*Official* New Zealand in Bangladesh 2023/24

[Bahnz]

Congratulations Bangladesh. They were comprehensively better across the 4 and a bit days.

Wouldn't necessarily say that. NZ were in front of the game at lunch on day 3. But from there Shanto completely took it away from them and the gulf between the two spin attacks really shone through. A great result.

 

[Flem274*]

Ajaz and Sodhi will be in the most danger, with Santner and Wagner probably favourites to enter.

There is no way Latham is being dropped before 2027. The guy has a career average of 41, has a strong record of piling on the pain against subcontinent sides in Asia and anyone weak touring NZ, and is the vice skipper to a 34 year old (35 in 11 days) bowler.

Nicholls? Maybe, but he has been given an exceptionally long rope, has the same number of tons as Stephen Fleming and has scored quality runs against world class attacks at home.

I expect both players to fill their boots against South Africa J and based on home performance Nicholls is capable of scoring a ton against Australia in New Zealand, in which case he would have plenty of runs in his previous 10 tests and he's in.

Ajaz and Sodhi have been dropped after one bad performance before, and even after a good one. If they can't get it together next game (if they even play) then they're toast and we'll see Santner or some meme bullshit like Ravindra #8 for the home summer.

Edit - when is Macewell expected to return? He would be Stead's ideal at home. #7 is a bit high for Santner and Phillips is a bit of a pretend bowler, though that doesn't stop them with Macewell in tests.

 

[AndyZaltzHair]

Ajaz bowled well in the first innings and with the second new ball in the second one. Santner and Rachin in, Sodhi and Nicholls out.

 

[Prince EWS]

Wouldn't necessarily say that. NZ were in front of the game at lunch on day 3. But from there Shanto completely took it away from them and the gulf between the two spin attacks really shone through. A great result.

Even when NZ were in front Bangladesh seemed clearly better.

It seemed like one of those games where a minnow pushes a strong side for a while and he falls apart as it gets closer to the end - except Bangladesh were actually the strong side.

One of the weirder games I've seen in that way.

 

[Aritro]

Even when NZ were in front Bangladesh seemed clearly better.

It seemed like one of those games where a minnow pushes a strong side for a while and he falls apart as it gets closer to the end - except Bangladesh were actually the strong side.

One of the weirder games I've seen in that way.

This was not how I experienced it during the match lel

 

[Prince EWS]

This was not how I experienced it during the match lel

Haha your experience wouldn't have let you experience it that way.

But Bangladesh to me seemed far more skilled in the conditions. They were also sloppy and lazy, like you'd expect an undercooked favourite to be sometimes. It kept the game artificially close.

 

[Aritro]

But Bangladesh to me seemed far more skilled in the conditions. They were also sloppy and lazy, like you'd expect an undercooked favourite to be sometimes. It kept the game artificially close.

To be fair, they're like this in every single match no matter the context, the stupid *****.

It's been an embarrassing few years. Genuine 00s standard BD cricket in a lot of matches, except without a Rajin Saleh to stabilise things by making 50 off 178. Anyway, onwards and upwards.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Edit - when is Macewell expected to return? He would be Stead's ideal at home. #7 is a bit high for Santner and Phillips is a bit of a pretend bowler, though that doesn't stop them with Macewell in tests.

Surely Macewell won't play another test. He averages less with the bat than Henry and Sodhi and only fractionally more than Jamieson. He also turns 33 this summer.

 

[Prince EWS]

To be fair, they're like this in every single match no matter the context, the stupid ****s.

It's been an embarrassing few years. Genuine 00s standard BD cricket in a lot of matches, except without a Rajin Saleh to stabilise things by making 50 off 178. Anyway, onwards and upwards.

I still can't believe the records of Rajin Saleh and Mark Vermeulen ended up as bad as they did. Obviously other factors for MV but those ***** could seriously bat. In different systems they average 40 IMO.

 

[Kenneth Viljoen]

Wouldn't necessarily say that. NZ were in front of the game at lunch on day 3. But from there Shanto completely took it away from them and the gulf between the two spin attacks really shone through. A great result.

Disagree , At lunch on day 3 Bangladesh already had a lead on NZ , the 7 run first innings lead that NZ had was not going to be enough seeing that NZ would have to bat last ..

And NZ only got to 317 due some very generous fielding from Bangladesh, Williamson was dropped twice and went on to make a hundred ..

