*Unofficial* New Zealand Black Caps Thread

[Immenso]

At about that September, into early October window.

Blackcaps will be playing these fixtures:
A random ODI tour to Australia.
Then a tri-series T20 tournament that is World T20I Cup prep and leads directly into the tournament proper on the calendar.

(Still nothing in NZC about the Pakistan tour, or when that is)

So from a player touring party line-up POV. Can probably rule out guys like Glenn Phillips, who'd get heaps out of the tour, but should be spending that time prepping and playing with the blackcaps. And probably Allen, who (on merit) wouldn't deserve the red-ball part of the tour anyway, but would have been fun to see how he went. Plus M Bracewell.

 

[Immenso]

I'd suggest a touring party something like this. Squad of 15. Not bothering with anything funky like flying players over and others back home for the white ball section.

R Ravindra
W Young
T Johnston
M Chapman
R O'Donnell / T Bruce
D Cleaver
N Smith
H Shipley
J Walker
A Patel
B Sears
----------------
C Fletcher
T Robinson
M Rippon
B Tickner

I think they'll take at least one fairly experienced batter. I have O'Donnell and Bruce bracketed in a number 5 spot. They might reward Bruce for his amazing last season - but personally I reckon that is only 'bracketing' worthy, rather than lock-in worthy - considering his mediocre century-less previous 4 successive seasons before that. I'd go O'Donnell who at least has had 2 consecutive good last 2 seasons, after a similar Bruce-like trot of no centuries for 4 seasons.

Tim Robinson would be my hail mary selection. (I'd only take one of Bruce or O'Donnell)

Post above planted the Ajaz bug in my ear. That would be a good prep if Pakistan goes ahead. Plus good support at one end for the other less experienced bowlers.

Keane and Randell would be unlucky based on last season stats. But, I like Shipley more than those 2 based on visuals.

Tickner actually has a good record at 'A' level. With an eye to higher levels, I'd want Tickner's potential to continue to be explored. Looks like he has something to offer potentially with both new and old ball. Which as last cab off the rank in a test 11, you don't always get your favourable bowling times.

I don't rate Duffy (anymore). Can't trust his action.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Tim Robinson would be my hail mary selection. (I'd only take one of Bruce or O'Donnell)

It would be good to more frequently reward the talented youngster, rather than the ageing pro. Hard to believe Tom Bruce is already 31 and with his first class record, perhaps he has deserved a crack before now. Perhaps the next "Daryl Mitchell"-type selection... but then, they're practically identical ages. I'd personally like to see Chapman heavily involved and given some responsibility. It would be great to see him succeed.

What other U25s could be justified?

Troy Johnson's building up a pretty decent record, despite looking hapless whenever I've seen him live.
Will O'Donnell and Dale Phillips both had decent 2021-22 seasons
Nathan Smith and Ben Sears of course.
Simon Keene came in with a pretty stunning debut season.
Ray Toole just about sneaks in to U25. Hard to see him being successful at international standard from what I've seen. But might improve?
Joey Field needs more work.

Otherwise, even some players I tend to think of as "young" aren't that young - Jayden Lennox, Henry Shipley etc.

EDIT: Were any promises made to Georgeson to get him to tear up the Ireland contract? Nick Greenwood's been in cracking form for Jersey of late as well

 

[nzfan]

Yeah pointed this out a while ago. That said he'll get to play for NZ A in India. There's a test series and t20/one day cricket tour at the end of the month. Not sure why nzc hasn't announced that

Looks like none picked up on my post a while ago about NZ A tour to India. Not sure why it's been kept hush hush...

 

[nzfan]

I don't think we are going to see players that have debuted last year and done well... I'm referring to someone like Simon Keene or Robinson. This is India they are going to and you can expect fairly experienced side sent.

I think 15 of the players will be picked from this group of players

Batters:

Rutherford, Ravindra, Carter, Cooper, Bruce, Rob O'Donnell, Solia, Leo Carter

Keepers:

Cleaver, Fletcher, Seifert (probably two will travel)

Bowlers:

Sears , Duffy, Ed Nutall, Kuggeleijn, Shipley (Three of these I'd think )

Spinners:

Rippon, McConchie, Walker, Ashok (white ball only?)

Doubtful : Sears (Not sure if he will be able to tour given he's in WI right now)

Nathan Smith is not playing club cricket in UK at the moment due to injury so he's pretty much ruled out

 

[nzfan]

There was a good mention made by Ross Taylor about how the NZ A is run by NZC. They say it is for development but then if they don't perform they bin them. The players playing for NZ A are under constant pressure... technically playing younger ones is fraught with messing them up unless you are Sears or Ravindra.

