Group 1 (Afghanistan, Australia, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Ireland)

[SteveNZ]

I don't particularly blame Kane. We were favourites with around 6 overs to go after his innings.

Were we? Even if we were (I'd argue we were still 2nd favourites needing 60 off 31), I still argue 40 off 40 in reasonably good batting conditions is detrimental.

And I don't 'blame' him either, as I said only one batsman did their job out of 6. That doesn't win many games. But since the T20 final last year, 7 of Kane's T20I 10 innings have been at a run a ball or less. If you extend that back to post COVID, it's 15 from 24. He struck at 93 per hundred balls in this year's IPL.

There's just no justification for him to be in the side. We all know someone who isn't Kane - and honestly, I don't enjoy shooting Bambi here - would've been dropped by now. And if/when he continues to play, he should be floated like Malan was yesterday.

 

[cnerd123]

Kane sucked

 

[Moss]

Were we? Even if we were (I'd argue we were still 2nd favourites needing 60 off 31), I still argue 40 off 40 in reasonably good batting conditions is detrimental.

57 to get off 5 overs with 7 wickets in hand is a decent position for the batting side to be in. Giving Kane a break, this is the sort of equation Neesham Mitchell and co will be regularly tasked with, they’ll have to be better than they were yesterday (to be fair they managed it in the semifinal last year). Curran Woakes and Wood were excellent of course.

 

[Socerer 01]

If Guptill got the same 40 from 40 the entire country of New Zealand would have rose in union with pitchforks but since it is darling Kane Williamson must have been a tough pitch and he must have been galaxy braining it out there

 

[Athlai]

I also wouldn't be mad at Guptill

 

[Neil Young]

Conway/Finn going for nothing, while Philips smashed it, makes me a lot more ready to forgive Kane getting us a platform that keeps us in the game.

It would be better if Kane had the ability to play different types of innings as and when the situation called for it. But he doesn't. He spends every T20 innings in rebuild mode, even if he comes in at 54-1 after 4 overs.

 

[Athlai]

Yeah but he ain't anymore

 

[Socerer 01]

Yeah the nuance is lost on the ones not thinking Kane isn’t to blame. Even a 50 off 40 is okay but run a ball in T20 is peak Rahane material. Every analyst in T20 out there has pointed out how such innings are far worse than hitting out quickly at a good sr but what would they know

 

[social]

Mike Hussey believes that a top t20 batsman should have a combined average/strike rate of 170

Kane’s is 155 and by far the lowest of the Kiwis

Smith is 150 and he’s been …..

DROPPED
R
O
P
P
E
D

 

[Athlai]

Williamson definitely isn't a top T20 batsman, but he's better than Chapman

 

[Ashes81]

He is pretty handy for England because after batting he incredibly turns into Chris Jordan when it's time to field.

I was surprised by that as Livingston is a really good fielder himself.

Unless he was genuinely injured, which I doubt, if you're going to bend the rules, swap Rashid for Jordan not Livingston.

 

[Athlai]

Arshdeep is going to lose this game. Don't rate him

 

[honestbharani]

Arshdeep is going to lose this game. Don't rate him

Spark'd?

 

[honestbharani]

So there is a scenario when all teams finish on 5 points in this group right? Would be awesome to see it happen.

 

[SteveNZ]

If Guptill got the same 40 from 40 the entire country of New Zealand would have rose in union with pitchforks but since it is darling Kane Williamson must have been a tough pitch and he must have been galaxy braining it out there

I'm not sure the sentiment is that way anymore for Kane. Certainly I don't sense that on here, in my friend group, online in general etc. There's a strong feeling that his lack of impetus is potentially going to cost us going forward. Gup has often been criticised for being 15 off 20 but only once in his T20I career has he faced 30 balls and gone at a run a ball or less. y

Williamson definitely isn't a top T20 batsman, but he's better than Chapman

Not sure I agree with that. Much more proactive at the crease, better hitter, tries to manipulate bowlers more etc. He's not really a No.3 though, so it's not a fair comparison. No reason Mitchell couldn't bat 3 if Williamson was dropped.

 

[Nintendo]

I'm not sure the sentiment is that way anymore for Kane. Certainly I don't sense that on here, in my friend group, online in general etc. There's a strong feeling that his lack of impetus is potentially going to cost us going forward. Gup has often been criticised for being 15 off 20 but only once in his T20I career has he faced 30 balls and gone at a run a ball or less. y



Not sure I agree with that. Much more proactive at the crease, better hitter, tries to manipulate bowlers more etc. He's not really a No.3 though, so it's not a fair comparison. No reason Mitchell couldn't bat 3 if Williamson was dropped.

Feel like this NZ side would be stronger with allen+mitchell opening, conway at 3 and chapman at 5 tbh. Mitchell did great opening at the last WC.

 

[loterry1994]

New Zealand staying Loyal to Kane and if they win this World Cup then good on them. But his still a major liability to their batting especially if someone doesn’t get going which New Zealand haven’t really experienced this World Cup with a few individual big scores already. Will be interesting in the knockout games to see what happens if someone else doesn’t kick on and make a big score. I think if you want Williamson in there you need to make him opener and have the power play to use up for him. Cause he can’t really accelerate his strike rate these days.

Aus got rid of smith and England got rid of root in this format and New Zealand should of done the same with kane I just don’t think there’s much room for those types of players in t20s these days

 

[Socerer 01]

New Zealand staying Loyal to Kane and if they win this World Cup then good on them. But his still a major liability to their batting especially if someone doesn’t get going which New Zealand haven’t really experienced this World Cup with a few individual big scores already. Will be interesting in the knockout games to see what happens if someone else doesn’t kick on and make a big score. I think if you want Williamson in there you need to make him opener and have the power play to use up for him. Cause he can’t really accelerate his strike rate these days.

Aus got rid of smith and England got rid of root in this format and New Zealand should of done the same with kane I just don’t think there’s much room for those types of players in t20s these days

england got rid of root only to replace him with a worse player though

 

[SteveNZ]

Feel like this NZ side would be stronger with allen+mitchell opening, conway at 3 and chapman at 5 tbh. Mitchell did great opening at the last WC.

Interesting how that quickly became not a thing, right? He only did it for one more series in India, then dropped back down to 5 in the UK. To be honest, I like Conway/Allen as a ying-yang LH/RH thing and in terms of approach, but Mitchell could definitely bat 3.

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

They probably think Kane will pull out some Final Magic at some point. The main problem is we have to get to the final first.