*Official * Pakistan vs New Zealand 2023

[Immenso]

The 4-0 scorecard is a fair enough reflection of the two sides, though NZ should have done better defending 336 in Rawalpindi, and definitely made a better fist of chasing 288 in Karachi. B team or not they’ve been just about competitive enough for Pakistan to feel like they’ve earned the victories.

But I think it’s just more vindication of how short sighted NZ’s selection policy for white ball cricket has been since 2016 or so. Guys like Young, Chapman and Blundell have been on the fringes of the national side for at least 5 years now and should have had a lot more games under their belt, we should not still be in the discovery phase when it comes to them.

As for the bowling, the insistence on playing Boult, Southee and Santner in just about every white ball game (regardless of relevance) for the longest time pre-pandemic, has meant that the second line has just not been allowed to develop, we’re seeing the issues with that now. Tough for the likes of Shipley, Lister and Tickner to be starting out their international careers in this fashion.

I'm all for rotation in JAMODIs. But the counter point to your 'since 2016' point is that the white ball team has made 2 finals, semifinals etc. So, maybe if you 'have the generation ' you also need to play them if you want to take advantage of that.

In that time you mention since 2016: Henry became a white ball specialist meaning he has become the all round bowler he is today with plenty experience, hard to not pick Fergusson.

Personally, my criticism of our selections definitely dont go that far back. Really only about 1 year back for me. Was ok to ride the good times while they lasted but need to react more quickly once we started bombing in the current cycles.

We've had a bubble of a generation, not just the test team but also the white ball specialists.

 

[Howsie]

I have probably watched about 20 mins of action during this whole tour but looking at the scorecards after every game you’d have a hard time convincing me Josh Clarkson shouldn’t be here. What’s the long term game, play Neesham until he’s 50?

 

[Howsie]

What happened to Seifert, wasn’t he named for a part of this tour? Did he pick up an injury during the Sri Lankan series?

 

[vandem]

What happened to Seifert, wasn’t he named for a part of this tour? Did he pick up an injury during the Sri Lankan series?

" Tim Seifert features in the squad for the home series against Sri Lanka but won’t travel to Pakistan as he and his wife await the birth of their first child."

Latham to lead T20 Squad against Sri Lanka and Pakistan | Bowes and Shipley set for potential debuts

Tom Latham will return to international T20 action for the first time since 2021 to lead the BLACKCAPS T20 sides against Sri Lanka (home) and Pakistan (away). Latham will captain both squads which feature potential T20 debutants in Canterbury Kings duo Chad Bowes and Henry Shipley, along with...

www.nzc.nz

 

[jcas0167]

Mitchell rested. Would have preferred to see Ravindra or Bowes open and Young move to 3.

 

[trundler]

That's the definition of throwing it away.

 

[SteveNZ]

Henry Nicholls' batting positions since the end of our previous summer (2021-22) 2, 2, 5, 5, 5, 3, 3, 3, 6, 6, 7, 7, 6, 3. Gary not quite sure when he should bat. Maybe he's an opener? Maybe he's a finisher? Maybe he's a middle order player? Oop, no maybe he's first drop. But hey, Henry's only been playing ODI cricket since 2015, so I guess we'll keep trying

 

[straw man]

Nicholls is an ok reserve for spots 1-5, he should never bat 6 or 7 though.

Young has to turn this start into a big one - ODIs are his foothold in the NZ side, he's not looking like getting another chance in tests or T20s (full strength) any time soon. He's looked in reasonable form in the ODIs (odd, after he looked poor in the T20s) but has not been ruthless, has found ways to get out.

 

[trundler]

2 very, very lucky wickets so far

 

[_Ed_]

Bloody hell, Will.

 

[straw man]

unlucky number 87

Good ball though.

 

[Moss]

Young’s had his issues with leg spin through the tour, on this occasion was a genuinely good ball as opposed to getting himself out. Should have done much more on the tour, but done enough for a WC spot I suppose.

 

[trundler]

Should've kicked on given the conditions but that's probably enough to displace Allen. I shudder to think how he'll do when the new ball does a bit or when he isn't in prime form.

 

[trundler]

Good platform for NZ here. Their finishing has been a problem and the lower order looks thin again so this partnership is very important.

 

[Moss]

Neesham honestly has been quite fortunate that NZ haven’t explored Champan’s bowling abilities, on the basis of this tour Chapman offers much more with the bat (both aren’t too good against well-directed pace though) and probably won’t leak much more than Neesham with the ball if given the chance.

Don’t know if the management sees them as competing for a WC spot (especially given the lack of ‘finishers’ which is Neesham’s main role), but as a batting allrounder just seems to be more upside now to playing Chapman.

 

[Nintendo]

Neesham honestly has been quite fortunate that NZ haven’t explored Champan’s bowling abilities, on the basis of this tour Chapman offers much more with the bat (both aren’t too good against well-directed pace though) and probably won’t leak much more than Neesham with the ball if given the chance.

Don’t know if the management sees them as competing for a WC spot (especially given the lack of ‘finishers’ which is Neesham’s main role), but as a batting allrounder just seems to be more upside now to playing Chapman.

I'de assume managment see chapman and phillips as competing for a spot more than neeshaw.

 

[trundler]

Neesham's batting has devolved to sub-Shaheen levels so on that basis alone Chairman should be preferred. Mitchell and Chapman can combine together to bowl the 2-4 overs required from the 6th bowler.

 

[trundler]

I'de assume managment see chapman and phillips as competing for a spot more than neeshaw.

New Zealand might be the only team with a better lower middle order than top order right now.

 

[Nintendo]

Neesham's batting has devolved to sub-Shaheen levels so on that basis alone Chairman should be preferred. Mitchell and Chapman can combine together to bowl the 2-4 overs required from the 6th bowler.

Realistically a full strength side is:
1.Allen/Young
2.Conway
3.Mitchell
4.Latham
5.Chapman?
6.Phillips
7.Bracewell
8.Santner
9.Southee
10.Henry
11.Boult/Sodhi

Right? you've got 4 solid front line options and bracewell, phillips, champan and mitchell to make up the remaining 10 and any other's you need filled in if one of the frontliners has a bad day.

 

[Nintendo]

New Zealand might be the only team with a better lower middle order than top order right now.

Allen's odi numbers are a bit grim aren't they? Didn't realise his average had dropped to 31, saw him make that 50 vs SL in his last game and assumed it was somewhere closer to 36.