*Official* New Zealand in England 2021

[Prince EWS]

Moving on... Who's going to be the 12th man? With the concussion sub available in tests even picking the 12th man becomes important. Can we pick anyone from the wider squad and replace the concussed player as long as it's like for like or have to nominate one or two players? What's the rule?

Yes.

 

[nzfan]

Yes.

Bit unfair for England they have 15 while we have 20.

 

[Moss]

The reasoning behind my take is that Santner is there because they believe he can contribute. Ajaz was ready for the mount game vs Pakistan but they played Santner ahead of him. Can't remember the exact runs Santner got but he did score some runs and looked better than before with the bat. I remember the game at mount vs England, he scored a hundred and took few wickets as well.

His record at home is not too bad but not good overseas. Maybe it's time to give him the two tests and see if he has improved. If he hasn't then move on. If he doesn't play any, he'll be there in every squad we'll pick in future and waste a spot. I'd rather see him play succeed and play for a long time or be ousted and bring in someone like Rippon as a backup while Ravindra gets a go in future.

In a regular scenario I’d agree with this, but given there’s the final at Southampton coming up I’d rather give some game time to the spinner most likely to do well against against India (ie. Ajaz). Or from an allrounder perspective, think the side would get more out of Rachin, but anyhoo. Hopefully the pacemen do their jobs to the extent we won’t need too much from the spinner.

 

[Prince EWS]

Bit unfair for England they have 15 while we have 20.

I don't think they even technically need to be in the squad tbh. They could fly someone in they wanted to.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Bit unfair for England they have 15 while we have 20.

19

 

[nzfan]

In a regular scenario I’d agree with this, but given there’s the final at Southampton coming up I’d rather give some game time to the spinner most likely to do well against against India (ie. Ajaz). Or from an allrounder perspective, think the side would get more out of Rachin, but anyhoo. Hopefully the pacemen do their jobs to the extent we won’t need too much from the spinner.

I'd be disappointed if they don't give Santner a go in at least one of the test and play him directly in the wtc final. That'll be a disaster playing him against India with no recent match practice. Our management has penchant for picking him in crucial games over others. Indians aren't mug with the bat and although the left arm spinners seem to pick wickets against them if they get struck in like they did to Leach we'll be blown away. I can't see Rachin getting a game ahead of Santner or Ajaz in the wtc finals. We're not India or Pakistan to try a newbie in a must win game. I'd rather they pick someone they're going to definitely play in the wtc final and going by our management it's likely Santner.

 

[Moss]

I'd rather they pick someone they're going to definitely play in the wtc final and going by our management it's likely Santner.

If this does happen, do you want him to be picked for the allrounder spot, or as one of 4 specialist bowlers from no.8 down for this series?

 

[nzfan]

If this does happen, do you want him to be picked for the allrounder spot, or as one of 4 specialist bowlers from no.8 down for this series?

Ajaz in my opinion is the best spin bowling option we have. I'd rather risk playing Ajaz even if he isn't known to contribute with the bat or is a gun fielder like Santner. The tail is still reasonable.

If we pick Santner he'll be my no 8 bat and the 5th bowler. CDG plays at 7 and bowls heaps. I'm more than confident in CDG's bowling. He'll get out slogging but will get some quick 30s/40s. We'll have to sacrifice one of the fast bowlers in the wtc finals. Boult plays of course. Jamieson has to play vs India. One of Southee or Wagner will have to make way. If Santner turns out to be useless I'll go with Ajaz for the finals.

 

[nzfan]

We need to win the first test if we're playing full strength. England is fielding their 2nd or even 3rd XI. We'll start as favorites but by chance if Anderson and Broad both play and wreck havoc we'll be in a bit of confused state by the second test. I'm pretty sure we'll likely win the first test at least going by the squads on paper. In case if it doesn't go all right we won't know whether to make changes or not. Can't make panic changes going by the results otherwise we'll be nowhere by the finals. Conway, Kane and Taylor need to come good. We need these three to be firing. They're our batting pillars. Jamieson and Southee will have to perform with the ball. If these 5 players are in good form and even if we lose a test we'll be all right.

 

[Gremlin]

Broad named as VC for the series. I can't help thinking that England will have no reviews remaining after the first 5 overs.

 

[honestbharani]

Broad named as VC for the series. I can't help thinking that England will have no reviews remaining after the first 5 overs.

When Root is off the field, you mean?

 

[wpdavid]

Broad named as VC for the series. I can't help thinking that England will have no reviews remaining after the first 5 overs.

So presumably he isn't going to be rotated out of the side in either of these matches.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Anyone else think that looking at our batting we are going to get smashed here?

 

[Fuller Pilch]

According to stuff.co.nz NZ has now cut things to 12 for the first test:

Conway, Latham, Williamson, Taylor, Nicholls, Watling, CDG, Santner, Jamieson, Southee, Wagner, Henry

One out CDG, Santner, and Henry to miss out.
England favourites at the NZ TAB.

 

[Moss]

Anyone else think that looking at our batting we are going to get smashed here?

This is largely the same top 6 that turned out over the last season right (with the exception of Stokes of course)? Without Stokes and Buttler to shore things up it does look fragile, but this is a young lot and they’ve each had their moments in tests; put together enough support for Root and who knows.

Thinking back to NZ’s last visit, the top 6 then was Cook, Lyth, Ballance, Root, Bell, Stokes. Been a long time indeed.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

According to stuff.co.nz NZ has now cut things to 12 for the first test:

Conway, Latham, Williamson, Taylor, Nicholls, Watling, CDG, Santner, Jamieson, Southee, Wagner, Henry

One out CDG, Santner, and Henry to miss out.
England favourites at the NZ TAB.

The Herald thinks Henry is the probable 12th man. #bat deep
Santner, Jamieson, Southee, Wagner is a very strong 8-11

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

This is largely the same top 6 that turned out over the last season right (with the exception of Stokes of course)?

Yep, Lawrence in for Stokes at 5 is the only change from England's top 6 last year. But it certainly does feel fragile, especially as we don't bat deep either like we did a few years back. New Zealand the stronger side on paper for sure right now, but playing at home counts for a lot so hopefully it'll be a good matchup. The chatter now is that both Anderson and Broad will play the first Test at least, so a nice challenge for Conway first up.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

This is largely the same top 6 that turned out over the last season right (with the exception of Stokes of course)? Without Stokes and Buttler to shore things up it does look fragile, but this is a young lot and they’ve each had their moments in tests; put together enough support for Root and who knows.

Thinking back to NZ’s last visit, the top 6 then was Cook, Lyth, Ballance, Root, Bell, Stokes. Been a long time indeed.

Playing a much stronger side than we did last year though.

 

[nzfan]

Fair enough selection I think from Black Caps. Obviously there's going to be told you so if Santner doesn't go well but I'd rather see him play and see if he takes this opportunity. I think this may have been planned well ahead. Ajaz not in the contract list, Ravindra opening in the inter squad may have meant Santner was always going to start. Just that Ravindra having a good inter squad game created some interest for followers. Darry Mitchell missing out is unlucky, he's not my favorite player but the man hasn't put a foot wrong so far with the black caps. I suppose it's time for CDG and Santner to deliver. The faith put in by Stead and more so by Kane will need to be paid by Santner. He can have an ok game and be considered for the next two games. He doesn't have to have a match winning effort but if he does that's great. I'd take 40+ runs in two gigs and 3-4 wickets from either Santner or CDG or both. That'll be good enough to invest in both and have some consistency in selection up till WTC finals.

 

[Flem274*]

we desperately need jamieson to score a test ton so santner becomes a white ball specialist, finally, forever