**Official** England in New Zealand 28 Nov-18 Dec 2024 - 3 Tests

[Bahnz]

Given how Hagley normally plays, if England do bat first a fly slip is likely to be very important.

 

[Prince EWS]

Yeah. I was thinking that last year when his son got called up. I was wondering if O’Rourke senior was the last ever 'unlucky not to be a blackcap' (because that is impossible now, with 3 formats and JAM).

Greg Hay?

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

Supposedly Ollie Robinson passport is expired and would have been called up for this game if not for that.

Pretty stupid on his part to not renew his passport after he was India with the lions earlier this year!

Lmao

 

[_Ed_]

Greg Hay?

Was going to post exactly this. Beat me to it.

 

[Binkley]

My recollection of Patrick O’Rourke was that he ran very hot or very cold. He would be bowling well for Wellington, but the second international honours were being mentioned he would break down or start bowling absolute trash. This is based on very faulty memory though, rather than bothering to spend two minutes checking the hard data.

 

[Immenso]

My recollection of Patrick O’Rourke was that he ran very hot or very cold. He would be bowling well for Wellington, but the second international honours were being mentioned he would break down or start bowling absolute trash. This is based on very faulty memory though, rather than bothering to spend two minutes checking the hard data.

Finished at age 28. Only played 4 seasons.
Those last 2 seasons were presumably injury effected.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

My recollection of Patrick O’Rourke was that he ran very hot or very cold. He would be bowling well for Wellington, but the second international honours were being mentioned he would break down or start bowling absolute trash. This is based on very faulty memory though, rather than bothering to spend two minutes checking the hard data.

He only played 29 FC games over 4 seasons. Last Wellington game at the age of 28. Averaged sub-30 with the ball in every season, but I suspect that wasn't so unusual at the time. Took 4-55 in his final Wellington game (a very low-scorer vs. CD).

As a comparison, Michael Sears (Ben's dad) took 52 @28.8 in 20 matches. David Leonard (Adam Leonard's father as it happens) was playing around the same time and played 43 matches for CD taking 112 wickets at 27.56. Alistair Alcock played 9 matches for CD taking 43 @23.53. I just suspect that the bar was quite different at the time and that pitches were generally more conducive to seamers achieving lower bowling averages.

 

[Immenso]

Yes. Shell Trophy bowling averages in circa 1989 to 1993 were like what Sheffield Shield bowling averages are at the moment.

 

[Bahnz]

Is Stokes fit to bowl at the moment?

 

[Immenso]

I guess you could say McCullum himself was initially an 'attributes pick' at international level.

He was picked to play ODI cricket for NZ in the Australian tri-series with this sort of List A record (because he scored a run-a-ball maiden century 1 month before that ODI debut in a different format, FC cricket).

But I would expect England to have a bigger depth pool to not need to go to NZ style extremes of the 90s and 00s.

 

[Flem274*]

I'm not sure it's strange O'Rourke senior retired early. That was before domestic contracts, so loads of guys probably decided they didn't want to be 30 with a light CV.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Greg Hay?

Also Derek De Boorder in pre-Watling era

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Pre match beers, has to be done. Can't wait for this.

 

[SteveNZ]

Also Derek De Boorder in pre-Watling era

Derek ruined his game early on by trying to bat conservatively - he modelled his game on Todd Astle (when he was an opener) bizarrely enough. As an U19 batter he was devastating.
Toured the US on a T20 tour but never played, and just never quite did enough. Should have been ahead of Kruger around that time 2012 or so, but wasn't

 

[mackembhoy]

My memory might be playing tricks here, but had Mike Gatting made a FC hundred before being called up for the 1977/78 tour of Pakistan?
I vaguely remember reading that it came down to a choice between Gatting and Gower for that tour. Where it gets a bit fuzzy is a discussion about Gatting's higher county average in 1977 vs. Gower's track record including a FC hundered or two.


Mike Atherton's another name that springs to mind when he was thrown in against Australia in 1989, when he was clearly not ready. I think he may have made a FC hundred, but I'm not completely sure.

I completely missed this when sharing the Cricinfo tweet and the posts above it.

Just remember someone asked the question about when was the last time.

Incredible memory reserves there!

 

[mackembhoy]

NZ team announced, got to feel for Will Young after POTS. But I don't really see how else he gets picked.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1861662769470452082

 

[Neil Young]

He only played 29 FC games over 4 seasons. Last Wellington game at the age of 28. Averaged sub-30 with the ball in every season, but I suspect that wasn't so unusual at the time. Took 4-55 in his final Wellington game (a very low-scorer vs. CD).

I was a rabid Wellington fan at that time and i don't recall ever lamenting the fact O'Rourke was missing out on higher honours. The only thing I remember about him is his odd bowling action. Bumrah straight arm like, I think.

 

[mackembhoy]

Madness having Bethall at 3

I imagine how the convo came about

Big Brendan: We need a number 3 with some pedigree
Stokes: Well Bethy just sank an eagle on the 4th hole yesterday
BB: Get the man in, We will come up with something in the press, The Barmy Army, Nas and Ian Ward will fall for it
BS: I will tell him the news

Well your not far wrong with this

I wonder if they are playing up to it to piss people off

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1861680284913070324

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1861479662116847887

 

[NZTailender]

NZ team announced, got to feel for Will Young after POTS. But I don't really see how else he gets picked.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1861662769470452082

Still madness that they're continuing to give Blundell #6. I guess if they moved him to 7, though, it'd signal a loss of faith on some level which wouldn't help his mindset. Assume they'll back him in position until they eventually drop him or he jumps.

 

[GIMH]

Yo my fellow Anglos, am I Sky Sportsing or TNTing tonight?