*Official* Australia tour of New Zealand Feb-Mar 2024

[Zinzan]

Matt Henry's 12 tests since the start of 2021: 53 wickets @ 25.98.

Pretty sure he's averaging decently with the bat in that period too if my memory serves.

 

[King Kane]

All our cunning plan to only bat in the afternoon when its easy. Can't believe they fell for it

 

[BazBall21]

Predict the score at stumps

 

[Flem274*]

Only problem if Southee disappears now is that, with Jamieson injured, we are left with an attack of Henry + noobs. Jamieson's injury really is so deflating.

Hooray for Henry, probably his second best test innings performance (it's hard to beat 7/23).

Yeah but is what it is. We can play past it heroes like Southee and lose, mid af domestic cricketers like Kuggeleijn and lose, or allow for the 25 year olds to face a steep learning curve but at least we're moving forward.

In my mvp thread research, it brought home to me how short a test bowler window of competence is (and I mean competence as in sub 35 average years). You get 5 years out of the standard quick, with a couple of poor years either side of that window due to being raw or fading.

So you have to use pace bowlers while they're hot. We don't, we see them have a good domestic season then demand 3 more like it. That leaves you with about 2 competent years left unless they're an outlier like the nz and aus trios or Anderson/Broad.

O'Rourke is close to his 5 year run. So are Sears and Fisher.Smith might have used 2 of his. It's time.

 

[Athlai]

Predict the score at stumps

161/5

 

[Zinzan]

Predict the score at stumps

Australia 14/1 with a lead of 280ish

 

[_Ed_]

Pretty sure he's averaging decently with the bat in that period too if my memory serves.

Yeah, 275 runs @ 25 in those same 12 tests (three fifties).

 

[Skyliner]

‘20 overs where NZ didn’t bowl one bowl to Hazelwood at his stumps’. (Haddin audibly sniggering in the background.)

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Obviously an outsider but are we seeing the end of Southee? Looks toothless this NZ summer. Sad to see a champ bowling like that. Guess being captain gives him more leeway though.

 

[Athlai]

I don't think dropping Southee prior to this series (with Jamieson out injured) was even remotely on the cards tbh, even from a form perspective.

Looks pretty clear it should be his last summer though.

 

[King Kane]

Obviously an outsider but are we seeing the end of Southee? Looks toothless this NZ summer. Sad to see a champ bowling like that. Guess being captain gives him more leeway though.

He's been a great bowler for NZ for a long time but when even Hazlewood is smacking him easily through the covers it might be time to call it quits.

You would hate to see him tarnish his career by carrying on too long.

 

[SteveNZ]

I don't think dropping Southee prior to this series (with Jamieson out injured) was even remotely on the cards tbh, even from a form perspective.

Looks pretty clear it should be his last summer though.

Nah, you couldn't drop him. He's not in the best 4-5 bowlers in the country anymore, but with KJ out there's no way you could drop him.

Next opening bowler off the ranks has to be Nathan Smith. O'Rourke is a first change (lacks control to bowl with new ball) and Kuggeleijn ain't it, either.

 

[SteveNZ]

‘20 overs where NZ didn’t bowl one bowl to Hazelwood at his stumps’. (Haddin audibly sniggering in the background.)

Seriously? That is dire.

By that, I mean Brad Haddin being allowed to be audible, or even in our country at all.

 

[Athlai]

He's been a great bowler for NZ for a long time but when even Hazlewood is smacking him easily through the covers it might be time to call it quits.

You would hate to see him tarnish his career by carrying on too long.

Next Test is his 100th. Would hope he sees it at the right time to bow out. Still can be in the mix for the T20 world cup too.

 

[Prince EWS]

Nah, you couldn't drop him. He's not in the best 4-5 bowlers in the country anymore, but with KJ out there's no way you could drop him.

Next opening bowler off the ranks has to be Nathan Smith. O'Rourke is a first change (lacks control to bowl with new ball) and Kuggeleijn ain't it, either.

Dougeh.

 

[Athlai]

Nah, you couldn't drop him. He's not in the best 4-5 bowlers in the country anymore, but with KJ out there's no way you could drop him.

Next opening bowler off the ranks has to be Nathan Smith. O'Rourke is a first change (lacks control to bowl with new ball) and Kuggeleijn ain't it, either.

I'd like to see Southee/Henry/Smith/O'Rourke next game or Santa I guess

 

[straw man]

Southee has taken 2 wickets at 137 & a SR of 252 in his 2.5 Tests this season in spite of taking the new ball, and choosing when to bowl. We honestly think the next level down, the likes of Smith, Duffy, Ferguson would do worse?

Ideally you'd stagger bringing on new bowlers, rather than suddenly having an attack of Henry plus three fresh faces. Southee's form is woeful, obviously I agree with that - and the timing is terrible when we've lost Jamieson (and Wagner) at the same time too. It would be very convenient if he could just be decent for the next 12 months before bowing out.

Someone like O'Rourke could use 18 months in the side as the junior guy before more is asked of him i.e. when another 23 year old is added. It does help that both Duffy and to a lesser extent Smith have played plenty of FC cricket, so you'd hope one of them would get up to speed quickly.

Winter tours to the subcontinent this year aren't there?

 

[straw man]

Yeah but is what it is. We can play past it heroes like Southee and lose, mid af domestic cricketers like Kuggeleijn and lose, or allow for the 25 year olds to face a steep learning curve but at least we're moving forward.

In my mvp thread research, it brought home to me how short a test bowler window of competence is (and I mean competence as in sub 35 average years). You get 5 years out of the standard quick, with a couple of poor years either side of that window due to being raw or fading.

So you have to use pace bowlers while they're hot. We don't, we see them have a good domestic season then demand 3 more like it. That leaves you with about 2 competent years left unless they're an outlier like the nz and aus trios or Anderson/Broad.

O'Rourke is close to his 5 year run. So are Sears and Fisher.Smith might have used 2 of his. It's time.

Partly agree, I just don't want to see an attack that has three very raw bowlers like O'Rourke in it. One is great. But Henry plus O'Rourke, Sears and Fisher (for arguments sake) would be all kinds of awful, even though the latter three have plenty of potential. They probably wouldn't learn anything in that environment either, unless Henry is the world's best tutor.

Duffy and Smith are more experienced so are worth a look, in addition to retaining O'Rourke.

 

[Athlai]

Sears instead of Kuggs could've been good in this one

 

[straw man]

Sears instead of Kuggs could've been good in this one

not playing this round for Wellington - workload management again?

Wish we could've given Ferguson or Milne a FC match and then stuck one of them in tbh.