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*Unofficial* New Zealand Black Caps Thread

Flem274*

123/5
Hmm NZ's reasonable record in Asia outside that second test against India is explained by NZ hating fast turn but being well set up for more attritional Asian decks where they often force the other side to drop their heads and be sad first.

Thoughts?
 

nzfan

International Vice-Captain
I think if we have to do well on Mumbai like tracks is to use our spinners better. We can't use our spinners like we do in NZ. I saw shades of 2016 cricket from our batters as well in both test matches. Collectively we did all right at Kanpur and we were about to fold up in the last session in Kanpur too by panic shots but then common sense prevailed and we drew thanks to some gritty batting by most of the players maybe barring one or two.

Mumbai, that was panic cricket and some very good bowling from India. In particular Siraj upfront. He took the steam out of us in the first dig. If we were maybe 1 or 2 down on day 2 things would have panned out differently. Here's where we missed someone like Kane who could made it look all right given his experience. Despite Ajaz's heroics you could see we weren't using our bowling resources as well as we would have wanted. On top of that sane, common sense batting to the merit of the ball went missing all around after Siraj's spell. There was no coming back after our shock first inning. Still a reasonable outing I guess looking back given lack of proper preparation, short turn around from the world cup, engaged in useless t20 series etc.
 

Moss

International Captain
Hmm NZ's reasonable record in Asia outside that second test against India is explained by NZ hating fast turn but being well set up for more attritional Asian decks where they often force the other side to drop their heads and be sad first.

Thoughts?
This seems fair, Indian pitches coupled with the ability of India's spinners to exploit such conditions have made it the ultimate examination, success in Pakistan or Lanka is no guarantee of doing well on Mumbai-type surfaces. Largely agree with nzfan's post.

Also this time the middle order was a bit ripe for the picking you feel, with no practice and players vulnerable or out of form (Taylor, Nicholls), or simply inexperienced (Blundell, Ravindra). Peak Watling would have been useful. Can recall Hesson using Ronchi as a specialist middle order bat for the 2016 trip with some success, maybe something out-of-the-box like that was needed.
 

nzfan

International Vice-Captain
Nice... Devon I guess checking out if his hands can cope. Can't wait to see the man bat again and Wagner bowl. It's going to be quite hard to guess our team. Devon and Wagner are guaranteed to play if Devon pulls up all right.

Obviously we'll have Boult, Southee and Jamieson. It's going to be a tough choice between Ajaz and Ravindra. I feel we can get away playing Ajaz against a depleted Bangladesh side with few of their players missing out. Best to play Ravindra when we play South Africa. Ajaz after the last test deserves to play.
 

ataraxia

International Coach
I understand that four pacers plus Ravindra is the ideal bowling balance, but surely Ajaz can find a place in the squad ahead of Henry?
 

centurymaker

Cricketer Of The Year
Whoa, I was one of those who somewhat downplayed Ajaz's 10-fer but to be completely excluded from the squad itself is NEXT level.

Guy will be shattered. Said he dreams of playing 80-90 tests for NZ.

Its not like its Australia that is touring. Its only bangladesh who were not even test standard against Pakistan at Home! Could have easily been picked for a game against them, the lowest ranked team. Shocking

3 fast bowlers + Ajaz + D Mitchell
 
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nzfan

International Vice-Captain
No worries with Rachin playing, every game he gets it's good for the team but surely we could have rested Southee. Besides don't want to do what our experts did, downplay Rachin as a batter and a bowler, then he goes on to win the game for us like he contributed to the draw in India and make us look stupid.

Southee has been playing all formats for quite some time. Rest him up for a bit. 3 pacers and a spinner would have been good enough at mount. Besides we'll have Darryl and Rachin to chip in with the ball if needed.

I like that they're taking Bangladesh seriously but just maybe we could have afforded to take Bangladesh lightly this time around given many of their gun players are missing.
 

SteveNZ

Cricketer Of The Year
It really sucks. I can't bring myself to criticise it, given our conditions don't insist on a finger spinner. I guess Henry is there for if a bowler happened to go down on the morning of the Test, and they believe our best Test make-up is 4 seamers - which with Mitchell in for CdG and given Mitchell is not a Test level seamer, it makes sense. And yeah it's Bangladesh, but you don't shuffle your XI just because it's them. You do that in limited overs games, Tests are the pinnacle and no one wants to miss them or give Bangladesh a sniff.

Given we might think the same mix is right for England, Ajaz is really backing on a long hot summer to get a go against SA. As I said, it absolutely sucks because I want to see him develop as a Test bowler - finally one who might be bonafide to bowl us to victories in 4th innings'.
 

Mike5181

International Captain
At least give the guy a chance to perform in NZ, he's an accomplished First-Class bowler here. If it was a player the quality of Lockie Ferguson I could understand, but Henry averages like 46-47. You lose nothing having him in the squad. Dropping him sends a really bad message to aspiring spin bowlers in the country.
 

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