New Zealand Off Season 2014

[hendrix]

It would be fantastic if Henry got that spot.

Imagine if Ronchi got it...

 

[Kippax]

Bit of Wagner -
Northants vs. Nottinghamshire Day Two - YouTube

KW 189 -
Yorkshire v Sussex, LV= County Championship, Day 3, August 17 2014 - YouTube
Yorkshire v Sussex, LV= County Championship Division One, Day Two, August 16 2014 - YouTube

 

[Bahnz]

Cricinfo may not think much of NZA, but they can't get enough of Jeets:

Warwickshire's side on the scorecards sold at Taunton had a formidable look, but the names of Keith Barker, Boyd Rankin and Chris Wright all had to be rapidly scribbled out. Add in Chris Woakes being detained by England and it meant a particular onus on Jeetan Patel.

While he brings rather less razzmatazz than Brian Lara 20 years ago, Patel has unobtrusively developed into the model overseas pro for the 21st Century. His first-class record for Warwickshire is extraordinary: 173 wickets at 26.94, in addition to 1340 runs at 28.51. Though he lacks the mystery of Saeed Ajmal, Patel again bowled with wonderful control and skill.

The duel with Marcus Trescothick felt defining: Warwickshire's best bowler against Somerset's talismanic captain. Three of Somerset's four wins in this season's Championship have been underpinned by a Trescothick century, including a blazing fourth innings hundred at Taunton against Durham here in May.

Trescothick set off in rather more circumspect mood in this innings. It seems unimaginable that he can ever have begun an innings slower: his first run did not come until his 39th ball, when he cut Patel's first delivery of the day away for four.

"Last night I had two overs at him and it was disappointing not to get him - I really wanted that wicket," Patel said while nursing a well-deserved beer after play. Patel imagined that he might snare Trescothick running down the wicket, but had to settle for trapping him on the crease lbw, playing back.

Thereafter, Patel scarcely bowled a loose ball - he yielded only two runs an over - while extracting considerably more rip from the surface than George Dockrell had managed.

 

[Kippax]

Cricket: Cachopa on county fast-track - Sport - NZ Herald News

Promising Auckland batsman Craig Cachopa is trying his hand at English county cricket with the idea of making rapid improvements to his game.

However there's a possible spinoff for England in his move.

The 22-year-old, who captained New Zealand at the 2010 under-19 World Cup, could be eligible for England in a matter of months.

Cachopa is playing for Sussex and has already made an impact, hitting 198 runs in his first four innings at 49.5.

That's not to suggest England would snap him up with indecent haste, and their middle order of Gary Ballance, Ian Bell and Joe Root is becoming a locked-in unit. However, England have never been reluctant to grab players born elsewhere, in Cachopa's case, South Africa.

But his progress is sure to be watched. The opening with Sussex came after Cachopa played minor county cricket. There is an Auckland link through international Luke Wright and veteran batsman Chris Nash, both of whom have played in the domestic T20 competition.

Auckland Cricket chief executive Mark Cameron said Cachopa - whose older brothers Carl and Brad have returned to Auckland for the coming season from Central Districts and Canterbury respectively - remained firmly part of Auckland's programme.

Provinces can have two overseas players for the HRV Cup, and one for the first-class Plunket Shield and 50-over Ford Trophy competitions.

Cameron was confident Cachopa would be involved this season, but not for the entire programme.

"We don't want [him] playing 12 months a year, he'll need a break but he'll play for us at some stage," Cameron said. "We understand the path he's taken for the short or medium term. He wants to fast-track his development, we'd support him in that."

Cachopa, as an England-eligible player, earns Sussex funding support from the England and Wales Cricket Board and does not take up an overseas spot.

Should he play for Auckland this season, he would be treated as an overseas player, and the provinces are likely to make use of him in that capacity.

Last season Cachopa hit 781 first-class runs, at 55, with his last five innings being 70, 118, 36, 209 and 90. He's averaging 50.97 in 23 first-class games and with five hundreds.

