*Unofficial* New Zealand Black Caps Thread

[ataraxia]

Hey our warm-up game's against Afghanistan. Should probably pull out of that lol

 

[NZTailender]

Lol, might as well have repeated KJ's infamous "You'll only ever be a domestic journeyman" sledge.

Was that kj? I thought it was conway

 

[NZTailender]

Yeah see that's why I'm actually OK with the selection of Sears. He showed something a little bit different in the Test v Australia, he's shown some admirable nous and fire in the T20s he's played, and they've backed him in those conditions over Duffy. I would do the same thing. OK, Duffy has come in and done a good job, but a) they're outside the XI b) you wouldn't necessarily back Duffy to come into a semi-final or similar, and be effective on a flat one v an in-form side.



As someone who vehemently opposed Boult coming in for the 2015 World Cup, and turned out looking like a real dick, these are the sort of things I reckon sides who push the envelope and get results need to do. Duffy would be a real conservative, usual Gary Stead sort of selection, in those conditions.

There's no way you can leave out Lockie. World class limited overs bowler, we don't have those in spades.

I'm guessing if Nathan Smith hadn't showed promise Duffy would be there as a backup to Henry, whilst I see Sears as a backup to Ferguson, and O'Rourke in his own world, though essentially a KJ replacement. I think if KJ was fit and firing one of Smith or Sears wouldn't have made it, I'm assuming Smith.

I mean I think you're right overall, in taking a risk and hoping for payoff. In any case, our seam bowling stocks aren't of concern. The fact were debating the best of a group of seamers (there's also guys like Foulkes, Fisher, Shipley, Lister et al knocking about) kind of glosses over the fact were pretty pushed for a decent specialist spinner. Like, we have none. I know Pakistan isn't India for pitches but Santner-Phillips-Bracewell feels like a "let's just get by and hope for the best" rather than "we're going to use spin as a legitimate attack". Mind you, there isn't a spinner atm who could do an attack job I guess. Weird how Sodhi had like a brief period of looking like he had cracked it about 12 to 18 months ago then fell off a cliff again.

 

[straw man]

I mean Duffy is competing for Henry's spot overseas so not sure why everyone is shocked. We always complain about somehow ending up with four 135kph samey seamers everywhere, to break that up you have to make some risky selections as our express bowlers aren't always the top performers or consistently fit

Smith isn't ideal but he adds significant batting so he's a different slot

Somewhat agree with the first paragraph, though that logic applies much more to test cricket than ODIs. Totally fine with someone quick but unproven like Sears getting a run over Duffy in test cricket. Far less so in ODIs which require a different skill set and 'just buy a wicket with pace' seems less viable.

Hard disagree on the second paragraph, even though I'm sure NZ selectors see it that way too. I think Smith's batting should be almost irrelevant in ODI cricket right now, firstly because he's fresh and secondly because in our all-rounder-heavy lineup, he could easily end up batting all the way down at 9. Eight more likely, though it could be 9. And on pure ODI bowling Duffy is simply better than Smith at the moment, imo.