Swann was also tried, tested and failed at test level and immediately thrown back to domestic level, he had to prove himself to get another shot.
That wasn't the point I was making in the slightest. For a leg spinner to develop consistency, he needs to be bowling long, regular spells in first class cricket. The NZ Plunket Shield schedule is usually split and erratic, plus the pitches here are hardly ideal for leg spinners in general - most of the work being done by seamers as pitches are more conducive to seam and swing - thus meaning even if he is playing week in, week out - he probably won't be getting long spells of bowling. Some data below:
I think the counter-argument is that by exposing Sodhi to international cricket so early (in lieu of having an actually-decent spin option to go to as back-up, because, let's face it, no other non-DanV spinner is likely to take any wickets either) might allow him to gain the skills and experience that make him a Test-class bowler down the line -- skills and experience he isn't going to get from NZ domestic cricket or even playing in England. It's picking winners and it's distasteful when someone like Santner or Astle do stack up a few performances and should really get a look in, but it's somewhat understandable when the cupboard is absolutely bare.
Picking 18 year old Vettori vs Eng in 97-98 turned out OK, 9 wickets vs SL later that season in his 4th test (7th FC game). Selection was mainly based on 20-8-30-1 spell on FC debut in tour game vs Eng and raves from Eng team and journos, but was hard to see how he was the "next best option" when Mark Priest FC averages had been:
Now go and look at the average amount of overs per innings and the average strike rates in those formats... in NZ, except for one season where the pitches were graveyards, you're considered a good bowler if your average is under 32 and a great batsman if your average is over 35. You're not going to see bowlers bowl 30-60 overs in an match because the bulk of our innings don't even last 80 overs.That wasn't the point I was making in the slightest. For a leg spinner to develop consistency, he needs to be bowling long, regular spells in first class cricket. The NZ Plunket Shield schedule is usually split and erratic, plus the pitches here are hardly ideal for leg spinners in general - most of the work being done by seamers as pitches are more conducive to seam and swing - thus meaning even if he is playing week in, week out - he probably won't be getting long spells of bowling. Some data below:
Overs per first class match
Sodhi 27.2
Astle 25.2
Ian Salisbury 29.1
Warne 41.5
Kaneria 43.5
Mushtaq 38.2
MacGill 37.5
Qadir 39.1
Kumble 45.7
Granted from this data, it's hard to separate cause from effect - i.e. did Warne et. al. get more overs because they were the better bowlers or did they become better bowlers as they were able to bowl longer spells? One thing is surely true about that second group above - their countries are more conducive to spin than those in the top group (Brooke Walker bowled even less). Bryce McGain, who only played 33 first class games, still bowled more overs per match than Sodhi. Sodhi will only develop consistency if he bowls more - this is more true about leg spinners than any other type of bowler. Maybe international cricket isn't the place for him to develop but I don't necessarily believe he can be entirely written off at this stage but I think that NZC are playing him in these Test matches as they think he will develop more quickly at this level than sitting at home watching the Georgie Pie Super Smash waiting for the next first class game.
Maybe they should offer him up to NSW to replace William Somerville?
It's a little of column A and a little of column B. You know how dire our spin stocks are, and unless Jeets comes back into the fold Sodhi is every bit as good (or bad if you rather) as any other NZ spinner.
OK, but once last counter point - when do you say "enough is enough" - because at the moment, you've kept him in the side when he hasn't contributed anything, what happens if he improves from say a 73 average per wicket to a 63 average per wicket in his next series? Do you pick him again? Now you're in a position that most casino dwellers get into, you're chasing lost investments, you feel that "Well I've thrown $400 on the table, I can't leave until I get it back" - that to me is the very definition of the "Let's continue to select him, because we've given him exposure already" mentality.
Not quite so true in the years that Sodhi has been playing Plunket Shield, when a lot more of the innings have been lasting 100 - 150 overs and more than a dozen batsmen per season have been averaging greater than 50 with the bat.
That's why I do agree with you on not picking Sodhi -- it's probably about time to accept he's a sunk cost, and either pick Tastle as a stopgap opener-spinner combo or go without a spinner unless *absolutely* necessary (in which case you go for the best FC performer). I think the selectors see "enough is enough" as occurring when a better prospect shows up (which I suspect they view only as a wrist spinner), or someone genuinely dominates FC cricket and forces their way in.
I assume the decision would be made on how he bowls rather than the figures that represent it at the end of the game.
Some of us are old enough to remember the test career of John Parker ...
Exactly why Sodhi isn't likely to develop in NZ FC cricket -- the overs aren't available for him to bowl.
Quite a myth
Your perception of that idea may be coloured by how you see your players against spin. But coming from the view of someone who mostly watches NZ,AU,SA and Eng play. The overall skill level is just a lot higher.
I'm only picking him in the subcontinent and Australia. Everywhere else I'm not playing a spinner. Except for the Windies where ill play fingerspinners.
The overs are there for him to bowl, but he still isn't getting them.
Not really. Pakistan used to be very good at playing spin up till about the mid 1990s (perhaps till late 90s even). They have been pretty bad since. Every half decent spinner has had good success against Pak. Heck, even Imran Tahir was able to run through this batting line up on a pitch supporting a bit of spin.