*Unofficial* New Zealand Black Caps Thread

[straw man]

I don't think it's a great miscarriage of justice that Shipley, Sears and O'Rourke have been given a run for NZ ahead of Nathan Smith, so far. It's arguable either way, though those bowlers have the advantage of height and pace (probably all three quicker than him) that suggest they could progress to international level.

Smith is still a good prospect though - he's excelled at domestic level to a greater degree, for longer, than the three above. Now has 105 FC wickets, plus 100 white-ball wickets, which is more than Shipley (72 + 86), Sears (58 + 76) and O'Rourke (50 + 50). He leads the Wellington attack. While he isn't express he still looks quick enough, nips the ball around and from what I can tell, bowls a very consistent length. Seems a very competitive personality and can bat.

If he was a third or fourth-seamer type then his record would have seen him debut for NZ already imo. It's a lot tougher when he wants the new ball. Still, hope we can find a way to give him a few NZ matches while we wait for longer-term spots to open up.

 

[thundaboult]

I don't think it's a great miscarriage of justice that Shipley, Sears and O'Rourke have been given a run for NZ ahead of Nathan Smith, so far. It's arguable either way, though those bowlers have the advantage of height and pace (probably all three quicker than him) that suggest they could progress to international level.

Smith is still a good prospect though - he's excelled at domestic level to a greater degree, for longer, than the three above. Now has 105 FC wickets, plus 100 white-ball wickets, which is more than Shipley (72 + 86), Sears (58 + 76) and O'Rourke (50 + 50). He leads the Wellington attack. While he isn't express he still looks quick enough, nips the ball around and from what I can tell, bowls a very consistent length. Seems a very competitive personality and can bat.

If he was a third or fourth-seamer type then his record would have seen him debut for NZ already imo. It's a lot tougher when he wants the new ball. Still, hope we can find a way to give him a few NZ matches while we wait for longer-term spots to open up.

Wouldn't consider southee strong competition for the new ball in white ball cricket in the past year. Tests yeah southee still has it his way. Trent is gone. Henry oh yea imo he's our best bowler atm. Milne...nah, doesn't get on the park consistently to partner Henry. Smith should definitely get introduced already.

 

[Immenso]

The 'last year' is a bit irrelevant as Smith got injured and missed the half season.

Don't think he's been unlucky, yet.

Got stale at Otago at stagnated for a few wasted years. Hit straps at Wellington but got injured at exactly the wrong time. Although coz #SteadyDecline , he probably would have been ignored anyway.

 

[SteveNZ]

The job of the selectors, in my mind, is to watch a lot of cricket, and promote the talent on instinct as well, obviously, as numbers. To me, Nathan Smith has done enough to prove he's good enough and when you've got Southee, Boult already on the outer, Ferguson on their last legs, who's the next cabs off the rank? They promoted O'Rourke, fair enough on his Aussie A performances. Smith can't wait much longer. They left it too long with Clarkson, when we're playing so much BS T20 cricket there's never been a better time to promote guys like Smith. Genuine 3rd seamer potential who lengthens our tail - something we could do with in 50 over and Test cricket.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Reminds me a lot of Dion Nash - swings it, looks to bowl heavy ball, competitive, good in field, good with the bat.

 

[BackFootPunch]

The job of the selectors, in my mind, is to watch a lot of cricket, and promote the talent on instinct as well, obviously, as numbers. To me, Nathan Smith has done enough to prove he's good enough and when you've got Southee, Boult already on the outer, Ferguson on their last legs, who's the next cabs off the rank? They promoted O'Rourke, fair enough on his Aussie A performances. Smith can't wait much longer. They left it too long with Clarkson, when we're playing so much BS T20 cricket there's never been a better time to promote guys like Smith. Genuine 3rd seamer potential who lengthens our tail - something we could do with in 50 over and Test cricket.

