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*Unofficial* New Zealand Black Caps Thread
- Thread starter NZTailender
- Start date
Flem274*
123/5
With KW's concern for 5th bowler overs, Nathan Smith might be in contention when he's over his injury.
One day stats aren't as bad as I thought they were. Batting average of 29 striking at 97, bowling average of 32 econ 5. He's only 24 and early in his career but already opens the bowling in red ball cricket for Wellington so this is a guy we should be hoping to trust a bit and his batting is improving.
Josh Clarkson is 25 and has really good List A batting stats for his hitter role (34 average, 99 strike) with the same bowling average and econ as Smith but ofc staying fit to bowl is the issue. I like watching his bowling tbh, tall and brisk.
We should probably give Daryl Mitchell a trundle more too.
At the top Finn Allen is obv in Aussie but there's also Worker (45 ave 81 sr) and surprising names like Bowes and Boyle who average 39ish.
Spinners wise Rippon has really good one day stats tbh. Probably pumped by his dutch games but geez haven't we been wanting a strike spinner who can bat for ages? Ajaz has crap one day stats but excellent T20 stats.
In the middle order I'm still surprised we haven't given Phillips and Chapman more chances tbh.
One day stats aren't as bad as I thought they were. Batting average of 29 striking at 97, bowling average of 32 econ 5. He's only 24 and early in his career but already opens the bowling in red ball cricket for Wellington so this is a guy we should be hoping to trust a bit and his batting is improving.
Josh Clarkson is 25 and has really good List A batting stats for his hitter role (34 average, 99 strike) with the same bowling average and econ as Smith but ofc staying fit to bowl is the issue. I like watching his bowling tbh, tall and brisk.
We should probably give Daryl Mitchell a trundle more too.
At the top Finn Allen is obv in Aussie but there's also Worker (45 ave 81 sr) and surprising names like Bowes and Boyle who average 39ish.
Spinners wise Rippon has really good one day stats tbh. Probably pumped by his dutch games but geez haven't we been wanting a strike spinner who can bat for ages? Ajaz has crap one day stats but excellent T20 stats.
In the middle order I'm still surprised we haven't given Phillips and Chapman more chances tbh.
Flem274*
123/5
I'd like to see this, bearing in mind where the world cup is
Allen
Conway (comms said he likes to be in early, so let him open in one days imo)
Williamson
Phillips
Latham I guess (wk)
Mitchell
Santner (c)
Smith
Rippon
Ferguson
Boult
Santner skipper. He's a sure starter, and we need to develop a leader who walks into the team so we can give KW a break.
With Henry, Sears, Southee, Cleaver, Guptill, Neesham, Clarkson and other promising (or reserve) players rotated through the next 23 pre-wc ODIs. Ideally another spinner as well, perhaps Ajaz, Walker or Lennox.
The third seamer, if it is one of our pace allrounders, will have a massive target on their bowling. Lots of guys can slog, but Smith appears to be the best pure bowler across all formats of the pace allrounders.
I don't actually think Southee has bowled badly during the pandemic era but we desperately need to stop spamming him and Boult every bloody game so we can build some depth (Boult has decided to stop spamming himself). It would also be really nice if we lost the big brain bowling balance and allowed ourselves to pick two genuine quicks, or two spinners who turn the ball the same way.
Allen
Conway (comms said he likes to be in early, so let him open in one days imo)
Williamson
Phillips
Latham I guess (wk)
Mitchell
Santner (c)
Smith
Rippon
Ferguson
Boult
Santner skipper. He's a sure starter, and we need to develop a leader who walks into the team so we can give KW a break.
With Henry, Sears, Southee, Cleaver, Guptill, Neesham, Clarkson and other promising (or reserve) players rotated through the next 23 pre-wc ODIs. Ideally another spinner as well, perhaps Ajaz, Walker or Lennox.
The third seamer, if it is one of our pace allrounders, will have a massive target on their bowling. Lots of guys can slog, but Smith appears to be the best pure bowler across all formats of the pace allrounders.
I don't actually think Southee has bowled badly during the pandemic era but we desperately need to stop spamming him and Boult every bloody game so we can build some depth (Boult has decided to stop spamming himself). It would also be really nice if we lost the big brain bowling balance and allowed ourselves to pick two genuine quicks, or two spinners who turn the ball the same way.
TheBrand
First Class Debutant
You completely ditching Sodhi? Or just an oversight?
