*Official* 2022 New Zealand Tour of England, Ireland, Scotland & Netherlands

[SteveNZ]

Can't comment on the other stuff but tbf, teams are so evenly matched these days and pitches are bowler friendly enough that this is the main reason most sides lose games now, not even just tests if u remove the bowler friendly pitches part.

Trouble was, we weren't evenly matched with Bangladesh and SA. We had a vastly superior team to both, and were playing at home. And mentally tanked.

This Test was worse - a 240 run lead with six 2nd innings wickets in hand, and we lose by 5 wickets. Incredibly poor.

 

[SteveNZ]

Another came over early (Young), scored good runs in CC, and had scores of 1 and 1.

Then got pitched in to open at a level where he's not up to the ability to do so against strong opposition.

It's so simple for me - who is technically more proficient: Conway or Young? Who is more capable of scoring runs as an opener, which is such a troubled spot for us? It's Conway. And the difference between Conway and Young at 4 is not great. I know Conway isn't ideally an opener, but Young is far from ideally one, either. Anderson in particular licks his chops running in, knowing he could trap Young with an innie or have him feed the cordon trying to cover for that likelihood.

 

[Moss]

Then got pitched in to open at a level where he's not up to the ability to do so against strong opposition.

It's so simple for me - who is technically more proficient: Conway or Young? Who is more capable of scoring runs as an opener, which is such a troubled spot for us? It's Conway. And the difference between Conway and Young at 4 is not great. I know Conway isn't ideally an opener, but Young is far from ideally one, either. Anderson in particular licks his chops running in, knowing he could trap Young with an innie or have him feed the cordon trying to cover for that likelihood.

Agree with this, but I also think Conway is at the start of a phase where international bowlers are studying him closely and planning accordingly. So don’t know if he’ll be able to replicate his 2021 debut series that easily as opener. Still, his love for the challenge and his ability to find ways of scoring makes me believe he should always bat in the top 3.

Young’s notable scores as opener have been on SC-style pitches such as Kanpur and the Mount, the management should really have given him Taylor’s slot once Ross retired and let him establish himself.

Would also love to see KW drop down to 4 or 5 to give himself a break from having to deal with the moving ball, like Smith and Root have done. He’d also be a steadying influence in the middle order. Others have pointed out his recent issues but the one which strikes me is how bowlers are increasingly able to keep him tied down; he used to be one of the best at keeping the scoreboard moving.

 

[Tom Flint]

Nz should have just picked Jesse ryder as I thought any old trundler with a dukes in hand could take wickets on a cloudy day in England.

 

[jcas0167]

Nz should have just picked Jesse ryder as I thought any old trundler with a dukes in hand could take wickets on a cloudy day in England.

Still annoyed Ryder missed the 2008 tour after injuring his hand in a bar.

 

[Skyliner]

What a fantastic reaction from Mitchell when he got his hundred - a massive outpouring of emotion, like a gladiator who’d just won a contest for his life, ‘follow me boys’…..unfortunately most of the other players were asleep, or still dreaming about the IPL or something. Nobody prepared to guts it out for the team except him and Blundell.

Contrast that against Tom Latham when he gets one of his humongous flat-track run feasts against a sub-continental team at home. Just raises his bat sheepishly. Then gives it away to easily when playing the likes of Australia / England / South Africa. Must be a mental thing.

 

[SteveNZ]

Agree with this, but I also think Conway is at the start of a phase where international bowlers are studying him closely and planning accordingly. So don’t know if he’ll be able to replicate his 2021 debut series that easily as opener. Still, his love for the challenge and his ability to find ways of scoring makes me believe he should always bat in the top 3.

Young’s notable scores as opener have been on SC-style pitches such as Kanpur and the Mount, the management should really have given him Taylor’s slot once Ross retired and let him establish himself.

Would also love to see KW drop down to 4 or 5 to give himself a break from having to deal with the moving ball, like Smith and Root have done. He’d also be a steadying influence in the middle order. Others have pointed out his recent issues but the one which strikes me is how bowlers are increasingly able to keep him tied down; he used to be one of the best at keeping the scoreboard moving.

I'd never thought about the Kane at 4 thing, that's a really interesting viewpoint. Almost feels heretical, though, to think our best batsman would move from 3 but maybe it has merit. For me, I still think Young is a 4. Plays spin pretty well, and has a good technique against a ball that isn't moving. I wonder with Kane as to whether he's derailed his Test career a bit by being so involved with the IPL. He seems to mentally take a lot on with that franchise, on top of what he does with NZ. I feel the same way about Trent, that he's become a less skilled Test bowler to suit being an IPL gun.

 

[kevinw]

One of the things I'll never understand is how or why SRH binned off Warner and Rashid Khan but kept Kane. He's not a big hitter/doesn't score quickly enough and even Smith doesn't get an IPL gig anymore? Is he or anyone that good a captain in a format of so many variables? Fair play, he still gets the contracts but it seemed an odd move by SRH.

 

[nzfan]

CDG out of the series and for the next three months. This is what happens when you're older, every injury means recovery is slower and sets back for extended period of time.

