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***Official*** New Zealand in Bangladesh & Sri Lanka 2013
- Thread starter Kippax
- Start date
Flem274*
123/5
Wasn't quite sure where to put this so I'll put it here. I'm sort of building on the chat about Ross the other day and his place relative to other New Zealand batsmen and what he can be. Disclaimer: lots of Kippaxian Psychology below.
He's the anti-downhill skier. The bloke has scored all his tons coming in with less than 100 on the board, which shows both his ability to perform under pressure and his habit of not landing the killer blow. He rarely channels his inner McCullum and takes a smelly dump on the oppo when they're down. He doesn't engage in much minnow bashing either, and South Africa aside has saved his best for the fashionable sides or sides who have us under the pump.
He's had quite the trip as a test batsman. When he first came in against South Africa he had no real idea what he was doing, tried to bat like it was an ODI, and got owned. Then when he was recalled against England he knuckled down and played very very straight to score that maiden ton, but in the home and away series there were times where he would come in and play very much the helter skelter dirty thirty style characteristic of him until that series. The English commentators could only sigh variations of "That's the way he plays sometimes..." It was understandable, since he was in the process of unlearning all the bad habits he had played with since he first picked up a bat and that takes time, so for every 120 or 154* we were going to get some knocks where he regressed. What struck me though was his confidence. No matter which mode he turned up in, he played like a guy who wasn't worried at all.
Just when you would expect he would become the batsman he was meant to be though, he changed. I remember Uppercut or some other **** making a post sometime in 2008 or 2009 commenting on how nervous and proddy Taylor was for such a good batsman early in his innings. It was true; he was vulnerable early on and developed that walk sideways thing, where previously he stood still. I remember it being most apparent during the Pakistan home and away series where he kept scoring 90s. It was like he had finally realised he and Vettori were New Zealand batting sans Ryder. Even after he was in he batted like a guy with the weight of the world on his shoulders. Taylor probably had between 10 - 20 tests to his name at that point, so in retrospect I think he can be forgiven for batting nervously when most other test batsmen with his age and experience would be at five or six and not expected to be the main contributors. Instead of a Ponting, a Tendulkar, a Kallis or an Inzy above him he had whoever our top three were for the next 30 seconds. Vettori batted lower down, was already experienced and had been able to work on his batting free from expectation due to his bowling role so by the time Fleming, Astle and co. retired he was able to deal with the added responsibility without appearing overly concerned with the situation. Taylor went from Central Districts' number five in a line up which included Sinclair in 2005/2006 to New Zealand's premier batsman by a distance in 2008//2009. That's quite a jump.
Like McCullum though, Taylor can't blame all his frailties on outside stuff. His record when we're under the pump, when he's under the pump (dat Sri Lankan series), in big series and as skipper indicates he gets up for the big games, and leads me to think he would play well above his career average if selected for the New Zealand all time eleven. But this combined with his lack of minnow bashing and daddy hundreds makes me wonder if he's a bit of a sleepy batsman, and to get over his nerves or to be at his best he needs motivation. His team mates don't think he's the overly excitable type, so I do wonder his mindset is a double edged sword - his relaxed nature helps him get over the pressures of being our best batsman and his own nerves, but also lulls him into losing concentration.
I think it would help if someone got into his ear and stressed the importance of our upcoming home series. If he needs firing up or responsibility to succeed, then find a way to get him up for it. Obviously Taylor is a grown man and as a professional it is his responsibility to be at his best, but that idealism is ignoring the fact we need him to bat well and bat long if we're going to move up the rankings.
He's the anti-downhill skier. The bloke has scored all his tons coming in with less than 100 on the board, which shows both his ability to perform under pressure and his habit of not landing the killer blow. He rarely channels his inner McCullum and takes a smelly dump on the oppo when they're down. He doesn't engage in much minnow bashing either, and South Africa aside has saved his best for the fashionable sides or sides who have us under the pump.
He's had quite the trip as a test batsman. When he first came in against South Africa he had no real idea what he was doing, tried to bat like it was an ODI, and got owned. Then when he was recalled against England he knuckled down and played very very straight to score that maiden ton, but in the home and away series there were times where he would come in and play very much the helter skelter dirty thirty style characteristic of him until that series. The English commentators could only sigh variations of "That's the way he plays sometimes..." It was understandable, since he was in the process of unlearning all the bad habits he had played with since he first picked up a bat and that takes time, so for every 120 or 154* we were going to get some knocks where he regressed. What struck me though was his confidence. No matter which mode he turned up in, he played like a guy who wasn't worried at all.
Just when you would expect he would become the batsman he was meant to be though, he changed. I remember Uppercut or some other **** making a post sometime in 2008 or 2009 commenting on how nervous and proddy Taylor was for such a good batsman early in his innings. It was true; he was vulnerable early on and developed that walk sideways thing, where previously he stood still. I remember it being most apparent during the Pakistan home and away series where he kept scoring 90s. It was like he had finally realised he and Vettori were New Zealand batting sans Ryder. Even after he was in he batted like a guy with the weight of the world on his shoulders. Taylor probably had between 10 - 20 tests to his name at that point, so in retrospect I think he can be forgiven for batting nervously when most other test batsmen with his age and experience would be at five or six and not expected to be the main contributors. Instead of a Ponting, a Tendulkar, a Kallis or an Inzy above him he had whoever our top three were for the next 30 seconds. Vettori batted lower down, was already experienced and had been able to work on his batting free from expectation due to his bowling role so by the time Fleming, Astle and co. retired he was able to deal with the added responsibility without appearing overly concerned with the situation. Taylor went from Central Districts' number five in a line up which included Sinclair in 2005/2006 to New Zealand's premier batsman by a distance in 2008//2009. That's quite a jump.
