*Unofficial* New Zealand Black Caps Thread

[nzfan]

I think Rachin is a super accurate bowler otherwise there's no way he'd have had the economy rate he does in white ball cricket particularly most good games are vs national A sides.

I just think he's not as patient as he should be for a test bowler. His skills are good but temperament for long format is debatable. Relies on change of pace way too much. Ideal to keep hitting the lines and length and have patience.

 

[nzfan]

Latham, Blundell, Conway, Taylor, Nicholls, Rachin, Watling, Jamieson, Southee, Henry, Wagner for me.

The game is still some distance away and current form will not matter but I think Blundell is one of those that'll find a way to do well.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Chennai really struggled in the last IPL and have a pretty old team, so there's a good chance that Santner might be back. Also don't rule out Phillips batting 6 and bowling some offies.

 

[Moss]

Latham, Blundell, Conway, Taylor, Nicholls, Rachin, Watling, Jamieson, Southee, Henry, Wagner for me.

The game is still some distance away and current form will not matter but I think Blundell is one of those that'll find a way to do well.

Pretty much my XI except would probably have Young ahead of Blundell (Conway opens, Young at 3 probably), especially if he goes well for Durham in April. Think Anderson and Broad would back themselves against Blundell though the latter has generally made a good fist of opening the batting.

Would want the selectors to keep an open mind re the bowling composition for the Southampton final though. Moeen Ali bowled England to victory in both the 2014 and 2018 tests vs India there, if that’s anything to go by.

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

Rachin finally gets his maiden call up to the senior team...good to see.

I have been following on social media for a while now.

 

[Moss]

Happy alright with the Ravindra selection, and a pleasant surprise to see Duffy in there too. Here’s hoping for the start of a long and fruitful career for Rachin.

One sore point for me is the non-inclusion of Somerville, surely in a squad of 20 you’d find room for both him and Ajaz (Bracewell a pretty redundant selection IMO with enough allrounders in there, would have given his spot to the second spin specialist). I know it’ll be a challenge for even one frontline spinner to get a game on this tour, but considering the state of spin options you’d at least want to give the ones in the frame a vote of confidence, especially with an India tour coming up later in theyear.

 

[vandem]

...One sore point for me is the non-inclusion of Somerville, surely in a squad of 20 you’d find room for both him and Ajaz (Bracewell a pretty redundant selection IMO with enough allrounders in there, would have given his spot to the second spin specialist). I know it’ll be a challenge for even one frontline spinner to get a game on this tour, but considering the state of spin options you’d at least want to give the ones in the frame a vote of confidence, especially with an India tour coming up later in theyear.

There is a risk that Boult and Jamieson won't be available for the 1st test, and I suspect that the selectors wanted the the option of a standard 4 seamer lineup + 1 backup in case of injury (Southee Henry Duffy Wagner, + Bracewell).

No need to carry a 4th spinner / spinning all-rounder, if the 1st test pitch is brown and Santner still with IPL and there is a pre-game injury to Ravindra or Patel, then the other can play.

 

[Howsie]

Glenn Phillips with some serious work to do then

 

[NZTailender]

I’d have somers for bracewell but otherwise good squad

 

[Binkley]

Bracewell? Really? Has he done a single thing of note since Hobart 10 years ago? Apart from drunk driving. Sigh, I suppose the selectors have to pick someone to grumble about - otherwise we will have nothing to talk about.

 

[nzfan]

Same Ravindra's selection is not a surprise. Had heard from several quarters he was a bolter to play Bangladesh but then his shoulder went. Remarkable recovery though considering they were talking about him being out for a year nearly.

Duffy and Bracewell picks are surprising. Bracewell likely fill in for Kyle. Duffy is not a bad pick, he's actually quite good. Somerville not making the squad is a surprise all right. I would have thought they will take an offie instead of 3 left arm spinners in the side. Again entirely depends on the opponents make up as well. If they have more right handers I'd rather have two spinners that take the ball away playing and vice versa.

 

[Immenso]

I figured Phillips wasn't touring after seeing him in the final round of Plunket Shield while almost all the other T20 squad skived off work.
NZ cricketer in actually playing cricket game shock. Had to be an explanation.

 

[Immenso]

Good squad, Predictable squad.

Only 2 spots out of the 20 were up for grabs IMO, They are the CdG and Doug spots.

CdG due to fitness concerns only. While Doug's spot could have been filled by any number of roles (bowler, batsman, allrounder or spinner) so impossible to call that 20th position.

 

[SteveNZ]

Disappointed not to see Somerville in there, as the off-spinning option. Suppose the counter argument is that England only has one LHer in their top 6 (Stokes, unless Burns is reinstated), and India only has Pant.

 

[nzfan]

What if CDG and Doug both aren't available in case they don't recover fully? CDG is nursing knee and Doug hip.

Rosco, Ajaz and Ravindra have had recent injuries too.

 

[Bahnz]

If CdG can't play, in all likelihood Mitchell will be first cab off the rank.

 

[TheBrand]

Pretty good squad, surprised not to see Phillips in there though although I suppose Ravindra is the player they are earmarking for top 6 spinning option.

Bracewell had a good domestic season but I'll be really mad if he plays any of these tests.

 

[Binkley]

I think Phillips can feel really hard done by, especially with Rachin in the side. Which isn’t to say Rachin is not a player of immense potential. But Phillips has played really well this season, and IMO doesn’t deserve to be dropped.

 

[Athlai]

Test Squad

Kane Williamson (c), Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Devon Conway, Colin de Grandhomme, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Will Young

Yolo:
Tom Latham
Rachin Ravindra
Kane Williamson (c)
Ross Taylor
Devon Conway
Henry Nicholls
BJ Watling (+)
Kyle Jamieson
Tim Southee
Neil Wagner
Trent Boult


Probably:
Tim Latham
Tom Blundell
Kane Williamson (c)
Ross Taylor
Henry Nicholls
BJ Watling (+)
CDG/Santa
Kyle Jamieson
Tim Southee
Neil Wagner
Trent Boult

 

[Flem274*]

ferguson robbed