*Official* NZ Domestic Season

[Right arm fast]

im heading down to the canterbury game in about an hour will finally be able to compare sherlocks speed to bonds

 

[Blakey]

That would be cool. Nice day down that way I hear.

Also who is this kid Bennet who picked up the other opener. Says he is around 18 or so and was first change.

 

[Right arm fast]

yea hamish bennet or something he was in the nz academy team i think

 

[cric_manic]

Sherlock claimed a wicked already. Wish we could get commentary with these games - online, such as with cricinfo.

Just listen to radio sport they always have commentary of the games

 

[Right arm fast]

otago in early trouble at 55/3 a wicket each to cairns,sherlock and bennett
james franklin bowled 7 overs 4 maidens 2-15 at this point against the stags

 

[_Ed_]

james franklin bowled 7 overs 4 maidens 2-15 at this point against the stags

Make that 7.1-4-15-3!

 

[Right arm fast]

make that 7.4-4-16-4 wow!!

 

[Right arm fast]

and otago in strife at 65/5 bond with 2 wickets i sense another low score for otago although hopefully redmond can continue his form and belt a big score

 

[Blakey]

sherlock and bond taking them apart. O dear. Thought the pitches in NZ were getting better...

 

[Smudge]

New drop-in pitch at Carisbrook.

 

[Tim]

Thats a very good pace attack, Cairns is still a dangerous bowler at FC level too.

Sherlock & Bond opening the bowling for NZ, now i'd like to see that.

 

[Blakey]

Can anyone enlighten me about Hamish Bennet?

 

[_Ed_]

Can't say I know much about him, sorry.

Great to see:

Bond 12.4-6-13-4
Franklin 16.3-5-30-7

 

[Tim]

medium/fast pacer from South Canterbury. Don't really know too much more about him..but they must rate him highly seeing he's only 19.

 

[Ming]

Astle being tried as a possible Test opener? Bracewell did voice this a while back, and he's just got out opening for Canterbury. Not sure if he has the techqniue to do the job though.

 

[Blakey]

Can't say I know much about him, sorry.

Great to see:

Bond 12.4-6-13-4
Franklin 16.3-5-30-7

I take more interest in Bond's figures mainly because he has performed so well on the international stage where as Franklin has not. And so taking seven wickets against a state side just makes me think it was 'his day'. It's almost like Macca scoring a hundred and Braces using it as justification to keep him in the squad. Crap. Bracken bowls the same pace as Franlin yet he creates so many more opportunities by placing it in the right spot. Our pitches have so much to answer for - giving a false sense of security and easy wickets with the ball doing to much off the pitch. Times are changing thank god.

19 - very young but very fortunate to have Bond bowling along side him. Nice.

 

[Prince EWS]

I take more interest in Bond's figures mainly because he has performed so well on the international stage where as Franklin has not

Excuse me? Franklin averages a very respectable 27.1 in test cricket with the ball. Frankly, Im sick and tired of people sayin he hasnt performed. He has had rough times against Australia at various stages, but who, with the exception of Bond, hasnt? He has also bowled good spells against Australia at times, and has a couple of 5'fas against them.

James Franklin is definately a test standard bowler IMO.

 

[_Ed_]

I agree that Franklin is test standard, in fact I want him to be a test regular...just don't want him anywhere near the ODI side at the moment.

 

[Blaze]

Yeah Franklin will be a very useful test bowler in a couple of seasons with experience if they stick with him. I can see him becoming quite a good test bowler.

 

[Prince EWS]

I agree that Franklin is test standard, in fact I want him to be a test regular...just don't want him anywhere near the ODI side at the moment.

I completely agree.

In saying that though, there arent really a lot of other options in ODIs. Mills has improved a lot, and should open the bowling and bowl out his 10 IMO. Bond and Adams should probably be the other bowlers when they are fit, but they are often injured, so you need to have backups. Martin and Franklin arent good enough, but who does that leave? Tuffey? Patel? McSkimming?