I played a bit with Smith when he was younger and 5-6 years ago would have put good money on him being a genuine all rounder, or even a batter who bowled really usefully. Watched him get this ton as a 19 year old and assumed batting would be a big part of his future.

Also Sam Wells as selector should know his batting pretty well given they had a big partnership in this game.

 

[Flem274*]

How tall is Smith? Looks shorter than Wagner

 

[Chubb]

How tall is Smith? Looks shorter than Wagner

He isn’t tall. Wasn’t as a kid and isn’t now.

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

Selectors preferring tall old guys probably means Vince McMahon has a secret stake in NZC.

 

[Prince EWS]

Selectors preferring tall old guys probably means Vince McMahon has a secret stake in NZC.

Or Tinder.

 

[Flem274*]

He isn’t tall. Wasn’t as a kid and isn’t now.

Yeah that's my one question mark over Smith. If you're genuinely short then you gotta be quick or otherwise you're topping out at Sam Curran level in tests.

 

[Bahnz]

Yeah that's my one question mark over Smith. If you're genuinely short then you gotta be quick or otherwise you're topping out at Sam Curran level in tests.

Curran was a legit medium pacer, which was always going to limit his usefulness outside of England. As long as Smith is in the 130-135 range I reckon he'll do fine.

 

[Smudge]

Selectors preferring tall old guys probably means Vince McMahon has a secret stake in NZC.

Or @thierry henry

 

[SteveNZ]

Saw the NZC post that we have ANOTHER T20 World Cup next year, and we play WI, Uganda and Afghanistan in the pool stages. Just before the Olympics. Wow, that's exciting times.

Keep squeezing the lemon, ICC. We love it!

 

[_Ed_]

To be fair, it seems to be a huge deal for Uganda!

455K views · 10K reactions | Uganda qualify for the 2024 T20 World Cup! | 🕺🇺🇬 Uganda's celebrations after qualifying for the 2024 men's T20 World Cup are so wholesome 🥰 An incredible achievement! 👏 🎥 Cricket Uganda #Cricket... | By Wisden Cricket | Facebook

🕺🇺🇬 Uganda's celebrations after qualifying for the 2024 men's T20 World Cup are so wholesome 🥰 An incredible achievement! 👏 🎥 Cricket Uganda #Cricket...

www.facebook.com

Really stoked for them.

 

[The Hutt Rec]

To be fair, it seems to be a huge deal for Uganda!

455K views · 10K reactions | Uganda qualify for the 2024 T20 World Cup! | 🕺🇺🇬 Uganda's celebrations after qualifying for the 2024 men's T20 World Cup are so wholesome 🥰 An incredible achievement! 👏 🎥 Cricket Uganda #Cricket... | By Wisden Cricket | Facebook

🕺🇺🇬 Uganda's celebrations after qualifying for the 2024 men's T20 World Cup are so wholesome 🥰 An incredible achievement! 👏 🎥 Cricket Uganda #Cricket...

www.facebook.com

Really stoked for them.

That’s great for Uganda and totally happy to play them. But Uganda, West Indies and Afghanistan isn’t the most thrilling overall prospect for a pool.

 

[SteveNZ]

Hey, I'm over the moon for Uganda. More nations the better. And I don't bemoan the pool...it's just World Cup overload. It's insane - they think they can't oversaturate the T20 market.

 

[The Hutt Rec]

I’m officially bemoaning the pool.

 

[RMBolton]

At least the boys aren't travelling around too much - Guyana for one game & T&T for the rest.

 

[Immenso]

Yeah that's my one question mark over Smith. If you're genuinely short then you gotta be quick or otherwise you're topping out at Sam Curran level in tests.

Smith reminds me more of Bhuvneshvar Kumar. Similar pace and height, and both skillful swinging it both directions.

I'd assume Bhuvi would be more skillful, just coz he was actually successful at international level , plus envirnment he came up through he would need to be.

But, anyway, point I'm trying to make is that Curran-like career isn't the ceiling for that size without extreme pace.