Like McCullum though, Taylor can't blame all his frailties on outside stuff. His record when we're under the pump, when he's under the pump (dat Sri Lankan series), in big series and as skipper indicates he gets up for the big games, and leads me to think he would play well above his career average if selected for the New Zealand all time eleven. But this combined with his lack of minnow bashing and daddy hundreds makes me wonder if he's a bit of a sleepy batsman, and to get over his nerves or to be at his best he needs motivation. His team mates don't think he's the overly excitable type, so I do wonder his mindset is a double edged sword - his relaxed nature helps him get over the pressures of being our best batsman and his own nerves, but also lulls him into losing concentration.
I think it would help if someone got into his ear and stressed the importance of our upcoming home series. If he needs firing up or responsibility to succeed, then find a way to get him up for it. Obviously Taylor is a grown man and as a professional it is his responsibility to be at his best, but that idealism is ignoring the fact we need him to bat well and bat long if we're going to move up the rankings.
Kippax
Cricketer Of The Year
Thought I might post this article ahead of Devcich's big debut. Those damn wagon wheels, I knew they were part of it. Oakland's Moneyball sabermetrics that strip all the old virtues and aesthetics out of the decision-making, yeah that makes sense. The amusing charlatan buzz phrase 'earn the right' was even part of it. 
Cricket: Northern Districts on money for title - Sport - NZ Herald News
http://arntrnassets.mediaspanonline.com/radio/n00/1021416/A673_20130930044026420_0.mp3
http://arntrnassets.mediaspanonline.com/radio/n00/1021301/A673_20130930044017233_0.mp3
No wonder Taylor was feeling so conflicted last year he was weighing up whether to just quit the game entirely.
Cricket: Northern Districts on money for title - Sport - NZ Herald News
Juxtapose that born wheeler-dealer in Bradburn with Crowe these days, gee whiz. "I did a thing called rebirthing in the forest....this little old lady in a little hut.....all of this emotion purged out of me, in a wailing mess of sweat, and tears and breath".
http://arntrnassets.mediaspanonline.com/radio/n00/1021416/A673_20130930044026420_0.mp3
http://arntrnassets.mediaspanonline.com/radio/n00/1021301/A673_20130930044017233_0.mp3
No wonder Taylor was feeling so conflicted last year he was weighing up whether to just quit the game entirely.
Kippax
Cricketer Of The Year
You're just deluding yourself and not using the new metrics.
Northern Districts 2012/13, "****ed Right Off the Bat" - YouTube
Devcich, "A Good Player of Spin" - YouTube
NZ A's 29 Dismissals, Sri Lanka A Test Series - YouTube
"Earn the Right to be Aggressive" - Brendon McCullum (c) - YouTube
Hurricane
Hall of Fame Member
good review.
How about doing your annual review of nz's fast bowling stocks going into this season.
NZTailender
I can't believe I ate the whole thing
Devcich is the new Woodock, really.
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
Yeah Woodcock had a few outstanding Plunket Shield campaigns with the bat and was also extremely useful as a frontline spinner in one day cricket playing a restrictive middle overs role for a while there. Devcich if anything is a bit the opposite; same player type but for some reason "the chosen one" without that much performance behind him, as opposed to Woodcock who was (rightly, lets face it ) not heavily considered as a potential long-term international player regardless of his performances.
) not heavily considered as a potential long-term international player regardless of his performances.
Hurricane
Hall of Fame Member
I have always met with opposition when I have said this on CW because people beleive that Wellington needs to win the Plunket Shield and needs domestic stalwarts in their line up. However, it frustrates me that he is playing at all for Wellington and I wonder whether Boam would have played another season should Woody have hung them up this season.
Flem274*
123/5
Woodcock wasn't the one blocking his entry, it was crappy imports like Rhodes and Merchant doing that. Boam batted all over the order at age group level iirc so Siddons insistence on batting him at eight where you would normally put a bowling allrounder, or not at all, was bonkers, but then we already know Siddons ideas are dubious thanks to boomergate and throwergate.
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
Ahh Stewart Rhodes. The Penrith second grade flop. Good times.
AndyZaltzHair
Hall of Fame Member
Shafiul got injured
New Zealand in Bangladesh 2013-14 : Shafiul Islam ruled out of ODI series | Cricket News | Bangladesh v New Zealand | ESPN Cricinfo
All tickets got sold out for 1st ODI and now people are attacking some ticket centers in desperation; crazy stuff
New Zealand in Bangladesh 2013-14 : Shafiul Islam ruled out of ODI series | Cricket News | Bangladesh v New Zealand | ESPN Cricinfo
All tickets got sold out for 1st ODI and now people are attacking some ticket centers in desperation; crazy stuff
Hurricane
Hall of Fame Member
This is hilarious. Your country is so cricket crazy it defies belief. I would think you have a 50/50 chance of winning the series at least.
Bahnz
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Southee has been magnificent. In the channel every ball, nipping it both ways. We missed him so badly in the tests.