 

[Aritro]

I still can't believe the records of Rajin Saleh and Mark Vermeulen ended up as bad as they did. Obviously other factors for MV but those ****s could seriously bat. In different systems they average 40 IMO.

Rajin might still be the fittest, most committed professional we've ever had and without doubt the most athletic and gifted in the field.

But I think that perfect, textbook technique that hid the fact that he didn't really have great reflexes/hand-eye. He'd defend or leave all the time because he wasn't able to find as many bad balls, or scoreable balls as the quality international bats do.

 

[Shady Slim]

no shakib, so bangers are likeable again, congrats banglads!!

 

[AndyZaltzHair]

Rajin might still be the fittest, most committed professional we've ever had and without doubt the most athletic and gifted in the field.

But I think that perfect, textbook technique that hid the fact that he didn't really have great reflexes/hand-eye. He'd defend or leave all the time because he wasn't able to find as many bad balls, or scoreable balls as the quality international bats do.

He is in talks of becoming the fielding coach of BD

Doing good job coaching in domestic circuit

 

[honestbharani]

no shakib, so bangers are likeable again, congrats banglads!!

You like them more when they aren't that good as a team huh? Hater.

 

[honestbharani]

http://instagr.am/p/C0WRpN3Se0j/

#statsthatmatter


#sethee

 

[SteveNZ]

Ajaz and Sodhi will be in the most danger, with Santner and Wagner probably favourites to enter.

There is no way Latham is being dropped before 2027. The guy has a career average of 41, has a strong record of piling on the pain against subcontinent sides in Asia and anyone weak touring NZ, and is the vice skipper to a 34 year old (35 in 11 days) bowler.

Nicholls? Maybe, but he has been given an exceptionally long rope, has the same number of tons as Stephen Fleming and has scored quality runs against world class attacks at home.

I expect both players to fill their boots against South Africa J and based on home performance Nicholls is capable of scoring a ton against Australia in New Zealand, in which case he would have plenty of runs in his previous 10 tests and he's in.

Ajaz and Sodhi have been dropped after one bad performance before, and even after a good one. If they can't get it together next game (if they even play) then they're toast and we'll see Santner or some meme bull**** like Ravindra #8 for the home summer.

Edit - when is Macewell expected to return? He would be Stead's ideal at home. #7 is a bit high for Santner and Phillips is a bit of a pretend bowler, though that doesn't stop them with Macewell in tests.

Wagner would be an ATG stupid selection decision if he was picked. Not saying it wouldn't happen...but bringing in the guy who's on his last legs to replace spinners who didn't have enough control, would be almost hilarious in its absurdity. As for picking Santner, that would be about as mud as it gets.

You're right on Latham. He is the prototype Stead cricketer and he always gives Stead just enough to justify picking him.

It should be Nicholls. Around the 200, he has scores of 2, 19, 20, 2, 29, 30, 7, 5, 4, 26, 22, 19, 3, 30, 7, 39 going back to the SA series hundred in early 2022.

Neither Latham or Nicholls is flat out droppable in the sense of 'get them out right now, and play anyone'. But I agree with what Dylan Cleaver said on the ACC...they're showing a lack of cricketing EQ by not picking Rachin now. They picked him early in all formats as predominantly a spinning all-rounder and ****ed that up, but now they have the chance to pick the guy who will be playing for this side for 10 years +, he's in good batting form and feels like he belongs.

But they'll either drop Sodhi/Patel and bat him at 6, or not pick him at all. I suspect it'll be the latter.

 

[Immenso]

I recall Sodhi being awful in first test on Pak tour last year, then good the next 2. So, he'll probably be retained. Which is fair enough. But, it is a selection based on hope/hunch rather than any identifiable criteria.

It would be good to be able to select our spinners and expect some control. Ajaz's decline has been a concern.

Back when we were good. It was because Ajaz and Sommerville could step up, almost seamlessly, in our Asian tours in those cycles, while being left out entirely at home.

 

[Athlai]

Sodhi is hot and cold. Isn't in form right now and we can't afford to carry that if Ajaz isn't either

 

[Prince EWS]

Attack should stay the same IMO. Rachin for for Nicholls - ask him if he'd prefer to open or bat 4 long term and give Latham the other spot.

 

[Athlai]

Attack should stay the same IMO. Rachin for for Nicholls - ask him if he'd prefer to open or bat 4 long term and give Latham the other spot.

Though also Santa