A New Zealand A team will be in the United Arab Emirates in November for a series of 50-over games against associate member nations bound for next summer's World Cup, which dovetails with New Zealand's series against Pakistan in the UAE. NZ A will play Scotland, Afghanistan, Ireland and the UAE, then several players will take part in the limited-overs leg of the Pakistan series.

 

[Kippax]

I don't think that's right obvs, what Leggat's said about him potentially playing for England within months.

In other news, Corey Anderson won't play for ND next month, he'll play for Mumbai.

 

[Flem274*]

So Auckland is content to be the third wheel?

He's not yours anymore. If you want him to play HRV for you (why?) then make him play when you want him to play. Don't be worried about him needing a break.

 

[Flem274*]

I don't think that's right obvs, what Leggat's said about him potentially playing for England within months.

In other news, Corey Anderson won't play for ND next month, he'll play for Mumbai.

And if ND suck they'll get talked down as little kiwis out of their depth despite everyone knowing the Indian sides wouldn't last 5 minutes without their stolen players...

God I hate the Champions League sometimes. Nothing but a chance for the IPL sides to dick everyone else and pretend they're wonderful when all they've done is waved their money under the noses of the best players from other teams.

edit: Will ND have Southee?

provided they go in with the best cricketers instead of the moneyball types they're a chance, especially since it's in SA iirc? Anderson is a huge loss though. The batting just isn't the same without him.

 

[Immenso]

Cool. That's the approach I was hoping Chops was taking, but most importantly glad that both he and the Aces are on the same page.

 

[Kippax]

A New Zealand A team will be in the United Arab Emirates in November for a series of 50-over games against associate member nations bound for next summer's World Cup, which dovetails with New Zealand's series against Pakistan in the UAE. NZ A will play Scotland, Afghanistan, Ireland and the UAE, then several players will take part in the limited-overs leg of the Pakistan series.

Doesn't sound like there'll be too many quality players left in the country to provide stiff opposition for Ryder, in Sky's new November HRV Cup.

 

[Immenso]

But of course, gotta assume the only thing that would wedge him permanently out of a comfy county dig is a central contract and a crack at international cricket.

Still plenty of ducks that could get unaligned.

 

[Kippax]

edit: Will ND have Southee?

provided they go in with the best cricketers instead of the moneyball types they're a chance, especially since it's in SA iirc? Anderson is a huge loss though. The batting just isn't the same without him.

Yep Southee was with Rajasthan, and they didn't qualify.

It's in India btw. That South Africa prospect was a thing, but didn't happen in the end.

 

[Prince EWS]

I don't think that's right obvs, what Leggat's said about him potentially playing for England within months.

Indeed; he has to wait seven years. He's right about him not counting as an overseas player in county cricket though.

 

[SteveNZ]

So Auckland is content to be the third wheel?

He's not yours anymore. If you want him to play HRV for you (why?) then make him play when you want him to play. Don't be worried about him needing a break.

I'd be astonished if he's an option for the HRV Cup.

 

[Kippax]

Yeah I can see it, with the two Colins likely to be away with NZ A, and James Fuller delivering that gently-gently 130kph effort last year. Gloucestershire poster theegyptian will be on Fuller's case, about not coming home injured again. Fuller will be down to 125kph.

Cachopa's nuggety straight drives and slop sweeps will be sailing over the 50m boundaries at Eden Park quite nicely for the Aces too, I'll wager.

 

[Kippax]

New Zealand's premier One Day competition the Ford Trophy is returning to the summer holiday period, with the competition taking place in late December and throughout January.

Current champions the Wellington Firebirds kick off the competition against the Mondiale Auckland Aces at Eden Park No. 2 on 27 December 2014. The six teams play eight rounds, culminating in a three-match preliminary finals series. The final will be be played on Sunday 1 February 2015, televised live on SKY Sport.

