Watling that doesn’t make him a better player then Cleaver now.

Is Seifert a test keeping option longer term? Not sure if he keeps in Plunket Shield or plays as a specialist bat.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Just caught the end of some commentary on the Ashes about how Australia’s tail (bats 8-11) has been contributing runs. Ours seems to be collapsing in a heap at the moment so had a look at the numbers over the last three tests. Batters in those positions have scored 199 runs at an average of 8.65. Only three double figure scores and 10 ducks. Jamieson 51 @ 8.5, Southee 15 @ 2.5 (3 ducks), Sommerville 7 @2.33, Patel 7 runs not dismissed in 4 inn, Ravindra 18 runs not dismissed in 1 inn, Wagner 0 @ 0, Boult 17 @ 17. Possible another huge hole in not having Watling's cool head to bat with the tail anymore. Southee's numbers are dire.

Somerville's innings as a night watchman was excellent though.

 

[Moss]

Just caught the end of some commentary on the Ashes about how Australia’s tail (bats 8-11) has been contributing runs. Ours seems to be collapsing in a heap at the moment so had a look at the numbers over the last three tests. Batters in those positions have scored 199 runs at an average of 8.65. Only three double figure scores and 10 ducks. Jamieson 51 @ 8.5, Southee 15 @ 2.5 (3 ducks), Sommerville 7 @2.33, Patel 7 runs not dismissed in 4 inn, Ravindra 18 runs not dismissed in 1 inn, Wagner 0 @ 0, Boult 17 @ 17. Possible another huge hole in not having Watling's cool head to bat with the tail anymore. Southee's numbers are dire.

Did bring up the observation that Jaimeson's been going the Southee route with the bat (soft dismissals), the general feeling seemed to be "can afford him playing like that with a strong top order, and not his primary job anyway". While I don't expect him to become a specialist allrounder or anything, with his batting ability should be at least putting in mid-career Vettori-level efforts.

Southee I think seems to have truly given up on even trying to bat properly (though he did play a very crucial and unusually sensible innings in the WTC final). Just as well that his bowling has been so good of late.

 

[Immenso]

Easier for the tail and allrounders to wag against a bowling unit that is tired.

Hmmm. Makes me wonder. Does this make the Oram / McCullum / Vettori engine room of the circa-2008 dire top order even better?

 

[jcas0167]

Statistician Francis Payne noted on twitter how good de Grandhomme was for the test side. NZ won 17 of the 26 tests he played in and his figures in those games were:
809 runs at 42 (SR 94)
27 wickets at 31 (RPO 2.38)

 

[TheBrand]

Really interested to see what kinda squad we send to Aussie for the ODIs/T20s. Kinda hoping for something like this:

Guptill (injury permitting)
Allen
Chapman
Taylor
Phillips
Neesham
CdG
Santner
Sodhi
Milne
Ferguson

Maybe Seifert, Bracewell, Worker, Fletcher, McConchie as extras?

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Statistician Francis Payne noted on twitter how good de Grandhomme was for the test side. NZ won 17 of the 26 tests he played in and his figures in those games were:
809 runs at 42 (SR 94)
27 wickets at 31 (RPO 2.38)

He struggled abroad (apart from Sri Lanka) but in tests in NZ he actually averaged 47 and 31.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Really interested to see what kinda squad we send to Aussie for the ODIs/T20s. Kinda hoping for something like this:

Guptill (injury permitting)
Allen
Chapman
Taylor
Phillips
Neesham
CdG
Santner
Sodhi
Milne
Ferguson

Maybe Seifert, Bracewell, Worker, Fletcher, McConchie as extras?

Who's the keeper? Neither Allen nor Phillips seem reliable options. I'd like to see Cleaver given a chance. And I love CDG but would prefer Nathan Smith and perhaps Rippon instead of Santner or Sodhi

 

[TheBrand]

Who's the keeper? Neither Allen nor Phillips seem reliable options. I'd like to see Cleaver given a chance. And I love CDG but would prefer Nathan Smith and perhaps Rippon instead of Santner or Sodhi

Would probably have to be Allen in my XI. He's looked ok in Super Smash as a keeper, nothing special though. I imagine they will give Seifert a go though, agree about Cleaver - forgot about him.

