NZ Bowlers

[Loony BoB]

After watching the test match, I gotta say I'm concerned. Can an NZ'er fill me in on the situation? I got the following names after a quick browse...

NZ's best bowlers in the last domestic season:
WICKETS: J Franklin, M Gillespie, W Wisneski, W McSkimming, B Scott, C Martin, E Thompson, L Hamilton, AAdams, J Wilson, B Martin, S Cunis
AVERAGE: N Broom, S Styris, C Harris, C McMillan, E Thompson, J Wilson, K Mills, W Wisneski, A Barnes, S Whiteman, H Davis, H Shaw
S/RATE: S Styris, S Whiteman, E Thompson, J Wilson, C McMillan, H Davis, K Mills, A Adams, A Penn, W Wisneski, J Franklin, C Harris

Qualification: 50 overs AND 10 wickets
AVERAGE: C Harris, E Thompson, J Wilson, K Mills, W Wisneski, A Barnes, J Franklin, A Adams, M Orchard, M Gillespie, M Mason, A Penn
S/RATE: E Thompson, J Wilson, K Mills, A Adams, A Penn, W Wisneski, J Franklin, C Harris, I O'Brien, M Gillespie, A Barnes, K Walmsley

Obviously some international players wouldn't have been there all season, but can anyone tell me about the rest of them?

Not surprising that Butler bowled 86 overs, only managed 6 wickets at an average of 43.16 and a S/R of 86.0. Did I say I never liked that guy? Eh heh. And Andre Adams, is he healed up yet? His figures aren't bad and he adds a lot of flavour in his bowling. His average was 21.87 with a S/R of 42.5 after 170 overs in 6 matches - surely he's available? He does, after all, still have a bowling average of 17.5 in test cricket. And against England, too! I miss that guy so match, I thought he was awesome and he disappeared.

 

[anzac]

James Franklin IMO missed the tour as a result of the 14 man squad & the decision to take Bond & heal him on the way.............

I've been a fan of his for some time - he has played a couple of Tests some years ago like C Martin, then got his ODI call up in the VB Series that made Bond a household name - unfortunately for Franklin Limited Overs cricket is not his strong point in the bowling stakes...........

at the time of his call up he was being touted by the scribes as a candidate to fill the allrounder gap when Cairns retired, as he bats at #5 for Wellington...

he offers a different line of attack being a lefty, but has that fatal NZL malaise re lack of pace - he's about the same sort of pace as Oram & Tuffey.....has been able to get some swing in the past but not so often nowadays..........

Gillespie is his bowling partner in Wellington & he got a call up to the NZL 'A' side v SRL 'A', but I do not know much more about him.........

Scott was perhaps the surprise package of the season as I think he topped the ODI wicket takers.............he's a lefty from Otago, but I do not know much more than that - I think this was only his 2nd full season or thereabouts..........

Wisneski & McSkimming are military medium pacers so far as I know, and neither are any real potential for international callup

Wilson is Jeff of All Black fame...........great start to the season but fell away with injury.............

Adams was dropped after some poor performances re his line & length - he got a lot of his success 'buying' wickets with poor shot selection / execution, as opposed to many genuine wicket taking type deliveries..........

B Martin is left arm orthodox spin from ND (like Vettori)..........reportedly a shorter player who gets more loop & spin on the ball...........a firm favorite for many to take over from Vettori...........

I have no info at all re Thompson...........Butler had a decidedly ordinary domestic season................

 

[Loony BoB]

I'd like to see Adams given another shot. Buying wickets or not, he's got a lot of them and he gets them fast. Obviously he must be doing something right. I think he has a real aggression that our current NZ bowlers all lack. Even if he might go expensive, he really gives it to the batsmen and he doesn't give up, he's always fighting back for more and more. To only play one test and get 6 wickets at 17.5 a piece, just to be dropped... always seemed a bit on the harsh side to me. Especially as he's in the top ten wicket takers in the domestic season. Maybe he has a talent for making people play foolish shots? That's still a great way to take wickets!

Interesting to see Jeff Wilson doing so well, you can't help but be happy at that. Pity about the injury. Bruce Martin has always made me wonder, although I can only wait and see, since there's no chance of me ever seeing him perform for a long time coming while I live in Scotland. Franklin does seem good, but it sounds like more of the same... something that I feel we need to change (hence I want Adams back, as he uses a different style of aggressive bowling than the conservative bowling of our current gang).

It'll be interesting to hear about the other chaps as time goes by. Especially that E Thompson guy, great record in the last season with top strike rate and 2nd best average of the players with over 50 overs and 10 wickets.

Did I just say chaps? Good Lord.

 

[Langeveldt]

Interesting, as a neutral i would be most worried about facing the following attack...

Tuffey
Bond/Butler
Cairns
Franklin
Vettori

 

[chicane]

What happened to Paul Hitchcock? And Matthew Mason?

 

[nibbs]

What happened to Paul Hitchcock? And Matthew Mason?

not good enough...

 

[Loony BoB]

Interesting, as a neutral i would be most worried about facing the following attack...

Tuffey
Bond/Butler
Cairns
Franklin
Vettori

Butler. Tsk. Most overrated bowler I've known NZ to produce. Look! His bowling averages are 35.08, 53.85, 28.72 and 41.40! Awful. Nothing remotely close to international standards for a specialist bowler.

I'd be nervous facing (in tests, as a bowling attack): Bond, Vettori, Tuffey, Adams and Cairns. I'd be most nervous facing Adams and Bond. 'cause if Bond hits you, it'll be bloody fast, and Adams isn't as fast but dammit, he WILL hit you!

