*Official** New Zealand in England

[Dick Rockett]

Courtney...

I don't know, I remember he hit two enormous sixes at Lancaster Park a few years ago in a ODI. Or was that Ambrose?

 

[southern man]

Ross Taylor must go to England and play against South Africa.

 

[Mingster]

Ross Taylor must go to England and play against South Africa.

England? Maybe.

South Africa? No.

He needs more consistent seasons to push his claims.

Even thought he played a brilliant innings today...

 

[southern man]

I dont care you didnt see what i did.

 

[Token]

I dont care you didnt see what i did.

Very very valid reason somebody get Braces on the phone...you really think Ross Taylor would play against South Africa on the basis of 6 games?

 

[southern man]

I can get on the phone to Braces brother and then he could relay the call the Jhonny .
But then again its abit late to be making calls isnt it.

 

[marc71178]

This fielding side from NZ is the best for years. ANd is probably the best in the world at the moment without doubt.

I wouldn't necessarily say that - there's some very good fielding sides around at the moment.

I haven't had the pleasure of seeing the NZ team for a while, but am hopefully going to the Old Trafford ODI in June.

 

[Richard]

marc I seriously hope you're joking.
Fielding standards are aboninable ATM. Catches go down at a rate of more than 2 a game.:O :O
Just because ground-fielding is better than it was 20 years ago does not mean it's good!

 

[Richard]

Oh,to the people (or person) who thinks that bond doesn't swing the ball,what about in the VB series? 5-25? aussies 26-4?

so what? gilchrist couldn't play a straight ball? If you see his dismissal (bowled by bond)its ovbious it swung.

Please read carefully - while I may be mistaken in thinking Bond doesn't swing the red ball, I have never even remotely suggested he doesn't swing the white one.
And The VB Series was by no means the only example.

 

[Richard]

As for Bond, I think some people are asserting that he can't swing the red ball. This, as most who have seen him in tests will know, is bollocks.

I never said I was certain of anything, did I?

 

[Richard]

England have a solid batting lineup but their bowling looks either too raw or not of international standard. There are a few exceptions of course, ie Ashley Giles! :P

Surely if you're too raw you're not international standard...?:rolleyes:

 

[Richard]

But the thing is, Bond never played in that India series and all the matches Bond has played, have not been on bowling friendly-friendly conditions at all.

As far as I can recall, the only time Bond has played in NZ, was that Bangladesh series where the pitches were of a high-standard.

This makes Bond's figures even more impressive.

I suggest you check the archives:
New Zealand v India, 2002\03, First Test
New Zealand v India, 2002\03, Second Test
And whether the pitches in the NZ-Ban series were of high standard is hardly significant - Bangladesh's batsmen are so poor, and they were even worse then, they take the pitch out of the equation - all you have to do is bowl with a semblence of accuracy and a semblence of pace and you'll get very cheap wickets.
If Bond truly is an outstanding bowler he doesn't need seamer-friendly conditions, because he'll turn all conditions to his advantage.
However, the fact is, out of 3 series he's played against decent batsmen in conditions that didn't assist seamers, he's failed in 2 of them.
Not that you can judge certainly on 2 poor series out of 3 when the other was good, just that no way can we call Bond up with the best Test bowlers around ATM yet.

 

[Richard]

As far as I can gather, he hasn't made any statements about retiring yet.

He's crocked at the moment however he was in with a chance for WI but I'm hoping he gets a chance to get back into FC cricket in summer '04 and therefore stake a claim to get back in.

Nonetheless the time he's missed is alarming.
I'll be delighted, but nonetheless surprised, if he gets back to fitness.
And I can't believe less than half a season would be enough to prove his fitness and form, so that counts out the New Zealand series.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Catches go down at a rate of more than 2 a game.:O :O

Per day for the West Indies.

Even the best of sides appear to be dropping more catches now than in the recent past.

 

[BlackCap_Fan]

But bond isn't experienced yet.But I beleive that in about 5 years he will be as good as akhtar or lee....

 

[Dick Rockett]

I never said I was certain of anything, did I?

Calm down sunshine! No-one's having a go at you

 

[Dick Rockett]

Surely if you're too raw you're not international standard...?:rolleyes:

That's one way of looking at it, but is not always the case.

Daniel Vettori, for example, was selected for NZ after only 2 FC games. Raw, but he was certainly international standard.

Ian Butler, on the other hand, is raw and not even FC standard, IMO.

Swings and roundabouts I guess...

 

[Dick Rockett]

I suggest you check the archives:
New Zealand v India, 2002\03, First Test
New Zealand v India, 2002\03, Second Test
And whether the pitches in the NZ-Ban series were of high standard is hardly significant - Bangladesh's batsmen are so poor, and they were even worse then, they take the pitch out of the equation - all you have to do is bowl with a semblence of accuracy and a semblence of pace and you'll get very cheap wickets.
If Bond truly is an outstanding bowler he doesn't need seamer-friendly conditions, because he'll turn all conditions to his advantage.
However, the fact is, out of 3 series he's played against decent batsmen in conditions that didn't assist seamers, he's failed in 2 of them.
Not that you can judge certainly on 2 poor series out of 3 when the other was good, just that no way can we call Bond up with the best Test bowlers around ATM yet.

Depends how you look at it. Certainly at the Basin Reserve test, which I attended, Bond was swinging the ball for his wickets, which has nothing to do with the pitch. The one that got Dravid was poetry!

As for his failed series, the first was his debut series, against Australia, in Australia. he was selected out of nowhere and was hardly prepared to play the best side in the world at home.

Not everyone can pull a "Lou Vincent" on debut.

 

[BlackCap_Fan]

Bond has made a better start to his career than most.Hes already got more than 50 wickets.

Butler,I.M.O was a reasonable choice for the England tour of NZ,But he bowled too many wides and no balls.I don't think he'll be playing for NZ much ATM,because he just can't compete with Tuffey,Bond,Vettori and Oram.

I think if the selectors are desperate (sp?)they will pick butler.He isnt fast enough to beat batsmen for sheer pace,but he thinks he is,abowls as fast as he can and bowls wides and no balls and gets clobbered.

He needs a few more years of FC I.M.O,because he hadn't played many FC games when he was selected to play against england,but the Selectors really struck gold with Vettori and Bond.

 

[Mingster]

I wouldn't necessarily say that - there's some very good fielding sides around at the moment.

I haven't had the pleasure of seeing the NZ team for a while, but am hopefully going to the Old Trafford ODI in June.

No. Have you seen the NZ Fielding since Bracewell has taken over? It's sensational and better than Aussies. They have dropped over 20 catches this Indian summer.

Bond performed well over in India.