Cooper says "This schedule is locked in for the next four years. Playing the Ford Trophy during the summer school holiday period is one of the outcomes of the Domestic Cricket Review, which is all about maximising entertainment, commercial and high performance opportunities. This is just one part of a huge summer of cricket and the perfect lead-in to ICC Cricket World Cup 2015."

 

[Prince EWS]

Gloucestershire poster theegyptian will be on Fuller's case, about not coming home injured again. Fuller will be down to 125kph.

so good

 

[SteveNZ]

Yeah I can see it, with the two Colins likely to be away with NZ A, and James Fuller delivering that gently-gently 130kph effort last year. Gloucestershire poster theegyptian will be on Fuller's case, about not coming home injured again. Fuller will be down to 125kph.

Cachopa's nuggety straight drives and slop sweeps will be sailing over the 50m boundaries at Eden Park quite nicely for the Aces too, I'll wager.

They didn't last year..I'd rather they tracked down Luke Vivian's number

 

[Howsie]

provided they go in with the best cricketers instead of the moneyball types they're a chance, especially since it's in SA iirc? Anderson is a huge loss though. The batting just isn't the same without him.

Eh, I wouldn't say it's a huuuuuuge loss. You would rather he be available but it isn't like the team falls apart without him there, as it would without Southee or Boult. His IPL stint was pretty average bar that one knock that funnily enough got Mumbai into this tournament.

It'll be interesting to see not only what the 15 man squad for this tournament is, but the playing XI and how they construct that XI. Who opens, how the middle order will be built, and what will the bowling attack look like. A lot of different options really. My 15 man squad would probably look something like this: Trent Boult, Southee, Flynn, Williamson, Devcich, Mitchell, Watling, Styris, Kuggeleijn, Vettori, Sodhi, Jono Boult, and Hickey. With the two Australian's Dan Harris and Chris Tremain thrown in their too (Laughin is out no?)

Don't really know what XI I'd make out of that. Need to fit four guys into three spots in Flynn, Devcich, Williamson and Harris. I'd play five specialist bowlers though, Boult, Southee, Kuggeleijn, Vettori and Sodhi/Boult all should play IMO.

11. T Boult
10. Sodhi/J Boult
9. Southee
8. Vettori
7. Kuggeleijn

With Styris and Watling at five and six.

 

[Howsie]

They didn't last year..I'd rather they tracked down Luke Vivian's number

Someone to bump the Luke Vivian thread IMO. Would love to know what became of him.

 

[Flem274*]

Eh, I wouldn't say it's a huuuuuuge loss. You would rather he be available but it isn't like the team falls apart without him there, as it would without Southee or Boult. His IPL stint was pretty average bar that one knock that funnily enough got Mumbai into this tournament.

It'll be interesting to see not only what the 15 man squad for this tournament is, but the playing XI and how they construct that XI. Who opens, how the middle order will be built, and what will the bowling attack look like. A lot of different options really. My 15 man squad would probably look something like this: Trent Boult, Southee, Flynn, Williamson, Devcich, Mitchell, Watling, Styris, Kuggeleijn, Vettori, Sodhi, Jono Boult, and Hickey. With the two Australian's Dan Harris and Chris Tremain thrown in their too (Laughin is out no?)

Don't really know what XI I'd make out of that. Need to fit four guys into three spots in Flynn, Devcich, Williamson and Harris. I'd play five specialist bowlers though, Boult, Southee, Kuggeleijn, Vettori and Sodhi/Boult all should play IMO.

11. T Boult
10. Sodhi/J Boult
9. Southee
8. Vettori
7. Kuggeleijn

With Styris and Watling at five and six.

Nah I reckon it's pretty big. Sort of player who can do it all on his own.

Williamson, Flynn, Harris, Styris, Mitchell, Watling for the top six then Southee, Boult, Aldo or an Aussie, Kuggs, Vettori for the attack. If you're feeling brave give Styris four overs and drop a seamer. I wouldn't be trusting Jono Boult or especially Ish in this.