*Unofficial* New Zealand Black Caps Thread

[nzfan]

Ravindra seems to be a very mature cricketer. I'm so glad we have potentially found someone that can absorb pressure and do his bit. Looking at cricinfo I see he raced to 50 and then played out good number of overs. Alas he got out at the stroke of the end of the day. Still he has some way to go in terms of experience but glad to see him batting at the top of the order. They should have batted him in the top order in the one dayers too. He seems to have a good head on his shoulders. He has scored equally of spinners and fast bowlers. Hoping he has no holes in his batting against particular type of bowling. Would have loved to watch his inning but no live feed or highlights. If one of the other top order had gone on we would have been in a good position. I'm loving the fact that these are overseas games and someone like Ravindra batting for good amount of time in the middle means we have batters that can bat in sub continent conditions.

Good bowling turnaround from the boys I thought, all wickets claimed by our faster bowlers again a great positive. In those conditions to claim as many wickets they also need to know how to reverse and also have change ups. Sure the results may not go the way they want it but it's A side and the idea is to prepare potential players for bigger laurels in future.

 

[straw man]

Yeah Ravindra scoring runs is very pleasing.

Still wish we could see the wickets, would like to get some idea of who was most impressive of Jamieson, Kuggeleijn and Tickner. Pakistan Cricket on youtube don't seem to have any highlights from last night's play yet.

 

[NZTailender]

pfft, scoring 70 on an international overseas tour. how's his club cricket going? that's the real measure.

 

[Immenso]

pfft, scoring 70 on an international overseas tour. how's his club cricket going? that's the real measure.

I think hes feeling the heat from back home in Firebirdsland from dude formerly known as "uncontracted local club player" and had to respond with some runs.

 

[The Hutt Rec]

I think hes feeling the heat from back home in Firebirdsland from dude formerly known as "uncontacted local club player" and had to respond with some runs.

He is contracted by the way, saw it mentioned in an article after his second ton that he got the final contract for this season.

 

[straw man]

Van Beek the second highest scorer with 56*.

Tastle might be bowling himself out of a test spot though - still no wickets. Will get another chance in the second A unofficial test, I wonder of one of the other spinners i.e. Ajaz might play that too.

 

[Athlai]

Tastle just isn't very good.

 

[straw man]

sad face

 

[nzfan]

Perhaps there is not much in it for the spin bowlers? Two spinners from NZ Side haven't picked a wicket. Also remember there may have been chances that may have gone down. Speaking to one of the coaches over there in Dubai I asked how come Ravindra is not getting as many wickets like he usually does but then I was told catches were dropped in the one dayers. There you go.. unless we were watching it's fairly hard to judge. Perhaps Astle is bowling well and creating chances but then the wickets may not have transpired.

 

[Athlai]

Tastle is an urban legend.

 

[Mike5181]

I wonder if they'll drop Southee if both Sodhi/Astle play.

 

[vandem]

...Tastle might be bowling himself out of a test spot though - still no wickets. Will get another chance in the second A unofficial test, I wonder of one of the other spinners i.e. Ajaz might play that too.

Only 1 FC game for Astle. 2nd FC A game 6th-9th Nov will clash with ODI series 7th-11th Nov, and ODI squad includes Astle and Sodhi.

But Ajaz Patel should be avalilable for the 2nd FC A game, last T20I is 4th Nov, unlikely they will want a 3rd spinner for ODI series.

3 A team / T20I players still to be added to the ODI team (2 from the team announcement, +1 for Guppy). The current 12 players look to lack 1 opener and (Phillips or Young?) and 1 pace bowler (Milne?) and 1 other (Anderson?).

https://www.nzc.nz/news-items/archive/ajaz-patel-named-in-test-squad

 

[Flem274*]

Tastle just isn't very good.

sodhi and ajaz are worse

 

[straw man]

Only 1 FC game for Astle. 2nd FC A game 6th-9th Nov will clash with ODI series 7th-11th Nov, and ODI squad includes Astle and Sodhi.

But Ajaz Patel should be avalilable for the 2nd FC A game, last T20I is 4th Nov, unlikely they will want a 3rd spinner for ODI series.

3 A team / T20I players still to be added to the ODI team (2 from the team announcement, +1 for Guppy). The current 12 players look to lack 1 opener and (Phillips or Young?) and 1 pace bowler (Milne?) and 1 other (Anderson?).

https://www.nzc.nz/news-items/archive/ajaz-patel-named-in-test-squad

Ta, I forgot Astle was in the odi squad. The second A test will be a good chance for Ajaz then.

 

[Moss]

Watling and Young holding fort, hopefully NZ A get a draw out of this. Raval's seems to have had a poor test, hopefully he manages some game time in the 2nd match. Encouraging from Young though.

 

[Blain]

Nice to see Young deliver once again. Is he a bit of a slow pitch gun? Would only be a chance as a number 5 in the ODI's, which would be a conservative approach. Although Nicholl's is a similar player I guess. Liking Anderson in the runs also, hoping he carries his form on this summer and dominates domestic cricket.. Was known for huge hundys in age grade, but hasn't done much recently.

Tastle has always seemed like a good domestic, not quite good enough international player to me. Like Andy Ellis, Neil Broom and Anaru Kitchen

Sodhi is our best option easily in my head, should be him and Ajaz in the tests. Patel will play a holding role with Ish attacking. Would probably need to drop Wagner.

 

[Flem274*]

we should never drop wagner away from home. we don't need two bad spinners to release all the pressure, just pick one of ish or astle and use them as best as we can.

 

[straw man]

Nice to see Young deliver once again. Is he a bit of a slow pitch gun?

Probably. That video Kippax posted a few days ago of his innings showed what seems a classic Young shot - he got himself in trouble plonking onto the front foot early when the ball was not full, edged high on the bat behind the wicket, but that particular chance didn't go to hand. Not something he couldn't work on, of course.

 

[nzfan]

I think Young should be given a chance in the one day team. He has shown he has both gears, he's always has been good. Let's come he has come of age.

Ravindra did all right again at the back of two early wickets and batting out time. I wish he batted all day, would have learned plenty batting on a 4th day pitch. That said Watling needed some time in the middle too which he got. Is Jeet Raval playing the next A game?

 

[Immenso]

Bugger. Ajaz wont play the second A Test as called up to Odi squad with Astle injury.

Our spinners , who need all the help .... will be entirely undercooked for the proper test series.