*Unofficial* New Zealand Black Caps Thread

[wellAlbidarned]

Indian lads helped stretch Mitchell when he was cramping up too

Were they also on the other extreme?

Wasn’t aware they did it but yeah should be up to your teams physio/drinks runner

 

[Athlai]

It is, but they can take a minute or two to get out there and ultimately we just want the player to stop cramping quickly so we can get back to playing cricket eh?

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Pretty sure it's because up until approx 2015 and a brief period in the 80s we have been significantly worse than them player for player.

In recent years our record has been miles out from the actual quality difference.

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

Maybe you can make a case that some players need that kind of environment, but I think it's pretty pointless as an overall team policy.

 

[Athlai]

In recent years our record has been miles out from the actual quality difference.

Doesn't help that we rely heavily on medium pace swing bowlers, and a medium pace "hits the deck hard" short ball specialist. Australia just aren't troubled by that in their home conditions.


We don't have a great sample size of them playing vs us at home

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Maybe you can make a case that some players need that kind of environment, but I think it's pretty pointless as an overall team policy.

Yeah Its largely a leadership thing and this is kanes style. Going to be interesting to see what happens to our approach once he’s done.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Doesn't help that we rely heavily on medium pace swing bowlers, and a medium pace "hits the deck hard" short ball specialist. Australia just aren't troubled by that in their home conditions.


We don't have a great sample size of them playing vs us at home

I agree those are also factors. Doesn’t fully explain it imo.

 

[thundaboult]

lmaooooo it sounds like we brought out a masseuse and a sofa for the f***in guy hahahahaha

i'd like us to take this spirit of cricket thing to the ultimate level and do everything possible to help the opps win, the ideas the ideas

 

[Ghost]

Looking at the squad and wider bunch who were considered, I think we'll have less retirements in 2027 than expected. It sounds like KW wants another go and I think the late bloomers like Conway and Mitchell will force us to drop them before they give up their opportunities. I don't trust any kiwi quick older than 34 in 2027 to make it. Looking at this list, we need to build the next generation of bowlers but you just know NZC won't have the foresight to do it. There's probably a crucial T20 driblet cup next year. Can't risk our semi-final berth in that.

Conway
Ravindra
Williamson
Mitchell
Latham
Phillips
Chapman
Santner
Southee
Ferguson
Boult

Henry
Sodhi
Young
Neesham

Jamieson
Macewell
Blundell
Milne
McConchie

My prediction:

Conway
Ravindra
Williamson (c)
Mitchell
Phillips
Clarkson
Chu (wk)
Santner
Clarke
O'Rourke
Sears

Clarke and O'Rourke are young talents who have taken to white ball and should be peaking around 2027. I think the futures of KJ and Shipley are more in red ball cricket, and KJ has made his bank robbing some dumb franchise blind so he doesn't need to reduce himself to a T20 level. Sears I'm going on hope that pure raw talent rises to the top, and Clarkson should already have ODIs to his name.

Looking at current players could build a pretty good squad out of
Batters
Kane, Conway, Ravindra, Mitchell, Young, Foxcroft, Phillips, Allen

Bat/Bowl
Abbas, Clarkson, Foulkes, Tashkoff

Keepers
Chu, Hay

Spin
Santner, Ashok, Pringle

Pace
Jamieson, Sears, O’Rourke, Smith, Clarke, Shipley

Batting would be a bit weak if Williamson, Conway and Mitchell aren’t still around

 

[Flem274*]

We flop against Aus pretty hard relative to the Fleming side. It's mostly mental imo, since this team does much worse despite being better than the Fleming team and Fleming faced the GOAT team.

None of us could say why unless we're in the environment, but it needs addressing. Maybe a more outward show of confidence would help, or maybe something completely different.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

We flop against Aus pretty hard relative to the Fleming side. It's mostly mental imo, since this team does much worse despite being better than the Fleming team and Fleming faced the GOAT team.

None of us could say why unless we're in the environment, but it needs addressing. Maybe a more outward show of confidence would help, or maybe something completely different.

Hopefully that'll turn around this summer. If 2 or 3 batters stand up and we pick a fit and firing 4-man pace attack (Southee/Henry/KJ + 1), who knows?

