yeah I liked what I saw of Bennett's remodeled action.
There should be massive competition between Bracewell, Wagner, Bennett, Milne, McCleneghan, Henry and Wheeler for that 3rd test bowler slot.
Wagner has just done enough to be considered the incumbent, but they really should be including another prospect alongside Bracewell in the squads. Or if Bracewell isn't tearing through domestic lineups before the Bangladesh tour, he should be given a spell.
NZ only needs an Iain O'Brien level bowler to turn into a top level, well-rounded attack. Bracewell should've been that guy but he's not performing and there are heaps of guys who should be getting a shot.
You're right that Wagner puts a floor beneath that third-seamer spot, and Bracewell has been left in the dirt beneath that in the last few months. That place is there for the taking.
As a third seamer to complement our two opening swing bowlers there are a few archetypes to draw upon:
- the Alan Donald true quick (this is the dream scenario but everything would need to go right for Milne to get there);
- or the reliable bounce and seam bowler (Henry and Wheeler have high arm actions so some potential there, though afaics they rely as much on swing as seam at present. Maybe Milne too if he's not going to bowl super quick or Duffy down the track.);
- or someone good at reversing the ball later in the innings (this is supposed to be Wagner and Bracewell, though really you'd expect any swing bowler worth their salt to be able to get reverse if the ball is in the right state).
'Running in hard all day' also a desirable attribute in any of the above, though unsure of size of most of above players' hearts wrt Peter Siddle's or ability to play the nuts-block like OB.
Most likely scenario though is that our third seamer in the near future will be someone who relies on swing to a similar degree to Southee and Boult, but is not yet as good. That's not bad though does leave us in an awkward spot if the ball's not swinging.
The guys that I keep hearing NZ really needs to become guns are Milne and Duffy tbh (atm you'd say Duffy can suck in his breath and mix it with the men for about four overs max). There's going to be some good thoughtful non-jock elements in Duffy, along the lines of an O'Brien, which will serve him well as time goes on.
Interesting. A few brain cells to rub together wouldn't go astray when it comes to progressing from the top of the domestix fast bowler pile to international level. Though you have to get to the top of the domestix fast bowler pile first. Obsessive, oddball types surely over-represented among international fast bowlers past and present too (not saying that Milne or Duffy are necessarily those - you made me think of it by mentioning OB).
