*Official* New Zealand in Bangladesh 2023/24

[AndyZaltzHair]

Once we survived the first hour when there was swing and movement for Southee and Jamieson, we had to make this count and end the day with 5 or 6 wickets maximum. There was a fair bit of turn esp from Phillips and Ajaz but they were not unplayable that we kept losing wickets one after another after making 20 odds. Mushfiq’s wicket was totally needless and the brain dead Nurul had no idea what he was doing. Nurul after being in the circuit for so long still can’t figure out the difference between white and red ball cricket.

The pitch has got something for everyone imo. So if guys like KW or Mitchell could get their eyes in, they gonna go big here. We had the chance of making 400+ here but blew it.

 

[Nintendo]

Lol they ley Phillips get 4fer. Me screaming for him to play over bracewell since the start of the England series is finally justified.

 

[AndyZaltzHair]

Nothing wrong with it, it's been the thing in the subcontinent the past decade or so that the spinners are often as or more dangerous with the new ball, as it bounces more and can skid on quicker. A far cry from the times when India would use joke bowlers like Gavaskar to take the shine off the ball.

Whether you'd bowl Phillips with it is a different question. It is definitely easier to for the batsmen to time.

Yeah but the older ball was doing the damage. I thought Southee went for the new ball too early. The extra 20 runs could have been minimized.

 

[mackembhoy]

Terrible ball. Got what it deserved.

Who's showing this in the UK, says YouTube. You got a link for tomorrow?

 

[Aidan11]

Who's showing this in the UK, says YouTube. You got a link for tomorrow?

This was the YT link I used. Showing highlights now but should have a live link tomorrow

 

[SteveNZ]

Nothing wrong with it, it's been the thing in the subcontinent the past decade or so that the spinners are often as or more dangerous with the new ball, as it bounces more and can skid on quicker. A far cry from the times when India would use joke bowlers like Gavaskar to take the shine off the ball.

Whether you'd bowl Phillips with it is a different question. It is definitely easier to for the batsmen to time.

I feel like those would be mutually exclusive. And always found it to be the latter - that spinners tended to skin on a new ball more, if they were guys (like Phillips) who bowled reasonably flat. It would kiss the surface rather than hold in it, with the lacquer on the ball. Sodhi, in theory, might've been the better option with a new ball given his height, but they also find it harder to grip a new ball and turn it, and Ish's control is a bit rusty to be generous.

 

[Flem274*]

Has a test team ever played this many keepers, or keeping options in an XI before? Conway, Latham, Nicholls, Phillps and Blundell. Even Daryl Mitchell was a keeper until he was 15-16.

Sri Lanka would be close. They had about 10,000 a while back with Sangakkara, Prasaana Jayawardene, Chandimal, Kaushal Silva and I think Kusal Perera as well.

 

[Starfighter]

I feel like those would be mutually exclusive. And always found it to be the latter - that spinners tended to skin on a new ball more, if they were guys (like Phillips) who bowled reasonably flat.

When the seam grips it bounces more, when it doesn't it skids - and faster than it does off the shiny side of an old ball.

 

[Flem274*]

That's an important 4fer for Phillips. If he can show he is both a middle to top order batting prospect in whites to go with his bowling in this game and at the World Cup then that is a strong statement for locking in a 4-6 spot.

On the discussion regarding Stead and building for the future - I actually agree that domestic cricket is for development and that you need to win the test cricket this year first, not in several years. However, I do not think we have always chosen the best players to win test cricket in that calendar year. I also think every coach, like a manager in the workforce, needs to be mindful of not having all your staff move on at once and having trained people in place to take on the work. Much like the modern workforce though I think the new players will just be told to suck it up and shown a few videos on lean. After the first innings defeat in Aussie they'll get something like: "As you all know we have had many very experienced people leave us recently, however when I look around this room I see such talent and I think you guys don't realise just how good you are. I am sure some of you are ready to step up more than you're probably aware of, so I think that not only can you handle your core roles but that some of you could probably add some bowling or wicketkeeping as well, and I'd love to see you guys really step forward and take on this challenge."

I'm less surprised to see no Ravindra because apart from him probably being an NZ generational talent, it's really hard to compare performances on the uber-motorways in the World Cup to opening for Wellington in a red ball competition known to be ruthless on the top 4.

I tend to think he will reproduce his Wellington red ball results if he opens in test cricket, with a lot of flashy starts and one or two big daddy performances per season. If those big performances do not discriminate between attacks, then that is probably an upgrade on Tom Latham. However, The Specialist is genuinely world class in subcontinent tests. The problem for him will be our home summer where his performance will be capped once more at the 80 run mark (which would be a Ravindra or Conway 160).