We've got 3 players in the top 45 (official) batting averages of all time, along with other quality players so should hopefully be able to at least push them/draw.

 

[Prince EWS]

Allen can bosh a six.

 

[thundaboult]

For pace options lets not forget fisher, he's quality.

 

[Prince EWS]

For pace options lets not forget fisher, he's quality.

Can he bosh a six?

 

[thundaboult]

Can he bosh a six?

6-fer yeah

 

[Bahnz]

He's also absent from ND's team sheet this week. I wouldn't put too many eggs in that basket.

 

[straw man]

Looking at the squad and wider bunch who were considered, I think we'll have less retirements in 2027 than expected. It sounds like KW wants another go and I think the late bloomers like Conway and Mitchell will force us to drop them before they give up their opportunities. I don't trust any kiwi quick older than 34 in 2027 to make it. Looking at this list, we need to build the next generation of bowlers but you just know NZC won't have the foresight to do it. There's probably a crucial T20 driblet cup next year. Can't risk our semi-final berth in that.

Conway
Ravindra
Williamson
Mitchell
Latham
Phillips
Chapman
Santner
Southee
Ferguson
Boult

Henry
Sodhi
Young
Neesham

Jamieson
Macewell
Blundell
Milne
McConchie

My prediction:

Conway
Ravindra
Williamson (c)
Mitchell
Phillips
Clarkson
Chu (wk)
Santner
Clarke
O'Rourke
Sears

Clarke and O'Rourke are young talents who have taken to white ball and should be peaking around 2027. I think the futures of KJ and Shipley are more in red ball cricket, and KJ has made his bank robbing some dumb franchise blind so he doesn't need to reduce himself to a T20 level. Sears I'm going on hope that pure raw talent rises to the top, and Clarkson should already have ODIs to his name.

I find it really hard to predict who will be a good white-ball bowler (short of a Bumrah/Malinga type figure) - tests potentially easier as a lot comes down to raw materials.

I think Clarke is a decent bet - will get stronger and already looks like he bowls a Heavy Ball (TM).

I would bet on Jamieson becoming a fixture - firstly he'll get a heap of chances because he's already part of the setup, and I think he'll learn the skills needed. And he'll get the new ball.

O'Rourke maybe, though I think he'll be long-form first.

I'm sceptical of Clarkson living up to expectation - he should get more chances for NZ A and also lesser tours to prove me wrong though.

 

[honestbharani]

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket...ustralian-cricketer-for-assisting-virat-kohli

Clickbaity but I actually agree with this one tbh. We go way over the top with the relaxed on field vibe, you don’t have to be a dick but a little more neutral combativeness would be good for us imo

When Mitchell was down with cramps, Ishan was actually helping him stretch his legs out. This is just bs tbh. Where was this when you guys won the WTC being the same nice fellas.


One of the most endearing images in all of cricket, for me, will be the KW-Virat hugs after the 2019 SF, 2021 WTC Final, and the 2023 SF. You honestly see the same warmth and friendship even though the winners changed in the last one.

Aussies mid 90s to late 00s just happened to be absolute ****s who were also excellent cricketers. It happened to be a coincidence, not cause and effect.


Else Burgey should have been a great cricketer.

 

[Flem274*]

Tbh there is an uncomfortable correlation between teams that are ****s and teams that dominate.

But it's also true there is a spectrum. You can be very intense like the All Blacks or Springboks rather than crossing into manchild territory like peak Lehmannball.

 

[honestbharani]

Tbh there is an uncomfortable correlation between teams that are ****s and teams that dominate.

But it's also true there is a spectrum. You can be very intense like the All Blacks or Springboks rather than crossing into manchild territory like peak Lehmannball.

I think as an individual to succeed in the cut throat world of sports there are certain characteristics which dont quite scream out "nice person" that you may need to possess. I dont think anyone has to try and be someone else in a cricket team either.

But I dont see any reason why being a nice person means you cannot succeed as a team. And there are always folks who seem to be pretty dickish in their behaviour who never have any big sledging/stand-offs with opposition.

For a long time, Shakib had been like that. KP was often more abrasive to his team than the opposition. There are many SC players who will fall in this bucket as well. Michael Clarke had his issues in his teams etc. And almost all of them have had very good to great careers.