Black Caps Squad

[Moss]

The last two games have been very encouraging. I feel like we’re better placed than 2019 at this stage. 2019 we were blasted off the park by the other semi-finalists in the round robin, but pulled it out of the bag in the semis and final. This time we have been very close, and pretty obvious/easy areas to improve could have got us across the line. Needed to ice the cake in the innings against India, and sort out our fielding against Australia. I’m feeling positive we can do that before the semis.

I agree. Generally playing better cricket than 2019 league stages for sure. I just hope there’s enough in the tank. The players clearly gave it their all in those two games with nothing to show for it.

 

[Moss]

And yeah, full credit to Neesham for producing another one of those clutch innings and very nearly bringing it home. A bit of game awareness from Santner to not hole out when he did (and well Phillips and Mitchell before that), he and Ravindra wouldn’t have been left to do it all themselves.

Should it be enough to displace Chapman from the starting XI for the next few games, I don’t know.

 

[The Hutt Rec]

Isn’t it weird to think, if Bracewell hadn’t been injured, would Ravindra have even made this World Cup squad?

And if Williamson hadn’t been injured, would we have ever seen him get a chance in the top order?

Those injuries have both been negatives for NZ, but long term they at least forced Steady Stead’s hand.

 

[thundaboult]

I gotta ask....did nzc/stead actually KNOW ravindra is a top 3 or an opener type player in the batting order? What made them have him play as an opener in the pak warm up? Actual planning or a fluke? ... i'm actually curious

like ok they shoe horned him into the squads as a bowling allrounder 2 years ago so he can get into the environment and setup blah blah blah...but they KEPT him down the order as a bowling allrounder the whole time until that pak warm up....did stead realize reality or just got lucky and found out through that pak game that hey this kid is a pretty good top order player!

 

[straw man]

Yeah Stead might argue it was his ingenious plan all along, just giving Rachin experience batting at 7 in the lead-up to further his development, or something like that. But it seems much more likely to me that the answer is no, Rachin wouldn't have made the squad, and/or no, Rachin wouldn't have batted in the top 3, without those injuries. Things have fallen into place accidentally. (I guess we can give a little credit that they tried Rachin in the top order in the warm-up vs Pakistan, as that's where it all began)

I don't even know if Rachin would've made my squad for this tournament, given his actual record at that point in that ridiculous bowling allrounder role.

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

M I S T E R
A
G
O
O

 

[straw man]

 

[Flem274*]

I always thought in Steads mind that he was a direct replacement for Macwell. KWs injury presented an opportunity in a random warm up and ofc players batting in or near preferred position have a better chance of success.

 

[straw man]

I always thought in Steads mind that he was a direct replacement for Macwell.

That's definitely what it looked like from the outside.

 

[Days of Grace]

Isn’t it weird to think, if Bracewell hadn’t been injured, would Ravindra have even made this World Cup squad?

And if Williamson hadn’t been injured, would we have ever seen him get a chance in the top order?

Those injuries have both been negatives for NZ, but long term they at least forced Steady Stead’s hand.

No to the former, yes to the latter. I think Neesham got lucky with Macewell’s injury.

If Williamson were fit for England, Rachin probably would have been down at 7.

Anyway, like Williamson, I think Ferguson’s injury may benefit us. Barring the bullying of Afghanistan and Netherlands, he wasn’t troubling anyone with his pace. Southee and Sodhi *should* go for less runs and give us more batting at the tail end.

 

[Moss]

I gotta ask....did nzc/stead actually KNOW ravindra is a top 3 or an opener type player in the batting order? What made them have him play as an opener in the pak warm up? Actual planning or a fluke? ... i'm actually curious

They knew. His debut was that T20 5-match series in Bangladesh in 2021, he played as an opener in all of them and had a rough time of it. But (to the management) anyway his bowling seemed too good an asset to ignore, which is why he figured in a few more T20s and tests that season as a no.7. With so many openers and top order players then they couldn’t fit him in. Why they chose the Pak warmup to return to this is hard to say, but I guess him finding some form in England, and the uncertainty over the top 3 in Williamson’s absence played a part.

 

[straw man]

Ferguson was forced from the field against Australia with a suspected Achilles injury and Stead confirmed that was the case.

“He’s woken up feeling a little bit better than what he has, but he will be getting a scan tomorrow morning here in Pune and from there we’ll be able to give you more of an update on what that looks like for Lockie, but we’re hopeful it’s maybe something just about a week in terms of return to play.

“Again it’s something he’s had in the past it’s niggled away, it’s just flared up again at perhaps a bad time for him.”

Chapman’s calf injury was deemed a “niggle” but Stead was unable to give a firm timeframe on his return but, like Williamson, his progress was tracking well.

 

[Flem274*]

3 injuries in a 15 man squad is fun.

 

[Neil Young]

It'll force Stead to eventually pick our strongest XI.

 

[Spark]

3 injuries in a 15 man squad is fun.

The 15 man squad requirement is absolutely ****ing ridiculous for a tournament of this length. That restriction really hasn't anywhere near the lambasting it thoroughly deserves. All it takes is one or two particular injuries and your whole setup can be in crisis mode.

 

[thundaboult]

So Jamo is being flown out to join the squad again ... is the management doing their best to not qualify? Milne at least has shown form with the white ball this year even though its primarily t20. Kyle's been injured and getting smacked upon return.

 

[straw man]

Don't know why but I'm feeling unreasonably optimistic re Jamieson. He's been awful and extremely hittable in his white-ball career to date, but there's no doubt he's talented. The Mills/Henry role of bowling new-ball overs would suit him, if there's a little movement in the air or wicket he could be dangerous. Keep him away from death overs.

Milne very unlucky though.

 

[straw man]

Regarding the wicketkeeper spot, think I made a post earlier that there's little point talking about his successor until a year before the next ODI World Cup in 2027, by which time Blundell, Cleaver and Fletcher will be too old to establish themselves. However I forgot there's a Champions Trophy in Feb 2025, only 15 months away, and Cleaver/Fletcher are slightly younger than I thought. I also forgot Seifert exists, though I'm not enthusiastic about him unless he converts himself into a finisher batting at 7. So really we should consider all options.

Though it's in Pakistan so #TheSpecialist will have the inside running, in reality.

Ages
Latham - 31
Blundell - 33
Cleaver - 31
Fletcher - 30
Seifert - 28
Hay - 23
Chu - 23

 

[Athlai]

Chut is the man

 

[The Hutt Rec]

Is Milne fit? He only managed one ODI in the Bangladesh tour, and hasn't played since then.