***Official New Zealand Domestic Season 2021/22***

[Immenso]

Using 2014/15 as the last time we had 3-day U19s cricket as the cut off point. So, adding up the numbers from the 2015/16 U19 tournament onwards.

Note. I know a single paltry round of 3-day cricket is not the difference between world beaters and spuds. So, this point is not to try to dig a huge hole for 3-dayers in the U19s. it's a point to highlight the lack of progression from U19s to Plunket Shield the last 6 years.

We had had 9 successful Plunket Shield Players graduate from U19s from 2015/16 onwards.

R Ravindra
N Smith
W O'Donnell (age 23 before a regular)
T Johnson (age 23 before a regular)
D Phillips
B Sears
F Sheat
B Wiggins (age 23 before a regular)
M Chu

Some that look promising but don't have the full numbers to back it up yet:
L Georgeson
J Field
C Briggs (age 23 before a regular)

One that has good numbers in his opportunities (across versions) but hasn't got games or contracts:
F Murray

Have to concede the following have had decent opportunities but haven't cracked red ball:
K Clarke, J Clarkson, C Leopard, J Finnie, L Johnson, J Bhula, F Allen

The following are too soon (If they're recent), or too few (if older but just not had many games) to give a judgement:
J Gibson, M Ave, A McKenzie, C McLachlan, J Hartshorn, M Fisher, B Lockrose, N Greenwood, M Fisher
At least of these; Gibson, Fisher, McKenzie have domestic contracts.

(Also should note that Kris Clarke and Adi Ashok have contracts for this year, but haven't played any games of any format yet)

 

[Immenso]

No one from the last U19 tournament has played FC yet. Not that surprising.

From the one the year before that. Only 1 player, Joey Field, has played FC cricket.
So of the nations 21 year olds or younger, only 1 has played FC cricket.
(Also Tim Robinson has played a T20)

 

[nzfan]

Using 2014/15 as the last time we had 3-day U19s cricket as the cut off point. So, adding up the numbers from the 2015/16 U19 tournament onwards.

Note. I know a single paltry round of 3-day cricket is not the difference between world beaters and spuds. So, this point is not to try to dig a huge hole for 3-dayers in the U19s. it's a point to highlight the lack of progression from U19s to Plunket Shield the last 6 years.

We had had 9 successful Plunket Shield Players graduate from U19s from 2015/16 onwards.

R Ravindra
N Smith
W O'Donnell (age 23 before a regular)
T Johnson (age 23 before a regular)
D Phillips
B Sears
F Sheat
B Wiggins (age 23 before a regular)
M Chu

Some that look promising but don't have the full numbers to back it up yet:
L Georgeson
J Field
C Briggs (age 23 before a regular)

One that has good numbers in his opportunities (across versions) but hasn't got games or contracts:
F Murray

Have to concede the following have had decent opportunities but haven't cracked red ball:
K Clarke, J Clarkson, C Leopard, J Finnie, L Johnson, J Bhula, F Allen

The following are too soon (If they're recent), or too few (if older but just not had many games) to give a judgement:
J Gibson, M Ave, A McKenzie, C McLachlan, J Hartshorn, M Fisher, B Lockrose, N Greenwood, M Fisher
At least of these; Gibson, Fisher, McKenzie have domestic contracts.

(Also should note that Kris Clarke and Adi Ashok have contracts for this year, but haven't played any games of any format yet)

Awesome post... great summary. You left out Glenn Phillips though. He was from the same batch as Ravindra?

That's 32 players tried and so far we have 10 regular or top performing out of that list. Among the 10, 4 have made black caps. I'm guessing we will have maybe one or two more make the black caps.

I think the success rate is quite good. That's good number of players making the cut.

Shame we haven't had too many since the 2019ish I guess.

 

[Immenso]

I should note. That there were a few games by an 'New Zealand XI' last year v Pakistan 'A'. But they were unofficial 12-a-side games. So don't appear on the player records as senior matches.

This team was fill of the recent U19 youngsters like Ashok (who excelled), Pringle, Mariu, Lellman, O'Rourke etc

But this also sort of highlights the problem. The team was made up of people at a loose end because the Super Smash or another comp was being played at the same time. Who was available? All the youngsters, plus a few T20 non-specialists like Raval and Joe Carter.

 

[nzfan]

O'Rouke has good raps on him. Lellman is a pretty good hitter of the ball. His bowling is quite good too but I think he's been sighted for flawed action. At least that's what I've heard.

Mariu is a pretty good player, he will make the cut no doubt and so will Pringle. I haven't seen too much of Adi but whatever I saw of him he's the next big thing in spin department. The question is will Auckland give him enough games or bench him? Then he goes to Wellington or Otago and shows he's a gun.