 

[NZTailender]

According to Australia's FTP they come here for a couple of tests next summer and then we have boxing day again over there in 2026.

 

[_Ed_]

Cue great anticipation and high hopes, followed by crushing disappointment.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Cue great anticipation and high hopes, followed by crushing disappointment.

but enough about going to see Panic! at the Disco

 

[Immenso]

There was a good mention made by Ross Taylor about how the NZ A is run by NZC. They say it is for development but then if they don't perform they bin them. The players playing for NZ A are under constant pressure... technically playing younger ones is fraught with messing them up unless you are Sears or Ravindra.

I literally cant think of a single player this would apply to. Probably mostly because almost all NZ A for last decade have been very successful for players with higher hopes .

Only player I can even think of to struggle at A level is Ish Sodhi in his first A tour, 10 years ago, with almost no Plunket experience behind him (1 season?). But opposite happened, he got an immediate black caps call up based on Bradburn's feedback.

There would be players from 2018ish A tour to Infia that would have struggled , but no one is leaping off page into my memory.

 

[Immenso]

Anyway. A tours are for development, but are also for filtering out those that can step up a level from those that cant. So, the whole premise of that Ross take (which I'm getting second hand tbh, not from the horses mouth) is crap IMO.

 

[NZTailender]

I literally cant think of a single player this would apply to. Probably mostly because almost all NZ A for last decade have been very successful for players with higher hopes .

Only player I can even think of to struggle at A level is Ish Sodhi in his first A tour, 10 years ago, with almost no Plunket experience behind him (1 season?). But opposite happened, he got an immediate black caps call up based on Bradburn's feedback.

There would be players from 2018ish A tour to Infia that would have struggled , but no one is leaping off page into my memory.

Looking back at that last A tour of India, our fav player Kuggeleijn hardly set the world on fire. But then again neiher did Young and he was persisted with.

 

[NZTailender]

Anyway unpopular opinion but I would like Raval to go on the tour. Bizarrely, more on the L/O front than the FC stuff.

 

[nzfan]

 

[nzfan]

Quite a change of fortune for Rob O'Donnell. From averaging under 30 in probably all formats couple of years ago to captaining the NZ A side.

No surprises with the squad but really disappointing not a single player from the last two editions of U19 in the side.

Good to see Matt Fisher in the squad, hoping he gets to play most of the games.

Chad Bowes is a surprise inclusion. very good player but his red ball stats is quite underwhelming. Averaging under 30 after like 10+ years in the domestic circuit. Guessing the likes of Bowes, Lister, Logan Van Beek are reserved for white ball cricket.

Has Rachin played the most red ball games for NZ A? Won't be surprised if he has.

 

[nzfan]

I thought Joe Walker had awesome numbers, any time I have seen the scorecard he's been among wickets. Quite surprised to see he has 80 wickets in 41 first class games @ 37 (37 is more than acceptable in our conditions) and 29 @ 44 in 35 List A games. He's definitely one of our top offies in the domestic circuit.

Surprised Cole wasn't preferred over Walker.

 

[Immenso]

Walker had an awful early career. Career stats reflect that. From that perspective - He is the spinner version of Hamish Bennett or Blair Tickner career/stats progression.

He is the obvious pick, by far the best offie in the country along with grandpa Sommerville.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Nice to see Sean Solia on the list. I think he had a decent season last year.

On the other hand, I struggle to see what van Beek brings to the team. Certainly, I feel we already know what he offers and he's a bit feast or famine.

 

[Immenso]

That is actually quite a worrying squad IMO.

In my unqualified opinion. I think out of those 15, only 4 look to me to be a good bet to be test match potential standard (2 keepers Fletcher & Cleaver plus Ravindra, Chapman).

While 2 others, are of interest:
- Walker I do quite rate, and expect his performances to be entering that hockey-graph stage of a spinner's career. But, it is very recent uptick with him, and for NZ spinners it is hard to work out their level anyway. I'd have a nagging doubt about his speed.
- Lister I quite rate from a skills perspective, not pace, so potential, but I'm thinking more white ball. I think the selectors are keen for a left arm prospect, so that is actually a good pick for the tour IMO - that I didn't think of in my proposed squad a page or so back.

Of course, Rippon is fairly established, and should have a good career at white ball.

 

[nzfan]

Nice to see Sean Solia on the list. I think he had a decent season last year.

On the other hand, I struggle to see what van Beek brings to the team. Certainly, I feel we already know what he offers and he's a bit feast or famine.

Replacement for injured Nathan Smith as I read it.