New Zealand Off Season 2014

[RxGM]

Dija now averaging 19 from 8 innings for Essex. Meanwhile, another day, another decent haul in the county championship for Jeets.

With his signing with the Renegades I wonder if he has given up on test cricket, which would be a shame as in 12 months time there will likely be an opening at the number 5 position.

 

[Kippax]

Departures leave hole in Canterbury Wizards | Stuff.co.nz

Neil Broom's return may be a coup for Canterbury Cricket, but they will need more than the former international to offset an exodus of batting talent.

Former Black Caps Dean Brownlie and Rob Nicol are both leaving, as is wicket-keeper/batsman Brad Cachopa, while Shanan Stewart retired at the end of last season.

Canterbury's once seasoned batting line-up could have a distinct green look about it this summer, especially if the in-form Tom Latham spends more of the season with the international side as expected.

Brownlie is heading to Northern Districts where he will open the batting and attempt to push for a recall into the national team.

Nicol is returning to Auckland and it is understood he has been offered the captaincy as replacement for the retired Gareth Hopkins.

Cachopa, too, is returning to Auckland.

It is understood discussions were held with Brownlie for him to stay in Canterbury and bat at the top of the order, but it wasn't just a chance to open which lured him north.

 

[MichaelJ2000]

2014/15 Contract prediction

NZ

B McCullum
Taylor
Williamson
Southee
Boult
Watling
Anderson
Neesham
Mills
McClenaghan
Latham
N McCullum
Sodhi
Wagner
Ronchi
Guptill
Henry
Rutherford
Munro
Milne/Craig

ND

Flynn
Kuggelijn
Mitchell
Devcich
Brownlie
Wilson
Aldridge
Carter
Santner
J Boult
Popli
Baker
Verma
Christopherson/Horne/Bassett-Graham

Auckland

Bates
B Cachopa
Nicol
de Grandhomme
Kitchen
Quinn
McIntosh
Raval
Nethula
Hira
Grobbelaar
Ferguson
Craig Cachopa
An Overseas Pace bowler?

CD

Hay
How
D Bracewell
Noema-Barnett
Patel
Cachopa
Small
Smith
Van Wyk
Wheeler
Cleaver
Rance
Robinson
Milne?

Wellington

Arnel
Brodie
Franklin
Gillespie
Mckay
Murdoch
Papps
Patel
Pollard
Blundell
Tugaga
Woodcock
Walsh
Elliot

Canterbury

Astle
Bennett
Ellis
Van Beek
Mccone
McEwen
Nicolls
Young
Fulton
Broom
Worker
Cam Fletcher
Jamieson
McConchie/Benton

Otago

Beard
M Bracewell
Butler
deBoorder
J Duffy
McMillian
Redmond
Robertson
Ryder
Scott
Wells
Soper
R Duffy
Craig? (Seifert)

These are pretty loose predictions at the moment. I think that there could be a new contract system which allows associations to contract between 14-16 players.

There are quite a few cloudy patches for me:

- George Worker returning to CD
- Hira returning to Auckland
- M Bracewell moving to Canterbury
- Cam Fletcher taking the keepers role at Canterbury
- Nethula returning to Auckland
- Raval returning to CD
- Carl Cachopa returning to Auckland
- Will Young moving to Canterbury
- Who will take over as ND as keeper if Fletcher leaves? Ben Horne, Jonathan Bassett-Graham, Dane Cleaver or Rory Christopherson?

A bit early to spark up this debate, but the movements have got me thinking a bit.

 

[BackFootPunch]

Reckon Brad Rodden would get a contract over Ryan Duffy for Otago. Would be surprised to see all three of Butler, Scott and McMillan get one too. Think they'll look to bring in some younger quicks (likely from elsewhere). Having all those three older guys is a pretty huge risk.

 

[Blocky]

Mathieson will still get contracted at CD on pace potential alone.
Josef Walker will probably be in the mix for a contract at ND.
Don't see Milne picking up an NZ contract this year.

Ben Horne hasn't been keeping and is also an Auckland player, not an ND player. His club is Parnell. You'll likely see Owen Ivins take the gloves.

 

[MichaelJ2000]

Mathieson will still get contracted at CD on pace potential alone.
Josef Walker will probably be in the mix for a contract at ND.
Don't see Milne picking up an NZ contract this year.

Ben Horne hasn't been keeping and is also an Auckland player, not an ND player. His club is Parnell. You'll likely see Owen Ivins take the gloves.

Ben Horne keeps for Parnell and sometimes for Auckland A's. It isn't uncommon for smooth transitions between Auckland and ND.