Flem274*
123/5
Ditching. Don't rate. Spinners need to be bankers in India, and he seems to be worse every year.
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
Tastle recall IMO.
TheBrand
First Class Debutant
Fair, I just have a feeling he will get selected for that squad no matter what.
Nintendo
Cricketer Of The Year
Henry not getting a first choice gig seems a bit odd? I know smith is there for batting but henry is a very, very good odi bowler, poor at the death though.
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
Yeah and given Rippon is at 9 in that lineup I'm not sure the extra batting is really needed.
Flem274*
123/5
That's a team with an eye to the world cup, where I assume two spinners in the eleven would be advantageous.
Of course if Rippon or whoever can't take their opportunities then I'd rather stick to our strengths and make it work.
Nintendo
Cricketer Of The Year
Why smith over Henry though? Rippon at 8 feels like enough batting and you have 2 spinners no matter what.
Flem274*
123/5
fair point, i was thinking a lot about the 5th option when putting him in.
straw man
Hall of Fame Member
Santner as captain - interesting idea, I wouldn't write it off automatically, though I don't know what sort of captain he would be.
Conway opening - agreed
Latham - eeeehhh probably, but a poor home summer and I might change my mind. Could 'rest' him a bit to give someone like Fletcher or Cleaver a run.
Mitchell and Phillips - pretty similar in what they offer, both destructive but want a little time to get themselves in. So neither ideal for 6 but one will have to do it anyway. The other gets to bat 4 or 5.
No Neesham in the XI - disagree. Was thinking yesterday he does two of the hardest and most stats-unflattering jobs for NZ, where we don't have good other options - batting at the death and bowling at the death. That said would like to see some improvement in batting longer innings when has a chance. But I do like him at 7 because he will hit from ball one.
N Smith - haven't seen much to suggest he's a short-format player.
Rippon - worth more opportunities
No Sodhi in the XI - agreed, though I wouldn't shut the door on him completely. He's only 30 (almost) which is still young for a spinner, though it sure is frustrating seeing him not improve over time and fail in pressure situations, which may not be something he'll ever improve upon.
M Bracewell - will go against the grain and say don't completely count him out. Being the new favourite and selected in all three formats, including a specialist bowler role when he isn't one, is obviously ridiculous, but maaaaaaybe in the right circumstances in the right format could be useful.
Astle - actually forgot he exists
RossTaylorsBox
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Tim Pringle imo
Skyliner
State Captain
Feels like the Blacks Caps are splintering a bit with some recent defections and a cloud over the captain and his fitness. He doesn’t play often enough at the moment.
Feels like the end of an era really. Hopefully a new coach with fresh ideas can come in and reinvigorate the camp, because the vibe at the moment is that the camp and player group is stale and flat.
Feels like the end of an era really. Hopefully a new coach with fresh ideas can come in and reinvigorate the camp, because the vibe at the moment is that the camp and player group is stale and flat.
Flem274*
123/5
On Neesh - fair, I'm not "dropping" him, but someone needs to make way for developing our twin spin wc side. Definitely still in the running.
Moss
International Captain
I think Young should be involved in the one-day setup for sure, has struggled a bit of late but excellent cover for the top 5 if someone's injured or having a lean trot. Ajaz too, think he's a must for the subcontinent as he showed in the Bangladesh T20s last year; however given that he he was bowled for an entire 2 overs in his last test, probably shouldn't be holding my breath.
Wonder if Macewell is a lock-in still, or the selectors are slowly reconsidering after the Aus ODIs. They probably see him as one-half of Flem's spin twin idea.
Wonder if Macewell is a lock-in still, or the selectors are slowly reconsidering after the Aus ODIs. They probably see him as one-half of Flem's spin twin idea.
honestbharani
Whatever it takes!!!
I like the top 7, but who are Smith and Rippon? Is Smith a spinner?
They contracted him, and have backed him despite no real statistical evidence to do so. They'll keep doing so, I have no doubt. You'll hear that he's vital to sub-continent plans, is positive, is a leader, performs well in big situations, etc etc. Time will tell how wise or otherwise that is....
Nathan Smith is a young all-rounder, bowls good medium plus-ish pace and can swing it both ways, and hits it long at the death. Good prospect. Michael Rippon is a bit of a globe trotter. Bowls left arm 'chinamen' (am I still allowed to say that?) and has played for Netherlands, NZ, Sussex, grew up in South Africa etc. I'm not convinced he's got a significant future for NZ, but others might be.