One of the reason I keep saying bring in the youth and keep building the youth up but then Steady only picks players if they're 30+ I'm 100% sure playing Phillips or Ravindra was Kane's call. Steady would have played Bracewell a year ago if he had a chance. Also appalling use of Ravindra on this tour an opener, good one at that and batting him at no 8 vs a county second XI. No one in sane mind would ever do that. Can't think of any player as badly mistreated by the management in recent years. Maybe Phillips was too in red ball cricket.

Bracewell is now in the 15 squad. Hope he goes well. At least the older ones like Devon, Mitchell have gone all right in the recent years. Bracewell's dismal red ball season (even though he only played 5 games) could be a worry even for him. Hopefully they don't keep him in the squad to run drinks and do play him if they find an opportunity. Although if they pick Bracewell as spinner for Ajaz at Trent bridge I'd be pretty pissed off at the treatment of Ajaz. I still think it's a shocker he bowled just two overs.

I'm not expecting any major changes as yet to the playing XI other than Nicholls coming in for CDG. You'll know they're panicking if they make left, right and center changes.

Better off playing Wagner if Kane is not going to use Ajaz as a bowler. Having Bracewell in place of Ajaz will mean Kane won't even bowl an over of him. Bracewell probably best suited to replace one of the batters at the top, likely Young if Young doesn't find form in the next test.

 

[nzfan]

Agree with this, but I also think Conway is at the start of a phase where international bowlers are studying him closely and planning accordingly. So don’t know if he’ll be able to replicate his 2021 debut series that easily as opener. Still, his love for the challenge and his ability to find ways of scoring makes me believe he should always bat in the top 3.

Young’s notable scores as opener have been on SC-style pitches such as Kanpur and the Mount, the management should really have given him Taylor’s slot once Ross retired and let him establish himself.

Would also love to see KW drop down to 4 or 5 to give himself a break from having to deal with the moving ball, like Smith and Root have done. He’d also be a steadying influence in the middle order. Others have pointed out his recent issues but the one which strikes me is how bowlers are increasingly able to keep him tied down; he used to be one of the best at keeping the scoreboard moving.

Conway will be all right, if you followed him from the NZ domestic to now he rarely has blip or an extended bad run. One of two low scores and then will invariably score a big one. The guy is an absolute fighter. It takes time acclimatizing coming from India and from different formats. He'll go all right wherever you bat him. Still think he'll end up scoring most runs for us in this series.

Same thing with Kane, he's barely played red ball cricket since India tour last year. That's a lot of gap. Thankfully his elbow is holding up. He'll do his thing no doubt. Just need to bat out an hour or so. He looked in reasonable touch in the first test.

Not hoping for major changes in the lineup. I'd give Young a go still, now that they've give him an extended run at the top of the inning. It won't do his confidence any good if he's moved around.

If there's one guy that needs to lift his game, it's Latham. He's nicked off to balls that he generally would be all right handling. He's playing and pushing at balls that he would generally play all right. His timing is a bit off.

It's going to be an interesting test the next one. Nicholls with not much cricket will have to slot in. Generally the trent bridge wicket is flatter so we should be able to put good runs on board and won't be too hard for Nicholls to get struck in.

 

[NZTailender]

I know they won't play it and it seems light on bowling but I'd like

1. Latham
2. Young/Conway
3. Williamson
4. Young/Conway
5. Nicholls
6. Mitchell
7. Blundell+
8. Jamieson
9. Southee
10. Patel
11. Boult

But we'll probably see something like
1. Latham
2. Young
3. Williamson
4. Conway
5. Nicholls
6. Mitchell
7. Blundell+
8. Bracewell
9. Jamieson
10. Southee
11. Boult

As much as I'm not a fan of Bracewells selectionn, I hope he doesn't play because it'd be a **** gig to debut at 8, probably end up batting with tail end sloggers in a situation that calls for some calm, and not get utilised much as a spin bowler.

I'd love for Cam Fletcher to get a gig somewhere but I don't see it happening unless there's another random injury in the team. Even then they'd probably pick Bracewell anyway.

 

[kevinw]

Is Ravindra in the squad? I know he's not pulled up many trees in his Test career so far, but his FC numbers are better than Bracewell's. That said, he's a top order bat, not an eight.

Latham, Ravindra, Williamson, Conway, Nicholls, Mitchell, Blundell, Jamieson, Southee, Wagner and Boult probably seems the strongest XI if they want someone who can also bowl some overs of spin where needed.

 

[nzfan]

Is Ravindra in the squad? I know he's not pulled up many trees in his Test career so far, but his FC numbers are better than Bracewell's. That said, he's a top order bat, not an eight.

Latham, Ravindra, Williamson, Conway, Nicholls, Mitchell, Blundell, Jamieson, Southee, Wagner and Boult probably seems the strongest XI if they want someone who can also bowl some overs of spin where needed.

Nope they've moved on from Ravindra it seems. He's off to a county gig from what I hear. Good for him. Better off play as a batsman which he deserves to than a bowler which is his lesser suit.