I always thought Walker was a better spinner than Boult, but I don't see him picking up a contract with Sodhi, Santner, Devcich and Boult all likely to be used in Plunket Sheild as per last season. Although I would expect Walker to play a bit of PS this season.

 

[RxGM]

Going specifically through that Auckland side, Rob O'Donnell must surely be a lock in, and it will be interesting to see how Matt manages Ben Horne.

Though I agree Hira is likely to be forced on Auckland by NZ selectors, Im no so certain about Nethula.
Will be a huge backwards step to take Nicol back, but that is inline with Auckland selection over the last decade.
The other players who will be sniffing about contract time will be Bartlett and the young Eden Roskill quick - Randyll I think his name is

Edit: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/10184828/Departures-leave-hole-in-Canterbury-Wizards

I hadn't seen this article though I don't take back my words that Nicol returning to Auckland is a backwards step,

 

[MichaelJ2000]

Going specifically through that Auckland side, Rob O'Donnell must surely be a lock in, and it will be interesting to see how Matt manages Ben Horne.

Though I agree Hira is likely to be forced on Auckland by NZ selectors, Im no so certain about Nethula.
Will be a huge backwards step to take Nicol back, but that is inline with Auckland selection over the last decade.
The other players who will be sniffing about contract time will be Bartlett and the young Eden Roskill quick - Randyll I think his name is

Rumour has it Auckland are setting up a development contract scheme. Guys like Brett Randall and Rob O'Donnell (who has not really justified selection other than his 2012 U19 world cup) would fall under that category. Dean Bartlett would fill up a position in their contract list, however I am under the impression Auckland are looking abroad for another seamer. Although it is all really just speculation at this stage.

 

[RxGM]

Rumour has it Auckland are setting up a development contract scheme. Guys like Brett Randall and Rob O'Donnell (who has not really justified selection other than his 2012 U19 world cup) would fall under that category. Dean Bartlett would fill up a position in their contract list, however I am under the impression Auckland are looking abroad for another seamer. Although it is all really just speculation at this stage.

Im not convinced that Rob O'Donnell will miss out on a full contract there always seams to be a couple of players each cycle that get shoulder tapped for moving up the grades based on the mythical concept of potential, and really don't have to be successful to be promoted. I think that O'Donnell probably falls into the category like Ish Sodhi did.

But it sounds like you have your ear closer to the ground than I do.

 

[MichaelJ2000]

Im not convinced that Rob O'Donnell will miss out on a full contract there always seams to be a couple of players each cycle that get shoulder tapped for moving up the grades based on the mythical concept of potential, and really don't have to be successful to be promoted. I think that O'Donnell probably falls into the category like Ish Sodhi did.

But it sounds like you have your ear closer to the ground than I do.

Haha no I feel like you are probably right. I am not sure what they will do with O'Donnell. It would be strange if he were stripped of a contract assuming it was based on potential. However I feel like they are having a bit of a re-vamp.

 

[Flem274*]

There are quite a few cloudy patches for me:

- George Worker returning to CD
- Hira returning to Auckland
- M Bracewell moving to Canterbury
- Cam Fletcher taking the keepers role at Canterbury
- Nethula returning to Auckland
- Raval returning to CD
- Carl Cachopa returning to Auckland
- Will Young moving to Canterbury
- Who will take over as ND as keeper if Fletcher leaves? Ben Horne, Jonathan Bassett-Graham, Dane Cleaver or Rory Christopherson?

A bit early to spark up this debate, but the movements have got me thinking a bit.

Are these confirmed, rumour, or just predictions?

Bracewell and Young would be huge losses for their provinces. No way should they let them go easily.

 

[Kippax]

O?Donnell warms up for U19 WC in style | News | Cricket Blogs, Opinions & Analysis | Wisden India

Busy working out individual and team strategies with the Under-19 World Cup looming, Robert O’Donnell got the shock of his life earlier in the week when he was summoned to play for New Zealand XI against the visiting Indians in the two-day match at the Cobham Oval here. “Tears of joy” when the call came gave way to confidence and delight after he made 80 on Sunday’s (February 2) first day to warm up for the ‘lesser’ battles ahead in the junior World Cup

O’Donnell, the Under-19 captain, was aggressive without looking to be so as he handled the experienced Indian bowling attack with great élan. He hasn’t made his first-class debut yet, but on the back of this innings, it can be safely said that it won’t be long before the breakthrough arrives.

As much at ease in front of the media as he was facing up to Zaheer Khan and company, O’Donnell broke the Indian bowling down beautifully. “I didn’t actually get to face (Ishwar) Pandey but he bowled very well to the left-handers. He looked a very handy, steady bowler. In terms of pace, (Umesh) Yadav hurried us up a little bit and that’s why he got a wicket with the short ball; he also swung the ball early. Ishant (Sharma) also bounced the ball, which is what he is going to do given his height. As soon as you start looking to play them down the ground, you give yourself a better option,” he said.

