**Official** England in New Zealand

[wpdavid]

I'd still put the batch which included Snow, Willis, Arnold, Old, Hendrick and Botham quite comfortably ahead (all right, that lot never completely overlapped nor were ever fit at the same time, but they came damn close) of the very brief 2004 and 2005 batch.

Anyway, as everyone knows, my feelings on that 2005 attack are that it wasn't quite what it's cracked-up to be. For a few Tests they walked on water, but that really was it. Harmison was never anything much, Jones only ever was for those 2 first-innings', Flintoff looks likely to have been only for 2 or 3 years, and Hoggard has never been World-class, just a good support operative.

But yeah, the recent times since Flintoff ceased to be fit really have been the worst times I've ever known. Easily.

The period I was thinking about was after Willis became an almost world class performer (around the start of 1977). Prior to then, he wasn't all that special, tbh. Thereafter, supported by various combinations of Botham, Hendrick, Old & John Lever, we had a very good attack indeed. Snow & Arnold had gone by then, fwiw. How they might have fared on the more batsmen-friendly tracks of 2004-2005 is maybe questionable though. However, they were probably better at expoiting the more bowler-friendly conditions of the late 1970's.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

If you seriously think that Bracewell has told Ross Taylor to slog virtually every ball he faces, then you're more biased than I thought.

I'm not. But you, in all reality, are talking out of your backside. You read between the lines and twist people's words to fit your own bizarre agenda.

It isn't just about what's coached, but what isn't. Why hasn't Coach Calamity done anything about this obvious leg-side preference. I have no idea where he's picked it up from, but it won't be from CD.

 

[JBH001]

Ryder out for 3 months.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/4/story.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10494361

 

[Richard]

I'm not. But you, in all reality, are talking out of your backside. You read between the lines and twist people's words to fit your own bizarre agenda.

What would the point in that be?

It isn't just about what's coached, but what isn't. Why hasn't Coach Calamity done anything about this obvious leg-side preference. I have no idea where he's picked it up from, but it won't be from CD.

I'm not saying Bracewell has or should have and hasn't done anything, but it's not a given that a coach can turn a leg-side dominant player into one with an all-round-the-wicket game. He might have tried and (at least as of yet) had no success.

 

[Dick Rockett]

I'm mystified as to the debate over Ross Taylor going on in this thread. All I can offer is that those who keep referring to his tendency to slog over midwicket obviously weren't watching the last two ODIs. I only remember one such shot from Taylor, and it went for six - and you can hardly hold that against him seeing as legside shots were basically all that the likes of Collingwood and Pietersen had in their repertoire, and I don't see anyone criticising Brendon McCullum for slogging over the leg-side either (and with much greater regularity).

In his last two innings Ross Taylor has shown a great deal of maturity and has done justice to his talent imo. Plus, he played far more shots on the offside than the legside. Who was the one calmly sitting on 40-odd not out on Saturday night while everyone else was throwing away their wickets at the other end?

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Sorry 16 tins. I missed the last game as I was playing cricket (and then propping up the bar). I'm a big fan of Taylor, but his tendency in the past year to attempt the mid-wicket heave at every available opportunity is frustrating. I'll be glad to hear he's got over that problem.

 

[Richard]

I'm mystified as to the debate over Ross Taylor going on in this thread. All I can offer is that those who keep referring to his tendency to slog over midwicket obviously weren't watching the last two ODIs. I only remember one such shot from Taylor, and it went for six - and you can hardly hold that against him seeing as legside shots were basically all that the likes of Collingwood and Pietersen had in their repertoire, and I don't see anyone criticising Brendon McCullum for slogging over the leg-side either (and with much greater regularity).

In his last two innings Ross Taylor has shown a great deal of maturity and has done justice to his talent imo. Plus, he played far more shots on the offside than the legside. Who was the one calmly sitting on 40-odd not out on Saturday night while everyone else was throwing away their wickets at the other end?

Yeah, Taylor's been excellent this series, I said here that I hadn't noticed any extraordinary leg-side bias and I still haven't TBH.

In fact, "Taylor's been excellent this series" is quite an inaccurate reflection: the truth is that Taylor's been excellent for almost all his ODI career, it's just his terrible WC2007 somewhat disguises this. Taylor in his whole career against ODI standard sides averages 33.42, but knock out WC2007 and it's 40.33.

That said, I've long been of the opinion that ODIs require negligable attention when selecting a player for Tests. And regardless of Taylor's decent game which he's displayed in ODIs, there are other players who've done more than he to merit a Test place at the current time. Right now, I'd pick:
Bell
How
Fleming
Sinclair
Fulton
Oram
McCullum
<4 bowlers>

Now Ryder is gone from the reckoning, it's clearly simply a case of 2 from 3 of Sinclair, Fulton and Taylor. None have a very obvious advantage.

 

[Dick Rockett]

Sorry 16 tins. I missed the last game as I was playing cricket (and then propping up the bar). I'm a big fan of Taylor, but his tendency in the past year to attempt the mid-wicket heave at every available opportunity is frustrating. I'll be glad to hear he's got over that problem.

Yeah, it's definitely been an issue with him but people should at least be giving him some credit for playing in a much more conventional fashion in this latest series and scoring some runs.

There just seems to be this bizarre, unequivocal conviction amongst some (not you) that Taylor deserves to be singled out for heavy criticism and kept away from international duties when in fact his record thus far is pretty good.

 

[Bahnz]

Just read on the NZ Herald web site, that there is a small risk, that Ryder might have serious permanent damage to his hand, which would of course leave him rather stuffed as a batsman.