 

[NZTailender]

I'm really hoping they saw the error of their ways and will just let him develop his game and choose him again when he's put in consistent numbers and as an opener.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

I know they won't play it and it seems light on bowling but I'd like

1. Latham
2. Young/Conway
3. Williamson
4. Young/Conway
5. Nicholls
6. Mitchell
7. Blundell+
8. Jamieson
9. Southee
10. Patel
11. Boult

But we'll probably see something like
1. Latham
2. Young
3. Williamson
4. Conway
5. Nicholls
6. Mitchell
7. Blundell+
8. Bracewell
9. Jamieson
10. Southee
11. Boult

As much as I'm not a fan of Bracewells selectionn, I hope he doesn't play because it'd be a **** gig to debut at 8, probably end up batting with tail end sloggers in a situation that calls for some calm, and not get utilised much as a spin bowler.

I'd love for Cam Fletcher to get a gig somewhere but I don't see it happening unless there's another random injury in the team. Even then they'd probably pick Bracewell anyway.

If Bracewell is picked, surely it would be at 6.
Conway opening for Young, Nicholls 4, Mitchell 5, Bracewell 6 and bowling, Blundell at 7, and 4 seamers (choice between Wagner and Henry).

 

[SteveNZ]

I'm really hoping they saw the error of their ays and will just let him develop hi game and choose him again when he's put in consistent numbers and as an opener.

This is 100% what needs to happen. They have managed Ravindra's entry to Test cricket so poorly.

 

[ashley bach]

One of the things I'll never understand is how or why SRH binned off Warner and Rashid Khan but kept Kane. He's not a big hitter/doesn't score quickly enough and even Smith doesn't get an IPL gig anymore? Is he or anyone that good a captain in a format of so many variables? Fair play, he still gets the contracts but it seemed an odd move by SRH.

In 2018 Kane won the orange cap(most runs in the season) with well over 700 runs and average of 50+.
It's a hell of an achievement actually, to give you an idea how elite it is, other players in the top 10 included....
Pant, Rahul, Butler, Kohli, Yadav, Dhawan.
This feat in itself would have gone a long way as to why the Sunrisers would retain Kane for so long, never mind the fact that he has a cool head
on his shoulders and would make a good captain for them.
As for retaining a clown like Warner, surely not much needs to be said about that.
And as for Rashid, probably a contract thing, who knows how many$$$ were being offered by other franchises at the time.
Kane has all the ability in the world, and has achieved nearly all that is possible.
1. Test champs, a stupid format but the fact is he helped get NZ there and win it.
2. 2 world cup finals (one drawn)
3 20/20 world cup final (his innings in this match outstanding)
4 .He has been rated the best batsman in the world in tests at certain times.
5. IPL top run scorer(in his 1st or 2nd season)
6. There are many more, but the simple fact is not many would disagree he is EASILY the best NZ batsman of all time.
The bad news about the above, is that it means it will be exceptionally difficult for him to get back to his best at any given time.
Such has been the lack of cricket recently, the annoyances of covid, and not least 2 young kids in his life.
With all these factors as well as getting older, it wouldn't be impossible for him to get close to his pinnacle again, but see it as highly unlikely.
Like many others no doubt, hope like hell I'm wrong.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Shame Michael Rippon had a poor Plunket Shield last season (although still better than Bracewell's) or else he could have been the ideal replacement for CDG. Or if they'd picked Nathan Smith in the original 20.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

In 2018 Kane won the orange cap(most runs in the season) with well over 700 runs and average of 50+.
It's a hell of an achievement actually, to give you an idea how elite it is, other players in the top 10 included....
Pant, Rahul, Butler, Kohli, Yadav, Dhawan.
This feat in itself would have gone a long way as to why the Sunrisers would retain Kane for so long, never mind the fact that he has a cool head
on his shoulders and would make a good captain for them.
As for retaining a clown like Warner, surely not much needs to be said about that.
And as for Rashid, probably a contract thing, who knows how many$$$ were being offered by other franchises at the time.
Kane has all the ability in the world, and has achieved nearly all that is possible.
1. Test champs, a stupid format but the fact is he helped get NZ there and win it.
2. 2 world cup finals (one drawn)
3 20/20 world cup final (his innings in this match outstanding)
4 .He has been rated the best batsman in the world in tests at certain times.
5. IPL top run scorer(in his 1st or 2nd season)
6. There are many more, but the simple fact is not many would disagree he is EASILY the best NZ batsman of all time.
The bad news about the above, is that it means it will be exceptionally difficult for him to get back to his best at any given time.
Such has been the lack of cricket recently, the annoyances of covid, and not least 2 young kids in his life.
With all these factors as well as getting older, it wouldn't be impossible for him to get close to his pinnacle again, but see it as highly unlikely.
Like many others no doubt, hope like hell I'm wrong.

Wouldn't say "easily". Not much between KDub, Crowe, Turner, and Bert Sutcliffe before he was sconed by Adcock, for our greatest batsman.

 

[trundler]

Crowe wasn't allergic to scoring runs away and was definitely a greater batsman than Williamson.