Nintendo
Cricketer Of The Year
That went REALLY well last time NZ tried it ...
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*Unofficial* New Zealand Black Caps Thread
- Thread starter NZTailender
- Start date
ataraxia
International Coach
fluke
Fuller Pilch
Hall of Fame Member
As an opener not a no 7 no rounder, but with Conway averaging about a million* as a test opener it won't happen.
*68
Flem274*
123/5
Tbf if Ravindra can deliver on his ability and be a good opener + reasonable spin bowler, our team balance will be stupidly good for SENA.
Not that it will help the mental block, but it would be good to go to Aussie without already being a bowler down. Spin doesn't work in Aus? Don't bowl our opening batsman then. EZ.
Not that it will help the mental block, but it would be good to go to Aussie without already being a bowler down. Spin doesn't work in Aus? Don't bowl our opening batsman then. EZ.
Zinzan
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Am I the only one who feels Ravindra is still some distance from looking like a Test-class opener? He's got to nail his position with the bat before we look at his more than useful other skill-set.
NZTailender
I can't believe I ate the whole thing
Agreed. If he is to play Tests it should be the Williamson route of lower order until there's an opening at the top. I think Kane batted 5/6 for 2-3 years (and averaged a pretty measly 32ish) until he moved up to 3, and then wasn't another year or two until he hit god mode. So far he's batted 7 or 8, mostly with the tail, so a run at 5/6 with Blundell behind him would be better than opening or playing the role he was chosen for in India and vs Bangladesh imo.
Throwing him into opening and expecting him to bowl is a waste of his time and the teams time. And so far he isn't really demanding selection over other guys floating around. He has age on his side, though. Of all the bats under 25 he's had probably the best figures of the last couple of seasons, alongside Dale Phillips iirc, and maybe Chu.
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Flem274*
123/5
For sure, he looked pretty mud last time we picked him.
Averaging 38 opening in the PS as a 23 year old is promising though. It's probably one of the more ruthless competitions to open in with the duke style kookaburra on early season decks. He dined out in County when he got a crack which is reassuring for him long term.
Zinzan
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Yes but the problem there is we're already spoiled for choice with options batting from 4-6 with the likes of Mitchell, Young, Phillips and Blundell (if we want to bat him 6 for more bowlers).
NZTailender
I can't believe I ate the whole thing
This is true. I've edited my post since you've replied. He really only gets in as a 'project player' with a look to the future much in the same way Kane was selected. Though Kane actually scored runs at a young age, and there weren't many rival batsmen knocking around in those dark days either.
Don't get some posters aversion here to Phillips in the test side. Dude seems like a bit of a focused nut. Given a chance in the lower order he would probably get stuck in and do what needs doing.
Nintendo
Cricketer Of The Year
Who is the next test opener in line for NZ anyway? Is it that lad who played for NZ-A vs india-A and made runs in the top 3 or rachin? Rachin has a pure fc batting average of near 40 mostly opening and made a double opening the batting in england in county (albeit on a road). Can't be that bad of a call just as a pure opener.
Fuller Pilch
Hall of Fame Member
Ollie White
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
50/50 call between him and Doug Bracewell.
Clearly we’ll be losing a number of our ATGs over the next couple of years and I think the Indian series have highlighted our depth isn’t strong without them. With that in mind I thought I’d have a look through and see if I could come up with a NZ Under 25 side. Here’s what I came up with.
Ravindra
Allen
Foxcroft
Heaphy
Abbas
Smith
Chu
KDC Clarke
Ashok/Pringle
Sears
Fisher
Ravindra
Allen
Foxcroft
Heaphy
Abbas
Smith
Chu
KDC Clarke
Ashok/Pringle
Sears
Fisher
jcas0167
International Debutant
Good list. Just watching him play a couple of cameos in the Super Smash I can see why Will Clark is also highly rated. He played two first class games last season mainly as a bowler, but his batting looks really promising.
YOUNG STARS ON FIRE
Two outstanding young CD batsmen named in the short New Zealand Development men's internal series have enjoyed a...
www.sporty.co.nz
I haven’t seen much of him but from scorecards at different levels he seems to bat anywhere from 1-9 and sometimes doesn’t bowl at all. Seems to have a very similar skill set to Zac FoulkesGood list. Just watching him play a couple of cameos in the Super Smash I can see why Will Clark is also highly rated. He played two first class games last season mainly as a bowler, but his batting looks really promising.
YOUNG STARS ON FIRE
Two outstanding young CD batsmen named in the short New Zealand Development men's internal series have enjoyed a...
Moss
International Captain
This summer definitely feels like a fork-in-the-road when it comes to the test side. For the England tests, I'm mostly okay if NZ go with the formula and play 4 seamers plus Macewell as the spinning allrounder (though Sodhi can be conisdered as well). Ajaz on current form will probably come off second best against England's big hitting approach. Young to replace Nicholls at 4 hopefully. Jaimeson's return will be quite critical given Wagner is almost done and Henry rarely takes enough wickets.
For the Sri Lanka series, at the risk of underestimating them would really like it if NZ used the tests to make some serious decisions about the future approach, including playing a specialist spinner, and possibly giving Phillips more test experience.
For the Sri Lanka series, at the risk of underestimating them would really like it if NZ used the tests to make some serious decisions about the future approach, including playing a specialist spinner, and possibly giving Phillips more test experience.
Yep, June is the 2023 WTC final and whilst that seems a bit arbitrary given every Test matters, it's worth looking at beyond the England series as a time we need to have more than one eye to the future. Those <25 year olds are going to need exposure, whether it's in Test squads, county cricket as an OS, etc.
My real fear is with the seamers. Fisher and Sears are giving me Adam Milne vibes in regards to their fitness, KJ has his issues, then it's who steps up from the likes of Shipley, N.Smith etc. The batting I think we're OK for a while, especially with Young/Ravindra to come back in. The ever-present spinner issue obviously becomes a focus, too.
My real fear is with the seamers. Fisher and Sears are giving me Adam Milne vibes in regards to their fitness, KJ has his issues, then it's who steps up from the likes of Shipley, N.Smith etc. The batting I think we're OK for a while, especially with Young/Ravindra to come back in. The ever-present spinner issue obviously becomes a focus, too.
Fuller Pilch
Hall of Fame Member
Pleased Sodhi is there is in squad and thrillee Jamieson is back, but very disappointed Phillips missed out. Nicholls just has a very good record at home I guess. Tickner, hmmm.