Seriously, he may be a complete clot, but this would be a tragedy both for the man, and for New Zealand Cricket.

On a happier note, good on Brendon McCullum for picking up his first one day hundred for Otago on Sunday. May it be the first of many.

 

[sportychic33]

Whilst I agree it was slightly biased did you really need to be so condascending? That sort of reply should only be reserved for trolls which Sportychic is not.

No offence taken, it was a theory and if Perm and his infinite wisdom doesn't agree, I would love to see him coach Taylor himself.
However, having said all that, I am leaning to other Sports Forums where views are debated in a good natured manner and forum activity is much more interesting than the same debates over and over.

 

[Brett Dale]

New Zealand has Won the One Day Series against England, now bring on the tests!!!

What a summer its been for New Zealand Cricket, started off with Victories against Bangladesh in Tests and the One Dayers.

Then the Might of the English came and beat us in the 20/20's, but New Zealand came back and surprised everybody by beating England in the One Day series without superstar Shane Bond.

Apart from the Injuries, everything has gone right for New Zealand cricket in the past two weeks, Massive crowds, this season should see the highest crowd numbers for a season since the 80's. A One Day Series Victory, new stars emerging in How, Ryder and Southee and New Zealand's wicketkeeper becoming a genuine worldwide superstar of the game and an Opposition in England that has caught the Public's imagination, it's great to see Ex Pat Pom's supporting their home team and turning up in droves.

Now its time for the most Important part of the Tour, The Test Series!!!, Three Tests, Five days each, (For those that don't follow the game)


Before the Start of the Series, I thought England would beat us 3-0 in the Series, now I'm not to sure, yes they are going to have a stronger side, but the Blackcaps now have confidence, they believe they are not just playing to keep it close but to actually win the series, something they haven't done against England since 1999.

I believe our fielding is second to none (apart from Mills).

Our batting is okay, our top order may fail, but we can bat right down to number 10, so even if we lose quick wickets, we will not be dismissed for a low total. Its our bowling that is a worry, we need twenty wickets, I can see Vettori and Martin getting five each during a match, I don't see Mills, and Oram doing this though.

I think our best hope is, if the pitch is taking spin and we play Patel, I think it's going to come down to a Freak Performance by one player.

On the England side, I don't see them winning at all, their bowlers are just a tad to predictable, it might well be a drawn series, but if a Team is going to win this series, fingers and toes are crossed that it will be New Zealand, what a way to start a new era in New Zealand Cricket!!!

 

[Mixmasterreece]

http://www.blackcaps.co.nz/content/blackcaps/latestblackcapsnews/11378/zealand-selection.aspx

New Zealand Cricket today announced a team to play England in a first-class match at University Oval Dunedin, commencing Thursday (28 February).

The team is:

Jamie How (captain)
Matthew Bell
Peter Fulton
Ross Taylor
Mathew Sinclair
Grant Elliott
Mark Orchard
Bevan Griggs
Jeetan Patel
Mark Gillespie
Iain O'Brien


“With Otago Volts qualifying for the State Shield final, we have taken the opportunity of using a replacement squad,” said selection manager Sir Richard Hadlee.

“As Auckland Aces are also involved in that match, we have selected players from the other four first-class provinces.

“Matthew Bell, Peter Fulton, Mathew Sinclair, Mark Gillespie and Iain O'Brien are involved in the current two-day game and will remain in Dunedin for the first-class match.

“A number of BLACKCAPS have been selected to help them prepare for the Test series, allowing them to open the head-to-head contests they will face this season.

“There are also other players we want to look at and give them an opportunity to impress.”

Interesting - gives a couple of indications :

How will certainly be the test opener with bell.
Hay is not in the frame.
Elliot is on the verge.
Mark Orchard is constantly rewarded for doing nothing.

 

[Mixmasterreece]

Now this makes me think.... With Ryder gone for 3 months I think the selectors are already planning for his absence in the one day series in England. How will be pushed up to open and Grant Elliot will come in (possibly at 6) to offer another bowling option.

 

[Halfpast_Yellow]

Interesting end of the article that NZ Herald one.

Seems like Ryder wasn't exactly an off his face idiot and it was just badluck on his part.

 

[Bahnz]

Now this makes me think.... With Ryder gone for 3 months I think the selectors are already planning for his absence in the one day series in England. How will be pushed up to open and Grant Elliot will come in (possibly at 6) to offer another bowling option.

The ODI series doesn't start until mid-June, so unless Ryder's injury takes a lot longer to recover from than is currently expected, it seems unlikely that he'd miss out. There's even a (slight) chance that Ryder might be able to play for the tests that don't start until the 15th of May, though given his behaviour I find it highly unlikely that he'd be selected, even if he was fit.

 

[Dick Rockett]

I am leaning to other Sports Forums where views are debated in a good natured manner and forum activity is much more interesting than the same debates over and over.

Haha, only 500-odd posts and you've realised this already? You're a smart cookie, sportychic

 

[Blakey]

IR Bell retired - out 59 140 7 1

Wonder what happened.

 

[Bahnz]

Big Jess continues to shower himself in glory.

http://www.blackcaps.co.nz/content/blackcaps/latestblackcapsnews/11379/apologise-hospital.aspx

 

[Days of Grace]

The New Zealand version of George Best?

 

[Mixmasterreece]

His behaviour at the hospital was shameful.

They had to call security on him as he was abusing the nurses and bleeding everywhere. He demanded priority treatment and made comments like "Dont you know who i am" and "I am NZ cricket."