***Official*** Sri Lanka in New Zealand 2015

[vandem]

Yeah it'll feel like the end of an era in more ways then one, given that McCullum is the last survivor of Fleming's team

May still have 1-2 years of ODI and T20 to go. Will be interesting to see if he stands down from the short-form captaincy.

 

[Days of Grace]

Baz can make the next World Cup if he really wanted to.

 

[Hurricane]

Grades for commentators

Russell Arnold A- (loses points for some blatant trolling)
Ian Smith B+ - put one foot in front of another
Craig Cumming F (his little segment was appalling)
Scott Styris D (has no clue and said predictable answers)
Rigor B Has a unique brand of humour
Harris A- (surprising insights into bowling strategies.)

 

[hendrix]

Russell gains points for his trolling IMO

 

[Hurricane]

Russell gains points for his trolling IMO

Exchange from Saturday

Rusell "So they tell me Dunedin has the world's steepest st"
Smith "Yes X street - very famous. If you like we can get you kitted up and you can have a race up it against Scott Styris".
Russell "I would rather race you I think Smithy"
Smith "Yes well. see you at the top".

 

[Gnske]

Grades for commentators

Russell Arnold A- (loses points for some blatant trolling)
Ian Smith B+ - put one foot in front of another
Craig Cumming F (his little segment was appalling)
Scott Styris D (has no clue and said predictable answers)
Rigor B Has a unique brand of humour
Harris A- (surprising insights into bowling strategies.)

Loosen up, Cumming your way was a classic.

 

[Hurricane]

Loosen up, Cumming your way was a classic.

It was diabolical and you know it.

At worst it was how to suck eggs.
At best it was some ill researched nonsense.

Cumming "Here is why the toe of the bat is called the toe of the bat. Because people used to tap their bat on their toe. Of course it could also be that it is just the bottom of the bat we never did get resolution on this during our research. "
"Now lets pan out to my research team" *** Camera Zooms to show three other camera operators waving their hands. How cheap a segment is that. They didn't even have professional writers. The camera operators wrote the segment.

Enough said.

It was a full blown disgrace to all things related to her majesty's game.

 

[Athlai]

Loosen up, Cumming your way was a classic.

Cumming your way is ATG. Revealing that they didn't really check any of the sources very hard made it a hundred times better.

 

[kiwiviktor81]

To me Santner is Vettoriesque is more than a few ways. I reckon move him to 5 post McCullum and hope he ends up as good as Vettori was when he was our best batsman (although not batting at 8 like Vettori).

 

[Howsie]

Santner will end up in the middle order eventually. But even I don't think it'll happen in just a couple of months though...

 

[Athlai]

Yeah no way should Santner bat ahead of Watling Anderson or Neesham. He's ready to be a Test 7 but those guys are all a bit better.

 

[GGG]

May still have 1-2 years of ODI and T20 to go. Will be interesting to see if he stands down from the short-form captaincy.

Wasn't he talking about giving up ODI's a while back and focusing on tests?

 

[Flem274*]

Cumming Your Way and the Lift Plus thing were awesome

 

[weldone]

Vithanage looks a bit like Robert Vadra.

 

[BeeGee]

Yeah, fair point, but then again on the occasions when Southee, Boult and Wagner are all fit and firing we've never had too many issues taking 20 wickets. In that situation I just feel that Bracewell is kinda surplus to requirements.

Indeed.

In that situation Santner and Anderson should both be playing, really.

I basically just don't think comparing Santner to Anderson directly really accomplishes much. I think there are essentially three package deals to consider:

1. Anderson+Craig
2. Anderson+Santner
3. Santner+Bracewell

If Santner v Anderson is a relevant debate when it comes to selection then Craig v Bracewell weighs in on the importance of the answer to the original debate. Anderson's the best batsman/batting allrounder and Bracewell's the best bowler/bowling allrounder, but the balance wouldn't fit with them both together as there'd be no spinner.

I'll take door number 2 please. I'm a fan of the 3 seamers, 1 spinner, 1 all rounder, 1 keeper, 5 batsmen balance.

Santner is competing with Craig, Bracewell is competing with Wagner and Henry, Anderson is competing with Neesham and Bracewell. Bracewell can compete for 3rd seamer or all rounder.

BTW, my insistence on Anderson being in the starting 11 has nothing to do with the fact that I'm in love with him and I want to have his babies.

 

[Howsie]

Henry Nicolls has been named in the ODI team apparently. He's the only uncapped player. Santner and Sodhi the spin options and no Neesham or Anderson. Somehow Ronchi is still there....

 

[wellAlbidarned]

our test no 5 when baz retires. you all know it.

 

[RxGM]

New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (captain), Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, George Worker, Luke Ronchi, Doug Bracewell, Mitchell McClenaghan, Adam Milne, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry (first two ODIs), Tim Southee (3rd ODI).

 

[BeeGee]

our test no 5 when baz retires. you all know it.

I don't know ****.

 

[RxGM]

Im a little bit nervous that our batting lineup is to top heavy like it was when ross was captain. With brendon going ballistic at the top we need someone at 5 who can control the innings if we are 50/3.
I would argue that person is BJ Watling, but it looks like Santner and Worker will have that role.