***Official***Match #16- New Zealand vs Afghanistan- October 18th-Chennai (D/N)

[Zinzan]

2015 was our best ever squad. We had a good ODI attack on the bench. Peak Neesham didn't even make that squad.

Helps to look good & play well in your home conditions. Consider that 2015 squad (with horses for courses selections) in Indian conditions.

 

[ataraxia]

We're winning the thing btw

 

[Athlai]

NZ are winning this thing

 

[Athlai]

Henry is the 7th ranked ODI bowler in the world, Southee is the 75th.

Henry has 47 wickets at 24 since the last world cup, Southee has improved from the 2019 cycle but still only has 28 wickets at 29.

No way on the planet Southee would have ever been in the side ahead of Henry.

Odi rankings are meaningless in 2023. Full of useless junk jamodi stats.

 

[Zinzan]

Are NZ hyping themselves up a little bit?

Not that I can see, no-one's been saying NZ are winning the thing, just that the selectors are getting things right & that it's arguably better than recent NZ WC sides.

We're winning the thing btw

NZ are winning this thing

@Molehill, see

 

[loterry1994]

They’ve faced Netherlands, Bangladesh and Afghanistan already every team would love that draw to get their Confidence up. England was a good win the kiwis have looked in good form but

 

[Neil Young]

Yeah one quiet advantage we have is Phillips and Chapman are real batsmen for their domestic teams who just happen to score very quickly.

Neither are the finished article probs but it's a strong foundation to push for a semi final standard side.

Phillips isn't far from being the finished article. I think he's a brilliant player who can comfortably play at different tempos.

 

[Neil Young]

They’ve faced Netherlands, Bangladesh and Afghanistan already every team would love that draw to get their Confidence up. England was a good win the kiwis have looked in good form but

We were fortunate with the draw to get an exceptionally easy start.

And we followed that up by playing the Dutch, Bangers and Afghans....

 

[Silver Silva]

They’ve faced Netherlands, Bangladesh and Afghanistan already every team would love that draw to get their Confidence up. England was a good win the kiwis have looked in good form but

How can you possibly sit there and say that when Netherlands defeated South Africa and Afghanistan defeated England , Bangladesh finished 3rd in qualifying,nothing is guaranteed you have to earn it .

 

[Socerer 01]

What about 2007 NZ side? They were considered the favourites.

???????

 

[Moss]

What about 2007 NZ side? They were considered the favourites.

Not entirely wrong. They were joint favourites (along with SL and South Africa) on the basis of beating (an admittedly 2nd string) Aus 3-0 at home just before that, even chasing down a couple of 300-plus scores. Add to that England winning the tri-series in Australia just before that and everyone was ready to declare the WC would have a new winner.

It was a good but very formula driven side (*much* more than the present day) at the end of Stephen Fleming’s career, which beat most teams but tended to flop against full-strength Australia and Sri Lanka.

 

[Flem274*]

2007 was a funny team. They were capable of making the final imo but also very capable of losing any game from any position, much like the 2003 side.

Australia were always hot favourites.

 

[The Hutt Rec]

We beat everyone we played in 2007 except the two finalists, so weren’t too far off. Might have made a difference if Kyle Mills wasn’t injured.

2007 was the year of the pig, so it also seemed to be written in the stars that Scott Styris would lead us to triumph.

 

[ashley bach]

We are winning this thing lol just look at the table.

Seriously though we are looking the part, in all three aspects of the game. I think we have close to the best bowling unit particularly if Ferg really is back.
Kane coming back in will also make a big difference. India obv looking by far the biggest danger but we have the wood on them so you just never know.

 

[Bahnz]

Lol at people declaring Ferguson's back. He's been bulluing overmatched minnow bats. Let's see him have a good game v SA or Pakistan before we declare him a factor again.

 

[ashley bach]

Yeah there's still a lot of uncertainty with Lockie tbf

 

[Flem274*]

Yeah we're talking a lot of **** for a team who looked dogshit 12 months ago and has pulled finger just in time for the first game. Draw has been nice too, though other teams have fallen over Afghanistan and the Netherlands early.

 

[Neil Young]

Lol at people declaring Ferguson's back. He's been bulluing overmatched minnow bats. Let's see him have a good game v SA or Pakistan before we declare him a factor again.

He's definitely looking a lot better, though. I watched him being smacked around by an 18yo county 2nd XI opener in Bristol a few weeks ago. Sterner tests await for sure, but he's going in the right direction.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Odi rankings are meaningless in 2023. Full of useless junk jamodi stats.

I think a career average of 33.6 from 150 games is reasonable sample size

 

[SteveNZ]

Lol at people declaring Ferguson's back. He's been bulluing overmatched minnow bats. Let's see him have a good game v SA or Pakistan before we declare him a factor again.

I don't disagree with this. It's encouraging that he's going OK, but I certainly don't feel comfortable that he's going to square up well with India in two days' time. I'd want to see more before I feel like 2019 WC Lockie is in our midst.