Bonkers, he looks a player, yes he is expensive but we targeted him but he never gives up and bowls wicket taking deliveries. Also knows which end of the bat to hold. The 4 to get off the mark in Wellington will probably never be bettered by him in a test, glorious shot and all timing.So seems as though Smith is going to left out for the 3rd Test
Source: https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/36051...ate-selection-call-third-test-against-england
lol yup...700 test friggin wickets n allCompare and contrast with the ruthlessness of the end of Anderson's test career.
And then we had a bowling attack of Southee-Tickner-Wagner-Kuggleijn (so only 1 swing bowler for a pink ball). If they were going to be stubborn about Boult they could've least shown half a brain cell by giving Duffy a crack.‘While NZ Cricket made it clear it would prioritise contracted players for selection, especially in tests, the absence of Matt Henry and Kyle Jamieson for the first test against England in Mount Maunganui in February 2023 had many fans clamouring for a recall for Boult, which wasn’t forthcoming.
Deaker told Boult he “would have had an utter field day with the fact that you were living 250m away from the ground, they didn’t have an opening attack, you were doing diddly squat and you were available to play. What the hell was all that about?”
Trent Boult: “It was told to me that I'd never play Test cricket again if I ever, well, if I was to go down that path, and there were some pretty stern words from New Zealand Cricket. Yep, there was an interesting process. Well this was two years ago, so yeah, they stuck to their word. They were never going to pick me. It was a shame….I wanted to play. I just got back from Dubai. I had been bowling, I had been playing, and obviously….but yeah, they stood strong on that stance and yeah, obviously didn't select
me to play. But how times have changed now….other guys have handed back contracts and look at what we've got. We've got certain players playing Test cricket without contracts.”
It is actually WORSE than the overhyped end of Warner in Oz last summer and that's saying something.It’s all totally over the top. You look at the way Trent Boult was treated, they refused to select him because he opted out of a central contract, and now blokes do it routinely and still get picked. Why is Southee being adulated like we’ve never seen before(?)
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I haven't followed the Anderson situation that closely but he got a farewell test at Lord's? Took 5 wickets at 85.40 in the Ashes last year. Was 41 years of age and could have easily have been discarded at that point.Compare and contrast with the ruthlessness of the end of Anderson's test career.
This is a fair point, although it's the injustice of it all. But yeah you make a good point. Will Nathan Smith be a much better Test player for one outing before our next v Zim in mid 2025? No. Will Gary Stead be in charge next time? **** me let's hope not. So you are right, we're probably overplaying it to a pointI think it sucks that this is happening to Smith but if it is a one-off game, its kinda understandable at least for me. The real worry is the lack of test cricket there after for the BCs (always funny to say that as an Indian, lol).
Yeah, we probably are. But I just think it sends the wrong message. When a new player comes in and performs the way Smith has, with wholehearted effort in every facet of the game, it should be rewarded.This is a fair point, although it's the injustice of it all. But yeah you make a good point. Will Nathan Smith be a much better Test player for one outing before our next v Zim in mid 2025? No. Will Gary Stead be in charge next time? **** me let's hope not. So you are right, we're probably overplaying it to a point
Oh I couldn't agree more. It's a horrible message. But its long term effects are minimal.Yeah, we probably are. But I just think it sends the wrong message. When a new player comes in and performs the way Smith has, with wholehearted effort in every facet of the game, it should be rewarded.
I want to see us backing our young talent, not putting them at the front of the queue to be dropped.
You're not wrong and I think it was both really. Yes, he was indulged for a final Lords send-off, but it was quite a ruthless curtailing otherwise given that the player and many supporters wanted him to carry on. It's possible that the selectors expected him to drop out like Broad after the Ashes, while also fancying his control in India.I haven't followed the Anderson situation that closely but he got a farewell test at Lord's? Took 5 wickets at 85.40 in the Ashes last year. Was 41 years of age and could have easily have been discarded at that point.