***Official*** India in New Zealand 2020

[Prince EWS]

Interesting to read the captains talking up the relevance and 'context' of the WTC. I think I felt a bit nauseous reading Kane say there was an effort to bring context to Test cricket 'that wasn't there'. I don't believe he thinks that for a second.

And Kohli said it's made Test cricket more exciting. Bullshit.

Am I the only one who cares not one jot about it? Every series has a context. Being unbeaten in 12 straight Tests gives it a context. Winning overseas has a context. Is this something the generations below me don't give a **** about?

I'm largely supportive of the concept, but yeah so far I haven't managed to care about it. I actually forget about it half the time.

What really ground my gears was hearing the commentators in the NZ/Eng series last year - that didn't count towards the WTC - talk about the idea of resting and rotating players in this series as preparation for the ones that counted towards it, as if it wasn't still a ****ing Test series.

 

[BSM]

I'll care about the WTC as soon as the points system makes sense/is fair which is likely never to be the case. A two match series being worth the same amount of points as a five match one is just dumb

 

[SteveNZ]

I'm largely supportive of the concept, but yeah so far I haven't managed to care about it. I actually forget about it half the time.

What really ground my gears was hearing the commentators in the NZ/Eng series last year - that didn't count towards the WTC - talk about the idea of resting and rotating players in this series as preparation for the ones that counted towards it, as if it wasn't still a ****ing Test series.

I didn't hear that, sounds piss poor. But to be fair, that's exactly the mentality England brought.

I don't have a problem with the concept, it doesn't change the fabric of the future tours programme. But the idea that it's somehow reviving Test cricket is horse ****.

I'd be genuinely interested in whether the generations below me, the casual fans etc see any excitement in it. And is there an ambivalence towards Test cricket or is that just rubbish that the media writes based on crowd numbers (which are a poor guide anyway, if we're taking day Tests).

 

[SteveNZ]

Would be nice to make the final, but it being at Lords does bring back traumatic memories.

Overall I’d rather win a series in Aus (or even vs Aus!) or reach number one in the rankings.

Exactly right - I'd much rather a Test series win in Aus over winning the WTC.

 

[SteveNZ]

It is changing the context though.

I would expect a mother of all roads pitch this week with NZ 1-0 up in a 2-0 series. But with the WTC, will this be the case? NZ need to chase points.

At this stage, I genuinely don't know what NZs intentions will be.

Actually, I don't fully understand the points system yet either ...... Maybe a 1-0 series win is worth heaps? and not worth risking a 1-1?

It might be changing the context, but I haven't heard of many people who think it's improving the context?

I don't get the points context thing either, because I don't care enough to. Every series means a lot to me.

 

[Prince EWS]

I didn't hear that, sounds piss poor. But to be fair, that's exactly the mentality England brought.

I don't have a problem with the concept, it doesn't change the fabric of the future tours programme. But the idea that it's somehow reviving Test cricket is horse ****.

I'd be genuinely interested in whether the generations below me, the casual fans etc see any excitement in it. And is there an ambivalence towards Test cricket or is that just rubbish that the media writes based on crowd numbers (which are a poor guide anyway, if we're taking day Tests).

How old are you roughly? Gut feel says I'm a bit younger but still the same generation, but I could be way off.

I don't think it's really embedded itself in the psyche of cricket fans, younger than us or not, but maybe it will after we've actually had a final/winner and it's more than just a new ranking system.

 

[cnerd123]

i don't think the WTC or the new ODI Super League that ICC is introducing will actually catch on until they run one or two successful cycles

it's just that as cricket fans we're so used to all these new initiatives being introduced and being chopped/changed/abandoned all the time that we're now just a bit jaded and don't buy in easily. Remember back when all teams were supposed to play each other home and away within 4-year cycles, before the Big 3 takeover?

 

[honestbharani]

I wont say the context of the WTC matters much for folks like us who are anyways cricket nerds, which is why we are here. But for guys juz following on news etc., it does seem more relevant if you slap a points table at the end of the thingy and start talking about points needed for qualification for the finals etc. It may well avoid situations like India in NZ in 2009, or Eng in India in 2012 when both teams did not try to press the toss and first innings advantage for a push to win due to already being in the lead in the series and not wanting to risk the home side equalizing.


I still feel the idea I posted earlier about them doing 3 world cups for the 3 formats every 4 years and introducing a play off between the top two teams of each format over 3 match series every 4 years will be the best. Something like this:

Year 1 - ICC WC - 50 overs - 12 teams - 1999 WC format with Super 6.
Year 2 - ICC WT20 - 20 overs - 16 teams - 2007 WC format with Super 8.
Year 3 - ICC WTC - 5 Day Tests - 8 teams - 2 groups of 4 - Super 4 followed by finals
Year 4 - ICC Champions League - 3 T20Is between ICC T20 Rank 1 and 2, 3 ODIs between ICC ODI Rank 1 and 2 and 3 Tests between ICC Tests Rank 1 and 2.

Ensure each event is 4-8 weeks in length and bingo, everyone wins.