 

[The Hutt Rec]

The obvious move for me was Mitchell to four, Ravindra to 5, and Nicholls out.

As much as Latham frustrates me, he’s a shoe in for a test opening spot for now.

Agreed it’s great with Phillips … amazing to think Santner played 24 tests and never managed a four wicket bag and Phillips has done it at first attempt (as a genuine bowling option, I know he played a test in Aus). I’m more than happy for him to inhabit that all round spin slot from here.

 

[Athlai]

Latham's spot should not be set in stone. He is a Test class batsman sure, but if someone better than him is waiting in the wings then they should be selected ahead of him.

Rachin deserves a shot this summer.

 

[ataraxia]

It is tough for any team, let alone NZ, to drop someone who scored 200 last test and dominated the PS. But that's a problem NZC have wrought on themselves...

It's more remarkable Ravindra wasn't selected over Phillips, even though that's not such a bad call.

 

[Athlai]

Everyone is acting like Latham couldn't be the one to bat at 5 too.

Our strongest XI right now probably looks like

Conway
Rachin
Williamson
Mitchell
Latham/Nicholls
Blundell (+)
Phillips
Jamieson
Henry
Southee
Ajaz

Boult in if he is available and selected
Sodhi in if its in the subcontinent

That is our top 13 Test players right now.

 

[SteveNZ]

Latham's spot shouldn't be a given, absolutely. He just seems to do enough to keep the criticism and conjecture around his spot at bay. Scored runs on some very flat ones in Pakistan, runs (vital ones) in the 2nd Test win v England, the big double v Bangladesh came when he hadn't scored a ton for over 2 years etc. But he's an absolute Stead stock and trade operator. If Gary Stead built a prototype for his sort of cricketer, it would be Tom Latham. So I'm not expecting that he'll be replaced anytime soon, unless the wheels well and truly fall off. I had him missing out on the 2026/27 tour to Aussie but I certainly wouldn't bet on that

 

[kaetor]

I've lost a lot of faith in Latham in the last couple of years. He does seem to ride out a new ball fairly well, but against stronger teams he doesn't push on. Maybe that's enough, I think Rachin had a tendency for a while with playing balls he shouldn't in FC matches and getting out early, but I still believe opening is his future spot and we should look at getting him ready in that position for the next WTC after this one (and the all important Aus tour)

 

[RMBolton]

It is tough for any team, let alone NZ, to drop someone who scored 200 last test and dominated the PS. But that's a problem NZC have wrought on themselves...

It's more remarkable Ravindra wasn't selected over Phillips, even though that's not such a bad call.

I don't think it was that remarkable. If it's a choice between Phillips, Ravindra & Santner for No.7, GP is the best FC bowler of the 3. To me, it was a no-brainer. Ravindra is a waste that low, & I have no idea why Santner is there.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Blundell is a world class player but I'd still bat Phillips at 6 rather than 7. He will be batting 4 in 3-4 years when most of our top order are gone, so he is a bit wasted at 7. He could even bat 5 now as our dasher ala Brook, Head, and Pant.

 

[Athlai]

I reckon Santner may have developed his spin a bit that could see more success in Tests tbh.

But he isn't really a great Test match 7 so unless Ajaz/Sodhi don't play I don't think he should either.

 

[Athlai]

Blundell is a world class player but I'd still bat Phillips at 6 rather than 7. He will be batting 4 in 3-4 years when most of our top order are gone, so he is a bit wasted at 7. He could even bat 5 now as our dasher ala Brook, Head, and Pant.

Don't mind hugely either way for this series but at home I'd rather he is at 6

 

[ataraxia]

I don't think it was that remarkable. If it's a choice between Phillips, Ravindra & Santner for No.7, GP is the best FC bowler of the 3. To me, it was a no-brainer. Ravindra is a waste that low, & I have no idea why Santner is there.

Nah Santner's definitely the best bowler – bowled heaps and very well for ND last season. Of course Ravindra's a waste that low but you could still bring him in for Phillips and bat him top 4. The point is anyway that it's like a switch has flicked in the coaching staff's minds where they no longer think Ravindra is suited for 7/8 (surprise surprise). Because even if Rachin didn't play this WC he'd still be in the reckoning this tour (maybe just outside the squad); it's odd how his WC runs don't curry him favour for this position, and somehow he doesn't deserve a top 4 spot.

Basically: it's a very Stead-y weird.