Socerer 01
International Captain
Sheesh at least Neesham is in with Phillips. Bit harsh on Young but he looks mentally shot. Add Nicholls to that category too
His death bowling in the WC was a real breath of fresh air after Henry's and Southee's efforts iirc. I thought, damn, he's cemented himself a spot here, it could be his specialist bowling role, great stuff for him. And then there's his hitting. I mean, if Kane/Stead thought he was in the top 2 batsmen to get them home in a super over in a god damn WC final, surely that counts for something.Yeah I can totally see why Neesham wouldn't be in the first XI. He's always been a guy who has some nice attributes (hits the long ball, finisher, can bowl briskly) while also being dangerously close to "bits and pieces" because he's never established himself as an international standard bowler and nor is he a proper batsman. Would just be another harsh chapter in the story of his career if he crushed it in one World Cup (with a whole "comeback story" narrative around it) and then was dropped from the next one for no real performance-based reason.
he''ll debut at 34 in odi's when he's bowling 126kmHe's in my personally preferred XI tbh. I'm just guessing with the WC in India coming up they'll see a spinning all-rounder as more of an incumbent. I'm not sure if they see Neesham as a bowling all-rounder (vying for a spot with Bracewell) or batting all-rounder (Phillips) even though he's done a fine role in finishing in the past as well as some pretty decent death bowling.
I would personally prefer a playing XI of something like:
1. Guptill
2. Conway
3. Williamson
4. Mitchell
5. Latham+
6. Phillips
7. Neesham
8. Santner
9. Henry
10. Ferguson
11. Boult
With Sodhi for Henry on spinning tracks
If we're heading outside that 15, I still have faith in Young, but not as an opener
1. Allen
2. Conway
3. Williamson
4. Young
5. Mitchell
6. Cleaver+
7. Neesham
8. Santner
9. Henry
10. Ferguson
11. Boult
12. Phillips
13. Sodhi
14. Sears
15. Rippon
Think NZ really messed things up by forcing him into the opening slot. Hope he bounces back because there's no new wave of batsmen putting pressure on the incumbents TBH.Bit harsh on Young but he looks mentally shot.
I get the feeling KW/Latham would bowl Southee and Boult unchanged in all limited overs games if the rules allowed them to do so.I'm not liking the idea of southee bowling in t20s on aus pitches....
Yes, and India have mostly had the better of the West Indies on their tour so far, so it can be seen as a benchmarking series of sorts for NZ.This series to a certain extent will tell us where we actually stand in white ball cricket. We have full strength team and likely at least about 9-10 players will be around now till the t20 and one day world cups. I can see through my crystal ball (not an accurate one), by next year we will have had lots of changes particularly in the white ball campaign. At the moment our games vs Dutch, Ireland, Scotland is not telling us much.
This could very well tell us where we actually stand.This series to a certain extent will tell us where we actually stand in white ball cricket. We have full strength team and likely at least about 9-10 players will be around now till the t20 and one day world cups. I can see through my crystal ball (not an accurate one), by next year we will have had lots of changes particularly in the white ball campaign. At the moment our games vs Dutch, Ireland, Scotland is not telling us much.
It feels particularly bleak at the moment. Lets see what lineup they come up with this time. If Brooks opens I will be turning the TV off....First match is today.
The squad is the same as the one versus India.
Not looking good. One would have expected quite a few changes, in a sane world…but this is West Indies we are talking about. No direction.