Things like this make me think maybe global warming is realThe weather being so hot in kiwi summers now may see our conditions change a bit in future
Makes you wonder if CdG hasn't been drifting away would he have played instead of Rachin and Patel instead of one of the quicks.It is genuinely questionable I think given what is known about the Bay Oval surface. It’s the driest most spin friendly surface in NZ (qt least for internationals, and Mitchell Santner played significant roles in NZ’s last 2 wins there. I don’t actually know if Ajaz would’ve made a significant impact. Quite likely, he plays and the game ends largely the same. But it’s I think a tad more of a debate than the “It’s in NZ, play 4 quicks” selectors line of thinking imo.
No.Makes you wonder if CdG hasn't been drifting away would he have played instead of Rachin and Patel instead of one of the quicks.
Nah. I do think Kippax has a point about the type of coach these guys need. Someone who’ll enforce some standards ffs.Stephen Fleming wants to be New Zealand coach just hire him
The attitude has been most concerning for a while. This has been highlighted by the lack of application applied with the bat by otherwise useful batting tailenders. That has been the most visible sign of a shift in attitude. No longer trying to make the most of what we have.Thing is, in a lot of ways individual performances haven’t dropped that much. Like, we annihilated SA and Bangladesh in the tests we won compared to the tests they won, so across those series most players would come away with improved stats despite the overall results being very disappointing. What has happened (which tbf is an NZ tendency we may never have truly shaken) is we are losing every big moment and therefore every game it is possible to lose, even when the likelihood of us ****ing up is like 2%. It’s tactics, effort and attitude more than skills. That should be encouraging really, but it’s not because I think these weaknesses have long been a big part of our make up.
The great NZ team like the great Pakistani team, sorta sucks sometimesThe attitude has been most concerning for a while. This has been highlighted by the lack of application applied with the bat by otherwise useful batting tailenders. That has been the most visible sign of a shift in attitude. No longer trying to make the most of what we have.
There's complacency, or some weird denial. How often does it get trotted out "full credit to x, they played a blinder" type response like - there's nothing actually wrong, we just got outplayed once and we couldn't do anything about it ? it keeps happening, and losing after posting 500+ is unconscionable.The attitude has been most concerning for a while. This has been highlighted by the lack of application applied with the bat by otherwise useful batting tailenders. That has been the most visible sign of a shift in attitude. No longer trying to make the most of what we have.
We're sucking more often though, so now it isn't an exception to the rule - it's becoming a rule.The great NZ team like the great Pakistani team, sorta sucks sometimes
The scariest thing from a long-term point of view was that for so long from 2014-2021, you had that feeling about the NZ team that they'd find a way to win. There was a real optimism and confidence about the way the team played. Now things are rapidly backsliding to the way they were in the 2008-2012 era (though obviously with a much better side) where the team keeps fumbling dominant positions, and the belief just looks totally absent after the opposition have a good hour of play.Thing is, in a lot of ways individual performances haven’t dropped that much. Like, we annihilated SA and Bangladesh in the tests we won compared to the tests they won, so across those series most players would come away with improved stats despite the overall results being very disappointing. What has happened (which tbf is an NZ tendency we may never have truly shaken) is we are losing every big moment and therefore every game it is possible to lose, even when the likelihood of us ****ing up is like 2%. It’s tactics, effort and attitude more than skills. That should be encouraging really, but it’s not because I think these weaknesses have long been a big part of our make up.