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*Unofficial* New Zealand Black Caps Thread
- Thread starter NZTailender
- Start date
Fuller Pilch
Hall of Fame Member
AWTA
Mike5181
International Captain
It's kind of hard to pick a different team than this. Conway probably has a case for the second opener spot over McCullum despite looking bad the last year and a half. Did well in England, India, Pakistan. lowest average against a team is 27.
Immenso
International Vice-Captain
Looking at NZ's upcoming schedule the next 2 years.
The WTC cycle, is very very heavy in the final home summer, and light the 18 months before that (Bold are the series making up part of the WTC):
This is taking schedule as per ICC FTP ( https://i.imgci.com/db/DOWNLOAD/0000/0045/men-s_ftp_2023_2027.pdf )
Although, wikipedia has us playing 4 teats away v Australia, rather than 3 ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025–2027_ICC_World_Test_Championship )
So. we'll either be playing 15 tests in the WTC (7 home, 8 away), or 16 tests (7 home, 9 away). Which seems cavalier.
The WTC cycle, is very very heavy in the final home summer, and light the 18 months before that (Bold are the series making up part of the WTC):
This is taking schedule as per ICC FTP ( https://i.imgci.com/db/DOWNLOAD/0000/0045/men-s_ftp_2023_2027.pdf )
Although, wikipedia has us playing 4 teats away v Australia, rather than 3 ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025–2027_ICC_World_Test_Championship )
So. we'll either be playing 15 tests in the WTC (7 home, 8 away), or 16 tests (7 home, 9 away). Which seems cavalier.
Immenso
International Vice-Captain
BTW. The 'talk' of teams with the light schedule being advantaged in the WTC rather than teams with the heavy cycle (e.g. England) , which I'm reading a lot about recently with SAF's qualification for the final, makes no sense. The teams too budget to schedule an even number of home tests and away tests are disadvantaged.
I assume the 'talk' is an uninformed hangover from the points system prior to it changing to a percentage.
I assume the 'talk' is an uninformed hangover from the points system prior to it changing to a percentage.
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Immenso
International Vice-Captain
That table above is me trying to make sense of NZ doing the radical thing of scheduling an extra test series during the WTC cycle, and why such a test averse board would be interested in doing that.
As, can see. Our next 6 tests are against very low ranked teams (ZIm and Ire not part of the WTC, and then bottom ranked Windies). So, I can see why we would want a series to toughen up, and transition.
It most likely against SAF. Comparing their 2 schedules below
Media source of the extra 2 tests are in this article: https://www.thepost.co.nz/sport/360...-three-says-nzc-chief-executive-scott-weenink
As, can see. Our next 6 tests are against very low ranked teams (ZIm and Ire not part of the WTC, and then bottom ranked Windies). So, I can see why we would want a series to toughen up, and transition.
It most likely against SAF. Comparing their 2 schedules below
Media source of the extra 2 tests are in this article: https://www.thepost.co.nz/sport/360...-three-says-nzc-chief-executive-scott-weenink
Skyliner
International Debutant
We are definitely playing 4 tests on our next tour of Australia, including a Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
The 4 test venues will be Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/35038...are-four-test-series-australia-2026-27-season
Black Caps to end 27-year drought with Aussie tour
A rare four-test series has been confirmed between the Black Caps and Australia.
www.nzherald.co.nz
Bahnz
Hall of Fame Member
Yeah, the talk is NZC is working on getting a two test series arranged with SA. Will probably also require some negotiation with the ZCB to truncate our tour their in order to squeeze it in. Hope it goes ahead, even if playing tests in SA in August would be pretty ridiculous. The much more obvious opportunity for extra cricket is an away series in WI, but the WICB is unlikely to agree to a test series with a financial pipsqueak like the NZC without NZ making some serious financial concessions on the return tour of NZ next summer.
Immenso
International Vice-Captain
According to that FTP.
You know what would be a cool and elegant solution? A Test Tri-Series between NZ, Zim, Saf of 2 tests against each opponent. So 4 tests each. It would actually fit if they did it that way and all 3 boards worked together to streamline that little window.
(make them 4-dayers)
- SAF are playing a test series away in ZIM in late June.
- Then SAF, NZ, ZIM are playing a T20 tri series in Zim in early July.
- Then NZ play a test series & ODI series in Zim late July to early August.
- Then SAF goes away to Aus to play white ball second week of August.
You know what would be a cool and elegant solution? A Test Tri-Series between NZ, Zim, Saf of 2 tests against each opponent. So 4 tests each. It would actually fit if they did it that way and all 3 boards worked together to streamline that little window.
(make them 4-dayers)
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Conway is a greater talent than Baz?!?!??!
Hand over the stuff you're on, so I can enjoy the rest of the summer on another level
Flem274*
123/5
Conway has an incredible eye, and a better sense of pacing an innings. Baz had every shot and could bosh a better 6 but he took a long time to dial in his game instinct.
Zinzan
Request Your Custom Title Now!
Yep, obviously Wagner > Southee, but especially so with Bond and Boult sharing the new ball.
NZTailender
I can't believe I ate the whole thing
I'm wondering if people are choosing Baz to open based on overall record and ability or for his record as opener, which IMHO isn't as good as Lathams (even when we discount Lathams 'easy' innings) and I think opening accounted for like 1/5 of Baz career. I place more weight of in situ performance over career hence the Latham-Richardson combo for my team, but I do think you need Baz in the middle order, he's the perfect counter attack foil if you have a top order of kane-ross-flem, as opposed to trying to bosh a 6 opening.
Athlai
Not Terrible
20 Test matches as opener is easily enough imo, thats more than McIntosh, How, Bell etc
Bahnz
Hall of Fame Member
Yeah, but he wasn't actually that good as an opener, except when he got to bat on subcontinental highways where he could go full Sehwag. Perhaps if he knew then what we all know now (that hideous slogging is an annoyingly effective strategy because cricket - as it turns out - actually sucks) then he could be in the running.