**Official** England in New Zealand

[Dick Rockett]

Yeah, but Wellington's association are a subsidary of NZC - same as Yorkshire are a subsidary of the ECB, and the like. By chain, the groundsman should be doing what NZC want when New Zealand are playing.

The Stadium Trust is an offshoot of the Wellington City Council and the Wellington Regional council. Once again, not actually related to a cricket governing body. Personally, while I don't see anything wrong with preparing pitches to suit your team, I don't think that having a team that's effective primarily on low and slow wickets is something to be satisfied with our to strive for. While disappointed that we lost, the Wellington test was an excellent advertisement for test cricket and the pitch had a lot to do with that.

At any rate, the Wellington pitch didn't hinder our bowlers at all - I think (1st day, 3rd session aside) that our bowlers did a good job - 342 and 293 isn't that great an effort from England's batsmen, the main difference was a shoddy 1st innings effort by New Zealand, brought about in part by excellent bowling by England.

 

[Richard]

IOW - for once, England's seamers did their bloody job and outbowled the opposition's seamers.

Makes a nice change.

 

[Dick Rockett]

IOW

Isle of Wight??

 

[Richard]

Heath will be having a field-day. Think he's actually done that-'un before too.

In other words.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Isle of Wight??

My sentiments exactly

 

[Blakey]

The fastest bowler competition - were the lads spraying it everywhere trying to bowl as fast as possible? How did they rate compared to last years winner?

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

The fastest bowler competition - were the lads spraying it everywhere trying to bowl as fast as possible? How did they rate compared to last years winner?

The accuracy of a couple was woeful. The winner was pretty accurate and fast - he clocked 132 kmh, 2nd place got 131kmh (but was less accurate) and last place was 119kmh. Bearing in mind the strong wind, which wasn't assisting the bowlers, they did well.

 

[Dick Rockett]

The accuracy of a couple was woeful. The winner was pretty accurate and fast - he clocked 132 kmh, 2nd place got 131kmh (but was less accurate) and last place was 119kmh. Bearing in mind the strong wind, which wasn't assisting the bowlers, they did well.

I'd love to have a go in front of the speed gun. They had one up at Kelburn Park the other day as part of some National Bank promotional thing, but it wasn't measured the same way as on telly. The guy was measuring it right behind the stumps, ie. after the ball had pitched on grass. My best was 103km/h. For reference's sake I threw down a couple of offbreaks which read in the high 60s.

 

[Blakey]

The accuracy of a couple was woeful. The winner was pretty accurate and fast - he clocked 132 kmh, 2nd place got 131kmh (but was less accurate) and last place was 119kmh. Bearing in mind the strong wind, which wasn't assisting the bowlers, they did well.

And did I read that you mentioned he was 16 and the top 2 were from Auckland Grammar?

Damn that is pretty fast alright. What do you think of this initiative by NZ cricket?

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

And did I read that you mentioned he was 16 and the top 2 were from Auckland Grammar?

Damn that is pretty fast alright. What do you think of this initiative by NZ cricket?

Yeah. Number 1 was 16 years old and from Auckland Boys. Second may have been 16, but possibly 17 and was also from Auckland Boys.

Its good that NZC are taking an interest in proper pace bowling, though there is a worry that these kids at 16 years of age are putting a fair dose of stress on their bodies and may not last that long. I noticed that the ECB had brought in regulations limiting the number of overs that pace bowlers can bowl per day and per spell up until the age of 18 (as I recall) to prevent early burn out. A similar initiative may be required here if these kids are going to be the next Shane Bond, but in general I'm in favour of encouraging pace.

 

[Dick Rockett]

Damn that is pretty fast alright. What do you think of this initiative by NZ cricket?

It's a gimmick. How about concentrating on bowlers with good line and length? I'd be pissed off if I was topping my local school comp with an average of ten or so, but some lummox who bowls fast gets the coaching session.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

It's a gimmick. How about concentrating on bowlers with good line and length? I'd be pissed off if I was topping my local school comp with an average of ten or so, but some lummox who bowls fast gets the coaching session.

Only one of the six had taken after Heath and employed the scattergun approach. The accuracy was generally very good; especially from the winner.

 

[Smudge]

And wasn't last year's winner Trent Boult, he of NZ under-19 fame?

 

[Days of Grace]

Which is harder?

1. make a bowler who is good at line and length faster?

or.

2. make a speedster better at line and length?

I go for no.2, because, as Ron Dennis (??)said in Formula One, it is much easier to make a quick driver more consistent, then it is to make a consistent driver quicker.

Speed is a more natural thing. Line and length can be practiced.

 

[Days of Grace]

Is anyone else thinking what I'm thinking?

That Southee could in fact come in for Chris Martin?

Martin was off the pace in Wellington and his batting and fielding are somewhat of a liability.

Southee has fresh legs, can bat reasonably well, and can swing the ball.

Am I mad in thinking this?

 

[Flem274*]

Is anyone else thinking what I'm thinking?

That Southee could in fact come in for Chris Martin?

Martin was off the pace in Wellington and his batting and fielding are somewhat of a liability.

Southee has fresh legs, can bat reasonably well, and can swing the ball.

Am I mad in thinking this?

Well yes and no. I don't think Martin will be dropped, he's had one average game but thats it really. I can see Southee usurping one of Martin, Mills or Franklin (our best frontline attack) in a few years though.

 

[Days of Grace]

Martin is the oldest of that trio, so most likely Southee will replace him. Perhaps sooner rather than later.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Yeah. Number 1 was 16 years old and from Auckland Boys. Second may have been 16, but possibly 17 and was also from Auckland Boys.

Its good that NZC are taking an interest in proper pace bowling, though there is a worry that these kids at 16 years of age are putting a fair dose of stress on their bodies and may not last that long. I noticed that the ECB had brought in regulations limiting the number of overs that pace bowlers can bowl per day and per spell up until the age of 18 (as I recall) to prevent early burn out. A similar initiative may be required here if these kids are going to be the next Shane Bond, but in general I'm in favour of encouraging pace.

If the youngsters are to really emulate Mr Bond surely bowling as many overs at as early an age as possible is the way to go? Gives time to turn all those little niggles into chronic conditions that will halve their appearances & generally ruin their careers.

Anyway, speaking of young kiwi seam-up bowlers as I almost was, Sky over here was reporting Southee's debut in the 3rd as almost a done deal, Bracewell was interviewed bemoaning the lack of swing from the current NZ options. Presumably coming in for Gillespie.

 

[Richard]

Which is harder?

1. make a bowler who is good at line and length faster?

or.

2. make a speedster better at line and length?

I go for no.2, because, as Ron Dennis (??)said in Formula One, it is much easier to make a quick driver more consistent, then it is to make a consistent driver quicker.

Speed is a more natural thing. Line and length can be practiced.

Both are exceptionally difficult things to improve, can be done with a bit of practice, but only usually to a small extent.

Generally, once hopelessly wayward = always hopelessly wayward. Similarly, once 120kph-tops = always 120kph-tops. But every now and then, large improvements will happen.

 

[Richard]

I noticed that the ECB had brought in regulations limiting the number of overs that pace bowlers can bowl per day and per spell up until the age of 18 (as I recall) to prevent early burn out.

Yes, a fine idea, IMO. 7 per spell for 17-year-olds, 6 per spell for 16-year-olds, 5 for 15-year-olds, 4 for 14-year-olds and under. Not entirely sure of the exact date, but it was certainly after 1999, when I routinely bowled 4 overs off the reel for our u13s and would've bowled more if the games hadn't been 20-over ones. Can't remember the per-day figures TBH, but don't (yet!) need to as I haven't captained.