*Official* Sri Lanka in New Zealand, 2024–25 (ODIs / T20Is)

[Skyliner]

Given Kane is essentially a de facto opener anyway I wouldn't worry too much about Ravindra opening in T20's. A lot of players who normally bat 4 or 5 in red ball cricket have successfully opened in limited overs.

Fisher played in the NZ XI game and if he has a good Super Smash will presumably get a call up at some stage.

Yup, obviously no other guys around that can open for is in T20’s so good that Rachin is doing it I suppose.

 

[ataraxia]

All I’ve said is that when Kane eventually retires we do need that ‘the sides best batsman’ person batting at 3 (sometimes they bat at 4) and Rachin is the obvious candidate. Every side has ‘that guy’ be it Steve Smith, Joe Root, Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, Greg Chappell, Martin Crowe. I don’t know what benefit there is in having Rachin open in T20 cricket but maybe there is some.

No. We don't. That's wrong. Ravindra should bat in a position in which he is suited. Don't pigeonhole him in to bat 3 in NZ if he's susceptible against the new ball!

 

[Skyliner]

No. We don't. That's wrong. Ravindra should bat in a position in which he is suited. Don't pigeonhole him in to bat 3 in NZ if he's susceptible against the new ball!

Righto, where do you see him settling in the batting order? Ultimately there are few places for a quality top order player to hide and you are expected to be able to cope with a newish ball. Batting down the order at 5 or 6 and you’ll more often than not come up against the second new ball.

I guess I’m a test cricket fan first and foremost so view everything through a lens of what will be good for our test side.

 

[ataraxia]

Righto, where do you see him settling in the batting order? Ultimately there are few places for a quality top order player to hide and you are expected to be able to cope with a newish ball. Batting down the order at 5 or 6 and you’ll more often than not come up against the second new ball.

I guess I’m a test cricket fan first and foremost so view everything through a lens of what will be good for our test side.

5 would be ideal IMO, but we're always staring down a shortness of top-order players and a heap of middle-order players. So he'll probably continue at 4.

 

[TheBrand]

Any chance of Jacobs/Smith playing tonight? Would love to see them get a game.

 

[anonymouskefe]

Unchanged Xi again **** I hate these coaches.

 

[ataraxia]

No changes? Expected Smith to come in at least

 

[Howsie]

Pecking order etc etc

 

[anonymouskefe]

Just want to see Jacob’s can’t see why we don’t just play him

 

[King Kane]

Hopefully we get off to a better start than we did in the first T20, it would be hard to get off to a worse one.

 

[King Kane]

Straight up and straight out for Rachin, here we go again.

 

[Bahnz]

Jeez Rachin's form has dropped off a cliff since he left India.

 

[anonymouskefe]

Almost missing Allen opening such slow starts

 

[Gnske]

Feeling lucky to be able to watch Tim Robinson bat this afternoon

Correct, to be able to have the privilege

 

[King Kane]

Almost missing Allen opening such slow starts

If you had watched him playing for the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash you wouldn't be saying that, he has been a dismal failure for them so far.

Seifert has been a much bigger success for the Melbourne Renegades at the top of their order,, we could do with him right now.

Robinson and Chapman aren't doing too badly here though, I'm glad they are giving Robinson a crack, he impressed me in the Super Smash.

 

[Skyliner]

All this failure as a T20 opener must be doing wonders for Rachin’s overall game. Nice one NZC. Pick Jacob’s and then don’t play him, trolling the fans once again. Nice one NZC.

 

[Prince EWS]

Straight up and straight out for Rachin, here we go again.

#straightup

 

[jcas0167]

No changes? Expected Smith to come in at least

They won the other night on the back of some excellent bowling from Henry and Duffy. And it would be harsh to replace Foulkes. I'm glad he's getting another opportunity.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Mark Wood

I'm sure there's a whole bunch of them but no good example is coming immediately to mind. Iain O'Brien maybe? James Franklin (until he lost it again)?

Probably the best example I can think of is Flintoff who was 130kmh in the early days, but turned himself into 145+ in time for the 05 Ashes.

Maybe Kyle Jamieson too, though I think he put on 10 ks during the transition from first class to test cricket rather than after his international debut

all of these guys had a massive technical flaw which they fixed or obviously had massive headroom

Wood - was already hitting 145kph bowling off 10 paces, lengthened his run up and got on the juice (@RossTaylorsBox)
Flintoff - not super clued up on his early career but obviously had some headroom. Also famously had to redline it to bowl at full pace, rest of career plagued by injury as a result
Jamieson - cbf digging it up but Heinrich is on record saying all he did was tell Kyle to try harder

Foulkes already has a solid action and looks like he's putting in the effort you expect of a quick bowler - I don't think he can find 10kph out of nowhere (or without massively increasing injury risk)

 

[Skyliner]

Craig ‘Straight Up’ McMillan