 

[Immenso]

Yes, I did miss out G Phillips.

Although. As Phillips was such a youth gun. He was also playing national U19s before my cutoff in both 13/14 and 14/15 when he did pay 3-day cricket.

But. He should be in that list. He played in 15/16. And the is point more about multi-day cricket opportunities for young players rather than fixation on U19s 3-dayers, and he was playing first class cricket at aged 20. (And white ball at 18 IIRC)

 

[nzfan]

As much as you say, the 3 day thing is out of the window and will not surface again. Did you know we used to have 3 day games at 17s and 15s. The under 15s were exclusively 3 day game format only. We weren't all that great in tests then and NZC would have taken out the tournament to concentrate on white ball cricket without knowing we will actually be a force in test cricket. Even as recent as 5 years ago right after the one day WC at home many of our former cricketers consistently said we don't have depth enough to be top in test cricket so our priority should be to aim to be the top team in at least one format of white ball cricket. I may have even read that in a NZPA or NZC publication. Shocker... The bunch since Baz took over dared to dream.

 

[Immenso]

IIRC, I think SteveNZ said he played the National U19 tournament back in the day. May have been 2 rounds of 3-dayers then. Then 3 one-dayers.

 

[Immenso]

I think the price of 6 x 16th contracted player. Would be better spent on motels etc for a round of U19 3-dayers as part of the domestic tournament. Not in Lincoln. The neighbouring associations playing each other. Make it count, not a friendly.

 

[SteveNZ]

IIRC, I think SteveNZ said he played the National U19 tournament back in the day. May have been 2 rounds of 3-dayers then. Then 3 one-dayers.

Yep, that was it. Then I believe they went to playing a three-dayer against your nearest province, potentially home and away, then one-dayers at a neutral venue. 17s was 5x2 dayers at Nelson Park (Napier) and U15s was a week of 2 dayers against your nearest province (Auckland and ND had two sides). Dunno if that's changed.

I always felt like our batters were pretty decently set up to play long innings' - bear in mind this was 20+ years ago. You'd play 2 dayers at school of 90 overs a day, play 2-3 dayers at age group level, then the same at club level.

 

[Immenso]

Oh wait. On subject of Northern Knights. Have ND rebranded? Are both the men's and women's called Braves? Or is this an error?

 

[SteveNZ]

I wondered that myself - I was looking at the Aces' draw and figured it was ND they were playing at Seddon Park, but couldn't figure out what the B logo meant.

Presumably Knights are in some way offensive and caused emotional damage to someone, somewhere?

 

[nzfan]

Yep, that was it. Then I believe they went to playing a three-dayer against your nearest province, potentially home and away, then one-dayers at a neutral venue. 17s was 5x2 dayers at Nelson Park (Napier) and U15s was a week of 2 dayers against your nearest province (Auckland and ND had two sides). Dunno if that's changed.

I always felt like our batters were pretty decently set up to play long innings' - bear in mind this was 20+ years ago. You'd play 2 dayers at school of 90 overs a day, play 2-3 dayers at age group level, then the same at club level.

I don't think schools play red ball cricket at all anymore, at least not in Wellington.

 

[Chewie]

They named both super smash sides the Braves, there was a press release a few weeks ago

 

[Chewie]

Northern Districts Make Brave Change

Northern Districts Make Brave Change, One Brand for their T20 TeamsThe combined branding of Northern District’s T20 teams comes into effect immediately, with Northern Brave players and staff ...

www.ndcricket.co.nz

 

[SteveNZ]

Northern Districts Make Brave Change

Northern Districts Make Brave Change, One Brand for their T20 TeamsThe combined branding of Northern District’s T20 teams comes into effect immediately, with Northern Brave players and staff ...

www.ndcricket.co.nz

“We identified the importance of creating a united brand, gender neutral in nature and inspiring in name. We want to be the club that pushes the boundaries and keeps evolving to ensure we are relevant for tomorrow’s society.” MacCormack said.

Their emblem should be the red head girl from the movie, Brave. True inclusiveness, putting a ginger in your logo.

 

[Flem274*]

I want to hear Kuggs' thoughts.

 

[vandem]

I want to hear Kuggs' thoughts.

I don't ever want to hear Kuggs' thoughts.

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

Presumably Knights are in some way offensive and caused emotional damage to someone, somewhere?

Wow you were right

 

[_Ed_]

This women's game has been ridiculous. Canterbury looked down and out and still needed 64 off the last five overs, but it's now down to 5 off 6.

Tahuhu with a lazy 37* (14) including two monster sixes that last over.