*Unofficial* New Zealand Black Caps Thread

[Immenso]

They're not going to do anything radical 2 matches before the WTC final like change their opening partnership. It will be Blundell.

Conway will most likely fill in for Rosco for 1 test. I don't expect much beyond that.

The Conway / Young / Ravindra / Mitchell pickle re-shuffle only becomes into being after Watling retires.

 

[nzfan]

I don't think Blundell is going to start. They have to get Conway in and if Ross Taylor is available Devon will open. Blundell may play the second test and BJ rested for the 2nd game.

Like Immenso said I don't expect too many changes in the squad particularly in the batting line up. Maybe they will give some of the faster bowlers rest for the 2nd test match as the three matches are back to back and that will take a toll on our faster bowlers. 3 test matches within 20 days is too much for faster bowlers to recover so ideally best rested. Duffy, Doug should get a game no doubt.

 

[Immenso]

Blundell will definitely start. Even though he has pretty much just as much of a flaw as Young to ball nipping back, except he gets bowled.

Absolutely nothing from recent behaviour indicates to me that NZ selectors are going to drop their OK performing encumbent to shoe-horn in an out of position debutant. If Blundell was shot like Raval, then yes, but he isn't.

Conway may replace Taylor if he's still injured for England test(s). There will be an element of rotation for the England series anyway. If he rocks, he may push Mitchell out of the 11, as that is the luxury position in the 11. I'll eat my own young if he is opening in the WTC final.

 

[Athlai]

Sounds like an avatar bet on Blundell starting should be a goer for you guys.

My bet with Adders was for 4 years. It's a solid amount.

 

[kaetor]

It's quite the conundrum really. We'd all like to see Conway in, but moving him to open is a bit naff, and I do not see the selectors looking past Rosco despite his recent form being pretty bad.

I wonder with Young opening in County if that's a decision he made, the county made, or if NZ cricket pushed.

I would still personally stick with the two Tom's at the top though. Not worth a shake up at the top now.

 

[Bahnz]

It's quite the conundrum really. We'd all like to see Conway in, but moving him to open is a bit naff, and I do not see the selectors looking past Rosco despite his recent form being pretty bad.

I wonder with Young opening in County if that's a decision he made, the county made, or if NZ cricket pushed.

I would still personally stick with the two Tom's at the top though. Not worth a shake up at the top now.

I doubt NZC had much to do with it. It was probably primarily Young (or his agent) advertising his services as an opener for the current season and Durham deciding "Yeah, why not."

I just don't fancy Blundell's chances v England at all - even less than Young and certainly less than Conway. His front foot frailties have been too badly exposed in the past season for Anderson and Broad not to take advantage. Having said that, he's arguably a good pick for a flat deck at the Rosebowl against India's quicker, into-the-wicket approach.

 

[nzfan]

I'd not like to see too many changes too but it's got to be done given how short the turn around is between matches. If the matches are finishing in 3 days then sure stick with the same XI otherwise got to get some rest in for the regulars. 3 back to back test matches is too much for anyone.

I think Young will definitely start as an opener if Ross isn't available. If Ross is available then Devon will start as an opener.

I don't think they'll risk playing Kane in all three test matches either. I'm guessing the same with Ross and BJ.

Jamieson, Wagner and Southee will also get a break surely.

We may see the second test match played with few players that are non starters for WTC.

 

[The Hutt Rec]

They’ve already pretty much confirmed Conway will be opening, haven’t they? Blundell not opening in first class anymore, Conway facing the new ball at open wicket practices …

Makes sense to me for this series, he’s a very high quality player who will be able to adjust. He’s a three for Wellington and has come in early plenty of times on early season green seamers.

 

[Athlai]

I want big dick avatar bets, not reasoned discussion

 

[Nintendo]

I want big dick avatar bets, not reasoned discussion

Ok I'm slapping my dick on the table. If Conway opens in the WTC final I'll change my avatar to anything U want for 5 years, same vice versa.

U gonna be a man or a little woman. Pansy

 

[Athlai]

I can't actually take the bet because for an unrelated reason I don't have control of my avatar until the next ODI world cup, but I love it.

 

[Moss]

They’ve already pretty much confirmed Conway will be opening, haven’t they? Blundell not opening in first class anymore, Conway facing the new ball at open wicket practices …

Makes sense to me for this series, he’s a very high quality player who will be able to adjust. He’s a three for Wellington and has come in early plenty of times on early season green seamers.

This was my impression too, that this had more or less been decided.

Sure, you don’t want to go down the road of playing batsmen out of position and mess around during the early stages of someone’s career, but then do you treat these 3 games as a one-off situation where you give the opener’s role to the guy most likely to score runs? Maybe give one game each to Conway and Blundell before the final and make a decision based on that.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Ok I'm slapping my dick on the table. If Conway opens in the WTC final I'll change my avatar to anything U want for 5 years, same vice versa.

U gonna be a man or a little woman. Pansy

 

[Nintendo]

View attachment 28055

Are you slapping your dick on the table and saying that's your entry or just confused at my shear big dick alpha energy? Both are acceptable.

 

[Flem274*]

This was my impression too, that this had more or less been decided.

Sure, you don’t want to go down the road of playing batsmen out of position and mess around during the early stages of someone’s career, but then do you treat these 3 games as a one-off situation where you give the opener’s role to the guy most likely to score runs? Maybe give one game each to Conway and Blundell before the final and make a decision based on that.

i think we're going to treat england as a warm up so there may even be some shuffling around between games, then we'll click in the strongest 11 players where we can on june 18.

either way, if we manage to tour india later this year i suspect the side will look very different due to retirements

latham
ravindra
williamson (c)
conway
nicholls
young
blundell (wk)
jamieson
southee
ajaz
boult

mitchell is a bit less valuable in india than he is in nz, so loses the allrounder spot to ravindra with young coming in down the order.

 

[SteveNZ]

I like Young at 6, didn't Ponting bat there in his initial Test days? Allows him to become accustomed to Test cricket away from the new ball, and he's there as a second new ball 'opener' as well.

Just had a look, Ponting batted there mostly for six years. Wow, didn't know that. What a luxury

 

[Days of Grace]

i haaaaate the idea of either opening. its a waste of their talents with latham, rachin and blundell around.

post wtc final when watling and potentially taylor + cdg retire there will be room for both i think

Why would they offer Taylor a contract if they knew he was going to retire from tests and only play ODIs? They must have had word from him that he’s sticking around in tests for at least one more season.

 

[The Hutt Rec]

I don't think Taylor wants to retire from tests, but if he did then I don't know that he could continue solely in ODIs, now that he's not in the T20 side. It would be like three games a year.

 

[nzfan]

As soon as whenever the next T20 WC finishes the focus then moves to one day cricket. We will see a lot of bilateral one day games played in 2022.

 

[nzfan]

With every passing day as the WTC nears I'm starting to feel a bit of nervousness thinking how close this test match is going to be? The WC 19 One day finals and the Semi finals in 2015 probably put holes in the heart. Hoping this edition is going to be a healer.