Nathan Smith definitely could be in the mix, I just don't think they'll take him. Rippon probably has more of a chance.

 

[Days of Grace]

So has CGD been retired from tests by the selectors? Because I’d be picking him for Christchurch.

 

[_Ed_]

CDG does go all right in tests at Hagley, to be fair -- 277 runs @ 46.16, and 14 wickets @ 25.92.

 

[Flem274*]

CdG would not have missed out at 300 odd for 5 in the first dig against right arm fast medium and offspinners but better batsman than him got cleaned up by Ebadot in the 2nd.

 

[Moss]

Would probably have to be Allen in my XI. He's looked ok in Super Smash as a keeper, nothing special though. I imagine they will give Seifert a go though, agree about Cleaver - forgot about him.

Nathan Smith definitely could be in the mix, I just don't think they'll take him. Rippon probably has more of a chance.

If the selectors are thinking of Cleaver as a possibility for the South Africa tests, might not be a bad idea to send Blundell for the Australia ODIs - on surfaces more to his liking and a format which demands quick scoring, could be a way to help him get back some confidence.

 

[Flem274*]

NZ A will get creamed in the Chappell Hadlee but our lack of ODIs before the WC almost makes it an opportune sacrifice to test the bench strength with a backbone of the ODI specialists there to steady the ship.

Guptill
Allen
Phillips
Taylor
Chapman
Cleaver/Fletcher/Blundell
Neesham/Clarkson/Smith
Santner
Henry
Ferguson
Duffy?

It does leave the test reserves thin though, with three of the best bowlers and Phillips all overseas.

 

[Moss]

NZ A will get creamed in the Chappell Hadlee but our lack of ODIs before the WC almost makes it an opportune sacrifice to test the bench strength with a backbone of the ODI specialists there to steady the ship.

Guptill
Allen
Phillips
Taylor
Chapman
Cleaver/Fletcher/Blundell
Neesham/Clarkson/Smith
Santner
Henry
Ferguson
Duffy?

It does leave the test reserves thin though, with three of the best bowlers and Phillips all overseas.

If Phillips is needed as batting cover for the test side, Seifert can probably slot in there, though his List A record is poor. Or Worker maybe.

Bowling-wise, there are enough options if any of the above names are required as test reserves - Bracewell, Kuggeleijn, Tickner, Sears, Milne, Sodhi, Astle, Rippon. Though it probably means having to chase mammoth totals in each of the games.

 

[Howsie]

this is assuming the test XI from the Mount and Matt Henry and Daryl Mitchell stay the same.

1. Guptill
2. Rutherford
3. Phillips
4. Taylor
5. Chapman
6. Cleaver
7. Neesham
8. Santner
9. Milne
10. Ferguson
11. Sears

Sodhi will be there, maybe Allen, maybe Seifert. I’m hoping Nathan Smith goes over. Just please no Cole McConchie or Doug Bracewell

 

[Chubb]

I'm not sure Australia is the best place for Nathan to debut. Have no doubt he will be up for the challenge but his bowling could be cannon fodder over there.

 

[Zinzan]

this is assuming the test XI from the Mount and Matt Henry and Daryl Mitchell stay the same.

1. Guptill
2. Rutherford
3. Phillips
4. Taylor
5. Chapman
6. Cleaver
7. Neesham
8. Santner
9. Milne
10. Ferguson
11. Sears

Sodhi will be there, maybe Allen, maybe Seifert. I’m hoping Nathan Smith goes over. Just please no Cole McConchie or Doug Bracewell

Allen for Rutherford and I like that side.

 

[Bahnz]

Would probably have to be Allen in my XI. He's looked ok in Super Smash as a keeper, nothing special though. I imagine they will give Seifert a go though, agree about Cleaver - forgot about him.

Nathan Smith definitely could be in the mix, I just don't think they'll take him. Rippon probably has more of a chance.

Allen is a shocking keeper if that T20 at Puke Park was any indicator. Fine for domestic t20, but you’d never want him behind the stumps in internationals.

 

[Moss]

There seems to be hardly any batting cover for an already thin batting lineup. Wonder if Munro is an outside chance to make this squad?