2024–25 NZ domestic season

[Bahnz]

Plunket Shield round up
Winners
Nick Kelly - has come from nowhere to pick up an intl spot
Mariu - his form tailed away after Christmas but has still accumulated a ridiculous r3cord for an NZ opener
Cleaver - it may be too little too late, but with Blundell's place in question and Hay yet to impress in internationals, Cleaver has made a timely statement.
Hon mentions: Curtis Heaphy, Jayden Lennox

Losers
Severin - started the season as one to keep an eye on, and finished it with his previously impressive FC record in tatters.
Kristian Clarke - averaging 40+ as a new ball bowler is a dreadful look in the Plunket Shield, even if his batting had its moments.
Abass - feels weird to say given his sensational ODI debut, but Abass came back down to earth with a bump in his second full season.
Dale Phillips- seemed to have broken through last season, but had one to forget this year.

Ones to watch
Cam Paul - absolutely gorgeous bowling action and looks handy with the bat
BJ Jacobs - looks a million bucks. Let's hope the promise of millions of bucks doesn't lead to him becoming another t20 merc

 

[Northerner]

A fitting way for one of the all time great NZ cricket careers to end.

Loved Wags as a bowler, always gave it everything, will be sadly missed, but what a way to go out,

 

[NZTailender]

Plunket Shield round up
Winners
Nick Kelly - has come from nowhere to pick up an intl spot
Mariu - his form tailed away after Christmas but has still accumulated a ridiculous r3cord for an NZ opener
Cleaver - it may be too little too late, but with Blundell's place in question and Hay yet to impress in internationals, Cleaver has made a timely statement.
Hon mentions: Curtis Heaphy, Jayden Lennox

Losers
Severin - started the season as one to keep an eye on, and finished it with his previously impressive FC record in tatters.
Kristian Clarke - averaging 40+ as a new ball bowler is a dreadful look in the Plunket Shield, even if his batting had its moments.
Abass - feels weird to say given his sensational ODI debut, but Abass came back down to earth with a bump in his second full season.
Dale Phillips- seemed to have broken through last season, but had one to forget this year.

Ones to watch
Cam Paul - absolutely gorgeous bowling action and looks handy with the bat
BJ Jacobs - looks a million bucks. Let's hope the promise of millions of bucks doesn't lead to him becoming another t20 merc

Team of the tournament:

1. R Mariu
2. J Raval*
3. N Kelly
4. H Nicholls
5. T Bruce
6. D Cleaver+
7. B Hampton
8. L van Beek
9. P Younghusband
10. B Tickner/J Lennox
11. L Dudding

 

[vandem]

Bruce's season had one high point (345 on a flat EPOO in a drawn game), otherwise highest score 41. So no real impact on CD's title chances.

For team of the tournament middle order batting perhaps Thorn Parkes a better choice than Bruce. Parkes was 5th highest run scorer, including 1st / 2nd innings scores of 97*, 85, 97 when moved to middle order after Christmas.

Kuggeleijn could be an alternative pick for Tickner, both had shortened seasons but Kuggs took 27 wickets @ 21 including 5-57 in 4th innings in crucial 20 run win vs Wellington.

Nice to see Lennox have a good FC season, has just turned 30 so perhaps now on Stead's radar ...

 

[Immenso]

Cleaver really gave Mariu and Kelly a bit of a nudge for the top run scorer. Had a fantastic back half of the PS season.

Congratulation to Van Beek on being top wicket taker with 36 wickets at 20.63 (he also had a pretty good season with the bat, got a FC ton and averaged 28)


Some notable all time Plunket Shield movements. Apart from the already discussed Wagner becoming second highest wicket take of all time.

Raval is now currently the 4th highest run scorer.
Kuggeleijn moved above 300 PS wickets.

 

[ataraxia]

Team of the tournament:

1. R Mariu
2. J Raval*
3. N Kelly
4. H Nicholls
5. T Bruce
6. D Cleaver+
7. B Hampton
8. L van Beek
9. P Younghusband
10. B Tickner/J Lennox
11. L Dudding

Not sure what the point of Younghusband is when you've got Raval.

 

[NZTailender]

Team of the tournament:

1. R Mariu
2. J Raval*
3. N Kelly
4. H Nicholls
5. T Bruce
6. D Cleaver+
7. B Hampton
8. L van Beek
9. P Younghusband
10. B Tickner/J Lennox
11. L Dudding

Interestingly they seemed to ignore anyone who played less then 7 or 8 matches for the season, hence Popli's inclusion I guess?? And Rae.

An obvious name not there which is good to see.

 

[Athlai]

Domestic selector picks

Mariu - vandem
Raval - Fuller Pilch
Kelly - Athlai
Popli - Athlai
Cleaver - Ataraxia
Parkes - Fuller Pilch
Hampton - Athlai
van Beek - vandem
Younghusband - NZT
Rae - Bahnz
Dudding - Ataraxia

Straw Man & Heef missing out

 

[straw man]

Raval has turned into a bit of a domestic legend. It's great when someone who doesn't quite make it for NZ goes back to domestic cricket and plays out their senior years dominating at that level. Has to be great for the overall level of the comp.

Also got the meme legspin wickets this season.

 

[NZTailender]

Raval has turned into a bit of a domestic legend. It's great when someone who doesn't quite make it for NZ goes back to domestic cricket and plays out their senior years dominating at that level. Has to be great for the overall level of the comp.

Also got the meme legspin wickets this season.

Someone who possibly deserved a bit better treatment at test level. His form leading into Australia was patchy after some gritty success but then was just jettisoned completely after doing what so many NZ batsmen had done before him: perform poorly over the ditch.

 

[NZTailender]

I knew his numbers were good but this makes him the best all rounder in the country really

 

[ataraxia]

I knew his numbers were good but this makes him the best all rounder in the country really

View attachment 46445

His one-day stats over the same timeframe are just as good. He's been let down by not performing in the Super Smash, without which selecting a 33yo who's been below domestic standard until a couple of years ago is unlikely. His real in to the NZ side is in ODIs, but I think Abbas and Georgeson block that entry.

 

[Prince EWS]

I knew his numbers were good but this makes him the best all rounder in the country really

View attachment 46445

Jeet Raval says hello.