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*Official* England in NZ 2023

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
Tbf Mitchell looked totally unthreatening. Which isn’t a surprise, he’s always looked like the Scott Styris to CDG’s Jacob Oram. But the fact that he came on after 10 overs clearly showed the lineup was a decision made with Mitchell’s bowling in mind. Really poor.
Haha that's such a good comparison.
 

The Hutt Rec

International Vice-Captain
Wagner done then you reckon? Good thing he signed up for county cricket prior to the series. Probably play for county for the next couple of seasons. Inside running is he wants to play couple more years for BCs. Great character and resilience but body does take a beating over the years bowling pace. Besides he just can't bowl without giving it 100% every ball, takes a lot out.
I think Wagner is sadly all but done, but even at his best, he wasn't a first change bowler. Unless you want to destroy the new ball in these green conditions rather quickly.
 

SteveNZ

Cricketer Of The Year
Hmmm. Picking 8 batters and then bowling first. Its hardly bazball is it? lol.
Nah, it's actually just hard to understand WTF is going on.

Well, part of the problem is we have a #7 who averages 22 with the bat and 42 with the ball. They want to back him in, but those numbers aren't going to cut it in either discipline. Because there's a deficiency of runs from Latham, Williamson and Nicholls, rather than drop the latter, they brought in another batter they went a long way to mentally knocking down over the years.
 

nzfan

International Vice-Captain
In a way there is plenty of positive from this game for us whichever way the results will go. If we win obviously great, we'll feel proud. If we don't then I can guarantee you now 100% heads will roll after this series. Highly likely Steady will be gone an so will Larsen before the world cup in India which may not be a bad thing. Maybe get Gary a commentary gig or some IPL junior coaching role and move him on perhaps.
 

SteveNZ

Cricketer Of The Year
I think Wagner is sadly all but done, but even at his best, he wasn't a first change bowler. Unless you want to destroy the new ball in these green conditions rather quickly.
Wagner is done. It's so hard to say because he's an out and out champion. But he doesn't have any real tools to get good batsmen out anymore. In fact, his best chance of getting wickets is probably against this England side. But watching him get disdainfully pulled by Brook here and at the Mount, it's just too easy to score runs off him.
 

Bahnz

Hall of Fame Member
In a way there is plenty of positive from this game for us whichever way the results will go. If we win obviously great, we'll feel proud. If we don't then I can guarantee you now 100% heads will roll after this series. Highly likely Steady will be gone an so will Larsen before the world cup in India which may not be a bad thing. Maybe get Gary a commentary gig or some IPL junior coaching role and move him on perhaps.
…nah. NZC doesn’t give a **** about tests. Gazza still has a bit of time left to coast on the results from back in the days when the team effectively looked after itself.
 

nzfan

International Vice-Captain
To go from a 5-man seam attack of peak Southee-Boult-Jamieson-Wagner-CDG to this in less than 2 years is quite an achievement.
Should have given enough opportunities and built up the bench strength. Went for short term gains and guys left mid way through for better deals. Not their problem but should have know with most heading towards mid 30s. They can't be excited about playing for New Zealand anymore, they should make hay while they can otherwise it would be a missed opportunity.
 

straw man

Hall of Fame Member
It's all just an elaborate ploy to make CW people almost want Tickner and D Bracewell in the side. Almost.

Ftr that's a no to Duggeh.
 

straw man

Hall of Fame Member
Nah, it's actually just hard to understand WTF is going on.

Well, part of the problem is we have a #7 who averages 22 with the bat and 42 with the ball. They want to back him in, but those numbers aren't going to cut it in either discipline. Because there's a deficiency of runs from Latham, Williamson and Nicholls, rather than drop the latter, they brought in another batter they went a long way to mentally knocking down over the years.
I didn't realise initially but this side is only one player different (Henry for Boult) from the other time they selected Macewell as 4th bowler, in the third test at Leeds. It was an awful idea then and it's an awful idea now.

Should've just left out Nicholls for a bowler. Batting can deal with it.
 

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
I agree with this. He'd be my 4th seamer, behind Tickner (solely on this pitch). Then you have an 8 who can score runs, too.
Yeah I'd have gone with a seam-bowling allrounder at 8 (who wasn't Kuggs). Everyone knows I push the Dougeh barrow but Shipley or Smith could've been good picks for that too. Tickner bowled well in the first Test and should've been third seamer here.

If they wanted to hedge their bets a bit and make sure they still had Bracewell as a spin option then I totally get that (especially since he's been genuinely getting better), but whenever that's true they aboslutely need to back him to bat top 7. If they want a specialist spinner he's not it.
 

nzfan

International Vice-Captain
…nah. NZC doesn’t give a **** about tests. Gazza still has a bit of time left to coast on the results from back in the days when the team effectively looked after itself.
Nah he'll be gone.. there are cracks already and it is only getting bigger. 6 years coaching anytime is way too long. Over the years you'll start treating as a job and freshness will be gone. No fresh ideas, it's the same old same old. Got to look at the bowling and batting coaches too. Jurgo has been there forever and knows nothing about spin bowling. Now NZC is looking at improving our spin bowling options and wanting to improve our batters to play spin. You will see that happening in the rest of the rounds of Plunkett shield. In my opinion we need to start getting our domestic decks better. Batters need to bat for long periods of time to learn, it's a bit of a lottery right now. Fast bowlers pick up wickets for fun and not improving their skills.

Now we are going the other way around and trying to give dust bowls to bat on. Only few batters will cope with that. It's so easy for the groundsmen to just leave the grass and water. They are not getting any better either. They need to be told to produce true pitches which is very much possible. They have gone very lazy now, just leave the grass till it is the same as outfield and keep the results churning.
 

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