*Official* New Zealand in Australia 2019/20

[Flem274*]

i'll be annoyed if we waste someone of young's talent by making him open when there's going to be a vacancy at #4 potentially as soon as the end of the summer

it would also be a dumb thing to do with blundell

it's raval, or if you absolutely must, a conservative selection of an in form opener like rutherford and then you just hope the mcg is nice and slow.

 

[Howsie]

because it's true. 5000 runs @ 42, and his technique is sound. extremely sound by nz opener standards.

He’s 35 and never played an international before, what do you think would happen to him over here. Have you heard the stories about old county pros in their mid 30’s who still rack up runs in first class cricket but when they come up against international teams in tour games aren’t even close to good enough to play 140 plus bowling. That’s Greg Hay, someone who doesn’t spend any time at New Zealand winter camps and for the most part would only come up against medium pacers during the season.

Get real Flem. Rachin would be dumb but at least the kid has spent the last two winters facing proper bowling, not sitting at home getting the calves in for Dad.

 

[Moss]

I'd say get through this series somehow, just use Tom Blundell or anyone that can bat against pace at the top of the order. Jeet Raval invariably will get good balls at the top of the innings and in his state he wouldn't likely cope. Aussie bowling attack is one of the best and there's no point making him more miserable.

William Young will come in for the India series then you will likely have Conway. If both don't go well then go for Hay or Ravindra. Saw Ravindra bat and bowl today in super smash. Equally good with bat, ball and can also catch/field. I'd say Ravindra long term investment but not as yet. 6-8 months he will be a backup opener or bat in middle order and bowl heaps. He can certainly take Santa's place in the team.

Neither Young nor Conway are openers at the FC level are they? I know (think?) Young opened in a few NZ A games but I get the feeling they're mentioned as opening options to fit them in a batting lineup with no other openings aside from Taylor's imminent retirement.

Not sure what to do with Raval. Blundell as temporary opener maybe? Could be a lamb to the slaughter but won't go worse. Let him know this is purely an immediate term measure and will allow him some participation aside from being Watling's understudy.

 

[Flem274*]

words.

nah

i've watched the guy bat a lot. he was one of the first players i hunted down when we got vault access all those years ago and he returned to the cd side. i don't think he'd even hold his spot long term if he was say, 30, because he's about (in form) raval standard. good enough to do a job but he has a time limit.

as usual you dislike older players. i remember your grant elliott and kyle mills posts.

it's moot because he's not scoring runs this season, so he shouldn't be picked. but he should have been all the way back in 2008.

 

[Moss]

Before the start of this series I felt the batting would go fine and the bowling would be a bigger concern for NZ, and my first thought on Ferguson being ruled out was "how are NZ going to get 20 wickets here?" Pretty interesting how things have panned out.

 

[nzfan]

Neither Young nor Conway are openers at the FC level are they? I know (think?) Young opened in a few NZ A games but I get the feeling they're mentioned as opening options to fit them in a batting lineup with no other openings aside from Taylor's imminent retirement.

Not sure what to do with Raval. Blundell as temporary opener maybe? Could be a lamb to the slaughter but won't go worse. Let him know this is purely an immediate term measure and will allow him some participation aside from being Watling's understudy.

Pretty sure Blundell would rather open than sit in the sidelines for eternity. Conway has opened in the past in South Africa and in any case he can't slot into any other spot but he's too good to not be selected. Try both Young and Conway then pick the best.

I seriously think Ravindra is going to be all format player both with the bat and ball. Opening batting and bowling heaps is going to be extremely challenging. I think NZC will use him in the middle order.

 

[Howsie]

nah

i've watched the guy bat a lot. he was one of the first players i hunted down when we got vault access all those years ago and he returned to the cd side. i don't think he'd even hold his spot long term if he was say, 30, because he's about (in form) raval standard. good enough to do a job but he has a time limit.

as usual you dislike older players. i remember your grant elliott and kyle mills posts.

it's moot because he's not scoring runs this season, so he shouldn't be picked. but he should have been all the way back in 2008.

Should’ve been the pick in 2008? Explain his 4-5 absence from first class cricket a year or two later. Obviously blackballed n your eyes...

 

[Flem274*]

Should’ve been the pick in 2008? Explain his 4-5 absence from first class cricket a year or two later. Obviously blackballed n your eyes...

we selected james marshall, who could barely average 30 in the shield and a proven test failure, and daniel flynn who has gone on to have a stunning career opening the batting for nd averaging a mighty 35 and is most known for being hit in the face by clouderson.

i believe greg hay was coming off a massive debut couple of seasons. bro, this is an easy selection to make at the time and in hindsight.

as for why he disappeared, no one can or has ever said why. all i've heard is allusions to a bit of a mental health battle, but that's it.

james ****ing marshall

 

[Howsie]

I’ve got a feeling Tim Seifert will walk out with Tom Latham on the first morning of the Boxing Day test so it’s all a moot point anyway

 

[Flem274*]

wouldn't be a horrific selection. he hasn't opened in red ball much but he's got talent and guts.

 

[nzfan]

I’ve got a feeling Tim Seifert will walk out with Tom Latham on the first morning of the Boxing Day test so it’s all a moot point anyway

How's that possible, isn't he in the country playing Super Smash? I'd think that's not a bad idea.

 

[nzfan]

The problem with the opening is Kane and Ross are ending up striding to the middle way too early way too often. If the openers can stay out about 20 overs these two will do a stellar job but that's just not happening at the moment. Either Jeet Raval is gone of if he sticks around a wee bit Latham is gone. Sometime both are back in the shed. Can't fault Latham though, when he gets in he gets massive runs. Can't expect him to do that every game.

 

[Kippax]

How's that possible, isn't he in the country playing Super Smash? I'd think that's not a bad idea.

Was absent without explanation on Friday night after being in the release on Thursday. Howsie bound to be keeping up with his moves on social media.

 

[nzfan]

Was absent without explanation on Friday night after being in the release on Thursday. Howsie bound to be keeping up with his moves on social media.

That explains why he didn't play... I would doubt if NZ would do that though unless we need a cover for an injured player.

 

[kaetor]

I used to play Nelson prems club cricket, and most people say Greg Hay didn't play because he gave up professional cricket to work in the UK, though I never chatted with himself to find out if it was true or not.

 

[The Hutt Rec]

Was absent without explanation on Friday night after being in the release on Thursday. Howsie bound to be keeping up with his moves on social media.

He's been named to return in ND's next game though ... but fingers crossed for a Melbourne mercy dash.

 

[Bahnz]

Latham isn't going to last long against Cummins.

 

[Kippax]

He's been named to return in ND's next game though ... but fingers crossed for a Melbourne mercy dash.

Well I certainly hope someone at customs pulled him aside into an interview room and asked him to explain the Henry Shipley yorker weakness. Shipley yorked him twice in six days last month, pretty baffling.

 

[Kippax]

Surprised Howsie's not lobbying for the free and easy Julio of NZ openers, the actual real-life menswear brochure man, Worker. 130 against Boult, Wagner and ND to start the red ball season of course.

 

[Bahnz]

Jesus, Latham looks like getting out every ball against Lyon.