“Zaheer bowled very well to the left-right combination. Obviously, he moves the ball both ways. He had a very good mindset in terms of bowling to the left-hander. He sort of set him up, swinging the ball in and out. We always knew that he was going to be smart in what he did; he is not, obviously, a young campaigner. We just looked to try and play him as straight as possible, try and leave well. George Worker left very well early in his innings, which actually just made Zaheer bowl just a little bit tighter, which allowed us to get ones on the leg side.”

Almost in awe of how R Ashwin operated, O’Donnell, clearly not having played spin of such quality before, said, “Ashwin bowled extremely well today. He only bowled a handful of overs but he just knew exactly what he was doing with the ball. Playing spin is a really big thing. You guys know what you are doing in terms of what the pitch is like. Today, we had a pitch that bounced and Ashwin actually bowled a lot of topspinners, which is a lot harder to get down the wicket to because of the bounce. Just the way the Indian spinners adapt very quickly and the way they change the pace depending on the wickets they are bowling on makes them very hard to play.”

Booooooo. You speak fancy, and the country's fresh out of openers, but you lack Devcich's blue-collar versatility.

 

[MichaelJ2000]

Are these confirmed, rumour, or just predictions?

Bracewell and Young would be huge losses for their provinces. No way should they let them go easily.

Rumours.

 

[Howsie]

Ben Horne keeps for Parnell and sometimes for Auckland A's. It isn't uncommon for smooth transitions between Auckland and ND.

I always thought Walker was a better spinner than Boult, but I don't see him picking up a contract with Sodhi, Santner, Devcich and Boult all likely to be used in Plunket Sheild as per last season. Although I would expect Walker to play a bit of PS this season.

Yeah, not a chance he picks up a contract. He's a better spinner then all of those all rounders but he's not exactly the most focused guy going around.

Shame about Seifert moving on, he obvs would've got the gig this season. Wouldn't mind seeing Dane Cleaver join his cousin up these ways though, always liked the look of him. Can't have a scrub like Christopherson play out the entire season.

 

[Flem274*]

So it's true then, Seifert went to Otago to sit behind de Boorder like the rumour above?

Bizarre choice. ND, Canterbury and Auckland are where the keeper gaps are.

Joe Carter should move. Everyone knows the fastest way into the test team is as an opener, he was a youth opener and now he'll continue batting at three below Flynn and Brownlie. He's a young guy with a good start to his FC career: he should definitely consider looking elsewhere imo. CD, Wellington and Canterbury don't have stable and/or established partnerships.

 

[Howsie]

Yeah he's gone. Doubt he'll sit long, McCullum played a part in getting him down there. He'll play as a batsman regardless.

One guy who should think about moving is Brad Wilson IMO. Scored SFA last season, shouldn't really get much of a sniff this season.

 

[Flem274*]

Verma should move too since ND don't seem to rate him very highly.

 

[Flem274*]

Just went looking for this back in the thread.

New Zealand A squad for tour to England
BJ Watling (c) - Northern Knights
Hamish Bennett - Canterbury Wizards
Dean Brownlie - Canterbury Wizards
Colin de Grandhomme - Auckland Aces
Anton Devcich - Northern Knights (returns after one-day matches)
Grant Elliott - Wellington Firebirds
Matt Henry - Canterbury Wizards
Scott Kuggeleijn - Northern Knights
Tom Latham - Canterbury Wizards
Adam Milne - Central Stags
Daryl Mitchell - Northern Knights
Colin Munro - Auckland Aces (returns after one-day matches)
Hamish Rutherford - Otago Volts
Ish Sodhi - Northern Knights (returns after one-day matches)

Added to the NZA squad for the two three-day matches:
Todd Astle - Canterbury Wizards
Michael Bracewell - Otago Volts
Mark Craig - Otago Volts

Wat? I expected some of the unpopular with CW selections (Devcich) but didn't Elliott come close to being dropped last season before one score?

He was a good domestic allrounder in his prime (and a good ODI allrounder for a bit too) but no matter whether you're looking at the NZ seconds or the NZ developments, he's not in either side atm.

He's not even the best allrounder in his own domestic side.

 

[RxGM]

I think the NZA squad is essentially a trial for the WC squad. Elliott was in the side 12 months ago, and I guess they would like to see him back in the side, for experience etc so they are giving him every opportunity, that's my read of it anyway.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

I see Franklin has picked up a contract with Notts to replace Peter Siddle. Looks like they might only use him for 20:20s though.