 

[anzac]

What happened to Paul Hitchcock? And Matthew Mason?

it would appear that both are primarily seen as Limited Overs bowlers..........

Mason did get a stint in the 'A' side v SRL & actually got a call up for the 3rd Test v RSA to replace the injured Tuffey. However he had a less than auspicious debut - 22 overs 5 maidens 0 for 105 at an economy rate of over 4.5....

furthermore as I understand it he is a line & length bowler, as opposed to Mills who moves it in the air & off the deck...........

 

[Loony BoB]

I should also mention that Andre Adams has scored 274 against Sri Lanka and has had stints with a couple of Counties and has been acclaimed by many, including Sir Richard Hadlee.

 

[anzac]

Oh Adams has been impressive enough with bat & ball - I just prefer Franklin in principle re his height & different angle of attack.

I'd actually prefer to have another Shayne O'Connor type who can swing the ball at reasonable pace a la Doull..........but have the added advantage of being a lefty..........

 

[Loony BoB]

Oh Adams has been impressive enough with bat & ball - I just prefer Franklin in principle re his height & different angle of attack.

I'd actually prefer to have another Shayne O'Connor type who can swing the ball at reasonable pace a la Doull..........but have the added advantage of being a lefty..........

Ah, what a dream that would be. Bring on another Allot in his prime while you're at it, please.

Wouldn't be surprised if we see both Adams and Franklin starring in the NZ squad in the future. Not sure how old they are, mind you.

 

[PY]

I should also mention that Andre Adams has scored 274 against Sri Lanka and has had stints with a couple of Counties and has been acclaimed by many, including Sir Richard Hadlee.

Made me the first time that was pointed out.

Guess the management have been too busy to get round to it yet.

 

[Langeveldt]

Butler. Tsk. Most overrated bowler I've known NZ to produce. Look! His bowling averages are 35.08, 53.85, 28.72 and 41.40! Awful. Nothing remotely close to international standards for a specialist bowler.

I'd be nervous facing (in tests, as a bowling attack): Bond, Vettori, Tuffey, Adams and Cairns. I'd be most nervous facing Adams and Bond. 'cause if Bond hits you, it'll be bloody fast, and Adams isn't as fast but dammit, he WILL hit you!

Would have put Bond in exclusively if it wasnt for his injury...

 

[_Ed_]

Franklin was only 20ish when he was first selected, so he would only be about 22-23 now, huge future I think, I was very impressed with him in his (so far) brief international career.

Adams is about 27, and I believe he still has a big role to play particularly in the ODIs with his bowling (he once took 5-1, yes 5 wickets for 1, in a provincial game) and powerful hitting.

Mills deserves a crack at tests too, I think he is more suited to them than to the ODIs.

 

[Craig]

Oh Adams has been impressive enough with bat & ball - I just prefer Franklin in principle re his height & different angle of attack.

I'd actually prefer to have another Shayne O'Connor type who can swing the ball at reasonable pace a la Doull..........but have the added advantage of being a lefty..........

I was surprised O'Conner would give the game away when he did, considering he IMO had a very strong chance of being picked on the tour of Sri Lanka...

 

[Craig]

He does, after all, still have a bowling average of 17.5 in test cricket. And against England, too! I miss that guy so match, I thought he was awesome and he disappeared.

Yes and Andrew Strauss has a Test batting average of 97.5.

 

[Kent]

Shane Bond needs to come back brilliantly and stay fit for another 5 years. That's how I'd sum up the current domestic bowling ranks!

Ian Butler has the best action and highest speed of our domestic pacemen, but just doesn't have much bowling nous at all. I presume he bullied his way through the age grades with kids not quick enough to cut or too scared to hook or pull.

I've talked to the odd radio commentator to see if I'm the only one with high hopes for Bruce Martin, and I'm glad to say it's not just me. Unfortunately I don't know how ambitious or serious he is, or what's keeping him in Hamilton when he should've moved to Canterbury ages ago. He needs to get on surfaces where he'll bowl a lot more often, and a few more influential team-mates wouldn't hurt. He could also put the selectors off Wiseman by outbowling him.

 

[Loony BoB]

Yes and Andrew Strauss has a Test batting average of 97.5.

Exactly. Would England drop him? No. Anyone who takes wickets at an average of 17.5 with the ball in their first test should be given another chance, in my opinion. Same with anyone who averages 97.5 with the bat. The difference is that England will be smart enough to nurture Strauss into their side, while Adams was given a pat on the back as he was sent through the door.

I'm just a bit of an Adams fan. Can you tell?

 

[tooextracool]

Exactly. Would England drop him? No. Anyone who takes wickets at an average of 17.5 with the ball in their first test should be given another chance, in my opinion. Same with anyone who averages 97.5 with the bat. The difference is that England will be smart enough to nurture Strauss into their side, while Adams was given a pat on the back as he was sent through the door.

I'm just a bit of an Adams fan. Can you tell?

interestingly it came on another one of those seamer friendly wickets in NZ....just like most of orams wickets have.

 

[Craig]

Exactly. Would England drop him? No. Anyone who takes wickets at an average of 17.5 with the ball in their first test should be given another chance, in my opinion. Same with anyone who averages 97.5 with the bat. The difference is that England will be smart enough to nurture Strauss into their side, while Adams was given a pat on the back as he was sent through the door.

I'm just a bit of an Adams fan. Can you tell?

I'm sure he would of played v Pakistan and in his dream tour of the West Indies (since his parents were born there) except he got stress fractures in the back.

Then he got shoved down the pecking order and lost the plot.