 

[Gnske]

Remember back when all teams were supposed to play each other home and away within 4-year cycles, before the Big 3 takeover?

See I've been living under this presumption for years even though it only happens for the big three like nothing ever happened.

No wonder those filthy suits get away with it so easy.

 

[cnerd123]

India doesn't even play Pakistan anymore outside of WCs lol. And Ireland and Afghanistan have Test Status now, but they're still widely ignored. And does anyone remember the last time any of the big 3 played a test vs Zimbabwe?

 

[slippy888]

It would be cool if India played a few games against Pakistan but politics are ruining that chance

 

[SteveNZ]

How old are you roughly? Gut feel says I'm a bit younger but still the same generation, but I could be way off.

I don't think it's really embedded itself in the psyche of cricket fans, younger than us or not, but maybe it will after we've actually had a final/winner and it's more than just a new ranking system.

Second half of 30s.

It's just hard for me to get my head around, given how much I love Test cricket, that other people might not feel the same. I could pretty well tell you the result in every one of our Test series' over the last X period of time, who did what etc, but I couldn't do that for you in ODI cricket.

 

[Days of Grace]

Are we going to talk about second test selections or nah? Will New Zealand field an all pace attack? I doubt it. Jamieson will have to drop out for Wagner. I doubt NZ have had this type of problem too many times in their history!

No word on the pitch yet?

 

[Grasshopper]

This was taken yesterday:



Given Williamson's pathological hatred of spinners, I hope they go with all pace.

A decision is not expected until they get a look at the pitch.

New Zealand's front-line spin bowlers, however, have had little success at Hagley Oval in the six previous tests there.

Five different spinners -- Mark Craig, Todd Astle, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi and current squad member Ajaz Patel -- have taken just one wicket between them, while swing bowler Tim Southee has been man-of-the-match for the last three tests.

The best return from a New Zealand slow bowler has been from captain Kane Williamson's part-time off-spin when he took 1-17 against Australia in 2016.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/410559/will-kyle-jamieson-play-in-the-second-test

 

[Gnske]

India doesn't even play Pakistan anymore outside of WCs lol. And Ireland and Afghanistan have Test Status now, but they're still widely ignored. And does anyone remember the last time any of the big 3 played a test vs Zimbabwe?

Not since readmission I don't think. And yet NZ have played them twice last decade from memory.

Might as well implement two tier test cricket officially if the Zimbos, Ireland and Afghanistan can get on the paddock more often.

 

[NZTailender]

This was taken yesterday:
View attachment 25100


Given Williamson's pathological hatred of spinners, I hope they go with all pace.

Just unleash Taylor. We've been holding his offies back for too long to make it easier for the opposition.

 

[CharlesLara]

Second half of 30s.

It's just hard for me to get my head around, given how much I love Test cricket, that other people might not feel the same. I could pretty well tell you the result in every one of our Test series' over the last X period of time, who did what etc, but I couldn't do that for you in ODI cricket.

I'm 29 and am exactly the same. Also even ODI's had some sort of relevance, the VB series being my favourite. Also, Test Cricket is still the pinnacle and for most this is what their career / legacy / aura / myth is measured on.
I am still struggling to get my head around, the huge mistake they make is trying to grow Test cricket's "audience" without even thinking of retaining the loyal fans in the first place. The casual consumer is taken care of with franchise T20, once these fools upstair start to realize that Test Cricket is not a HUGE spectator sport but the boutique alternative to the 9-5 24/7 diet of limited overs cricket. There's a reason why we've already learnt more about the two sides from the 4 days of Test Cricket than we have since India arrived.

Anyways I have an overly romanticized George Beldam esque view of Test Cricket, so I'm also the most old and washed 29 year old whose "views on the future" are biased ha

 

[Moss]

Are we going to talk about second test selections or nah? Will New Zealand field an all pace attack? I doubt it. Jamieson will have to drop out for Wagner. I doubt NZ have had this type of problem too many times in their history!

No word on the pitch yet?

All pace attack definitely possible, it's not without precedent. 2nd test vs Bangladesh last year when Astle, Patel and Somerville were all available :
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-bangladesh-2nd-test-bangladesh-in-nz-2018-19

Having said that would always like to see a spinner included to cover all possibilities. Would hate for the likes of Ajaz to become overseas specialists. Also now that Somerville is 35 and Sodhi /Santner unlikely to be effective test bowlers (in my view) would like to see Ajaz grow into the role.

 

[Bahnz]

Given NZ already has Colin in the XI, I'm not hugely sure whether adding a 5th medium-fast seam bowler into the attack would benefit them much.

 

[Prince EWS]

Given NZ already has Colin in the XI, I'm not hugely sure whether adding a 5th medium-fast seam bowler into the attack would benefit them much.

Yeah exactly. Four specialist seamers and a filthy part time spinner is a legit option when you have certain strengths and the pitch is a certain way, but that's not what we're talking about here. If the pitch is green enough to justify leaving out a spinner entirely then it's green enough for Colin to be a very serious bowler, in which case I'd just pick another batsman or at least a batting allrounder.

If it's really true with lots of carry it's a different matter again, but that's not what we're talking about here either.