The Hutt Rec
International Vice-Captain
Ravindra is rightly being considered as a top order batsman … he might roll his arm over for a few, but with a test bowling average of 62 and a first class average of 51, I wouldn’t rely on him as a bowler.
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*Unofficial* New Zealand Black Caps Thread
- Thread starter NZTailender
- Start date
James
Cricket Web Owner
Good point with Ravindra, but with the way Phillips has bowled for us recently, I think we'd get enough out of him with the ball rather than playing Santner. And in NZ conditions, him and Ravindra would only need to bowl roughly 10 overs between them during a day.
RossTaylorsBox
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
He'll always have a place in my heart for calling out that old Indian woman in the WTC final.
NZTailender
I can't believe I ate the whole thing
NZTailender
I can't believe I ate the whole thing
Pleasantly surprised by that squad but also wondering what Smith has to do, besides moving to Canterbury.
Fuller Pilch
Hall of Fame Member
Be a 4th seamer option not a new ball bowler. Needs height or pace rather than swing. Unfortunately he is up against Southee and Henry.
that ironically we could really use with a white ball keeper who can bosh it down the order, but we have heaps of spin bowling allrounder options now and that space is congested.
thundaboult
International Debutant
ahhh the ol bits n pieces gimmick :')
Probably the best squad we've picked during the Stead era...I'd point out it's still such a Stead-ian thing that Rachin might get a go now, having not scored any runs in the home summer (hasn't passed 50 since the world cup) and hasn't played a first class match since March.
Interesting as to whether Wagner plays at the Mount. I'd go Jamieson over him. Then O'Rourke comes into the squad and yeah, he might be a chance if they look at four seamers and omit/don't play Santner.
First Test I'd go Latham Conway Williamson Mitchell Rachin Phillips Blundell Santner Jamieson Southee Henry. Geez that is a serious amount of batting.
Feel for Ish a bit, it's very likely the right decision not to play him at home but as with Ajaz before, it feels rough in a way that he went from hero to zero in the space of one Test. Oh yeah, and I almost forgot Ajaz took 6-for to bowl us to victory in the last Test, too
Such a crapshoot at times with our spinners, and I'm not necessarily blaming the selectors.Also, why aren't either of these Tests D/Ns? Do day Tests make more cash? I would've thought it was an ideal series to do so. Having been to the Mount one the year before against England, it was incredibly enjoyable to both be at, and follow on a work day/after work. Most fun I'd had at a day's Test cricket since the last D/N Test against England, at Eden Park in 2002 when it wasn't scheduled to be a D/N....**** that was the best of times
Flem274*
123/5
I completely forgot Ajaz took 8 in the match last time out, I just remember the first test disappointment.
We really treated Ajaz and Somerville so poorly. Parachute them in after **** all international cricket to Asia, expect immediate victory, then either drop them for 67 quicks at home or punt them in disgrace for not immediately performing.
I hope this isn't how we will be handling Ashok and other guys his age.
We really treated Ajaz and Somerville so poorly. Parachute them in after **** all international cricket to Asia, expect immediate victory, then either drop them for 67 quicks at home or punt them in disgrace for not immediately performing.
I hope this isn't how we will be handling Ashok and other guys his age.
Immenso
International Vice-Captain
Strongly disagree with this post.
Players only selected when conditions are in their favor are not badly treated.
Only area I'd agree is the one year Ajaz dropped off a central contract list. Need to treat someone who fits into the horses for courses policy with better respect (and medium-term planning) than that.
Immenso
International Vice-Captain
As this aging NZ test squad starts (continues) retiring. Of the the great players of this Era. I'd actually have Ajaz as the 3rd hardest to replace.
1. Kane
2. Wagner
3. Ajaz
Where on earth are we going to find an experienced spinner , with the toughness to be in and out. Only play when conditions suit, yes, but when pressure and expectations are huge.
Pringle and Ashok are a decade away from that sort of zone. Probably further unless we restore the 10 game Plunket Shield season.
The skill gap from Ajaz to the next is the biggest chasm is NZ cricket.
1. Kane
2. Wagner
3. Ajaz
Where on earth are we going to find an experienced spinner , with the toughness to be in and out. Only play when conditions suit, yes, but when pressure and expectations are huge.
Pringle and Ashok are a decade away from that sort of zone. Probably further unless we restore the 10 game Plunket Shield season.
The skill gap from Ajaz to the next is the biggest chasm is NZ cricket.
Flem274*
123/5
Yes and no.
I think it was short sighted not to give Ajaz a more consistent run. It bit us in the arse at the Mount, and would make him a better spinner overall. I think there was better than a horse for the course in there. Same with Somerville.
Edit - and if you're going to make someone a horse for a course, they need warm up games going into that instant performance situation. These guys don't get to build a rhythm like the mainstays.
Flem274*
123/5
Also I think I like Ravindra being our #4. He's still too loose to be a test opener when he will be playing 50-60% of his games in NZ and I don't think asking him to tighten up will necessarily get the best from him since he is a naturally dominant batsman. If he was playing for an Asian or Australian side then I'd be happy to pop him up top now.
Knock on wood he'll be ready for #3 when KW calls it a day.
Knock on wood he'll be ready for #3 when KW calls it a day.
_Ed_
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Somerville was particularly unlucky in this regard IMO, coming out of a locked-down Auckland where he could hardly have done much preparation.
Immenso
International Vice-Captain
This bit is why I have Ajaz as the 3rd hardest player to replace from our great era.
Such a perfect fit for that team and their horses for courses policy. He didn't always hit the ground running in the first test (but even then he sometimes did), but gee he was pretty unfazed about being parachuted into overseas test cricket every early NZ spring with just a winter behind him.