Sports 🏏 Black Caps

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Sack Gary Stead!

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

This team is boring and uninspiring.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

There is just an utter determination to be conservative. Choosing to put the head in the sand in the name of stability.

Henry Nicholls got 10-20 games more than he should have
Southee has had nearly 2 years of being in the team despite not contributing. I firmly believe that there is no other team that would have allowed him to play this series, which is harsh, but you can't allow players to play for anything but their own merit.

Blundell is playing way too late on the ball. That is not going to change through a break out innings. Conway's technique has been found out, there is no quick fix.

Phillips stranded again through NZC's dogged determination to not admit weakness and move him.

We may not have the talent to be consistent world beaters anymore, but we certainly have the ability to be the innovative, "greater than the sum of their parts' team of old through a less conservative plan going forward.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

The irony is that they were forced out of their comfort zone in India, and the result was a far more positive mindset. I though it may have changed some attitudes...nope.

 

[Inruin]

I doubt there will be changes for the next test but at some point shortly we are going to have to make a number of them

 

[WA Warrior]

I doubt there will be changes for the next test but at some point shortly we are going to have to make a number of them

Bring in Young for Conway.
Conway didn’t even want a full time contract.
Our last Test of the season, reward Young for his Indian efforts and send a message that you can be dropped.

 

[Inruin]

Bring in Young for Conway.
Conway didn’t even want a full time contract.
Our last Test of the season, reward Young for his Indian efforts and send a message that you can be dropped.

Something like...

Latham
Young
Williamson
Ravindra
Mitchell?
Philips
Blundell - final test of his career
Smith
Henry
???
O'Rourke

 

[Hardyman's Yugo]

Well have to go some to f**k it up from here

Atkinson and Carse look the business though

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Well have to go some to f**k it up from here

Atkinson and Carse look the business though

England have staggeringly underperformed in this WTC cycle with the team they have. I'm super impressed with Carse, he looks a bowler that would excel in Australia too, which is a boon. Atkinson just keeps on impressing. Brook would have to be the first coming of the next big 4 (Kane, Kohli, Root, Smith), perhaps with Jaiswal who is a massive talent. Bethell has a future if he keeps his head screwed on. I've been impressed with Duckett.

Crawley??! His technique is horrible in the 4 series I have now seen him play. Finding an allrounder to replace Stokes will be essential. I gather they need to overcome a Bazzball weakness to spin.

 

[Inruin]

England have staggeringly underperformed in this WTC cycle with the team they have. I'm super impressed with Carse, he looks a bowler that would excel in Australia too, which is a boon. Atkinson just keeps on impressing. Brook would have to be the first coming of the next big 4 (Kane, Kohli, Root, Smith), perhaps with Jaiswal who is a massive talent. Bethell has a future if he keeps his head screwed on. I've been impressed with Duckett.

Crawley??! His technique is horrible in the 4 series I have now seen him play. Finding an allrounder to replace Stokes will be essential. I gather they need to overcome a Bazzball weakness to spin.

Baz was proactive in moving Broad and Anderson on. .... Could be some lessons there. He doesn't seem to have an issue making changes when needed. And identifies players that can fit in positions he wants

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Southees last 12 tests demonstrate the mismanagement of NZC

Wickets per test:

this game: 0 at an economy of 5.5
vs England in Chch 2 wickets
India 1
India 2
Sri Lanka 1
Sri Lanka 1
Australia 2
Australia 2
South Africa 1
South Africa 1
Bangladesh 2
Bangladesh 2

2 or less wickets in one test is a poor return (the above is 17 wickets in 24 innings). This is a farcical return for someone that keeps getting picked over and over again. The person I'm most devastated for is Southee. His average now will be over 30, the bench mark for a world leading bowler has always been sub 30. He has tarnished his legacy.

Southee has been a great for us. I truly appreciate his amazing contribution to NZ cricket, but the cord should have been cut a long time ago.

For comparison - Matt Henry's recent test wicket tallies: 3, 5, 2, 8, 9, 8, 2, 4, 4, 4, 7, 6, 2, 2, 5, 9, 6

 

[Canonball]

how embarrassing - just checking back in on the game - I left when Williamson was still in yesterday... far out

 

[Ever Hopeful]

In addition Southee's total overs bowled in the last few tests are 18, 23, 8, 21 and 19. That is a lot of workload for the other bowlers. 89 overs in 10 innings. Less than an ODI load.

Just imagine if we had another bowler for Southee that had just half of the returns of Matt Henry in the last 10 tests.

 

[jonesy101]

The biggest disappointment is that it's been so long since we've had a 3 test series at home. The first test was at least competitive. This one was decided after a day and a half which is shattering. I can't see anyone doing a McCullum and Watling in the fourth innings.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

The biggest disappointment is that it's been so long since we've had a 3 test series at home. The first test was at least competitive. This one was decided after a day and a half which is shattering. I can't see anyone doing a McCullum and Watling in the fourth innings.

England could end day 2 with a third innings lead of 5-600 depending on how hard they push...

125 on a batting pitch is woeful.

It reminds me of the anticipation of finally playing a big series in Australia during our pomp. It felt like everything had built up to it for such a long time. Finally a Boxing Day test etc. We should have been even, yet we never looked like competing.

 

[jonesy101]

Stopped watching for a couple of hours but missed nothing. The bowling in the series was at least competitive but now they're taking a pasting. After the highs of the India series it's unbelievable what's happened since. The slow over rate being the most dire considering what was at stake with the WTC. I'm hoping Sri Lanka or South Africa can get there now.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Stopped watching for a couple of hours but missed nothing. The bowling in the series was at least competitive but now they're taking a pasting. After the highs of the India series it's unbelievable what's happened since. The slow over rate being the most dire considering what was at stake with the WTC. I'm hoping Sri Lanka or South Africa can get there now.

Believe it or not the bowling hasn't been bad. England have been playing a lot of one day shots, and not all have been convincing. O'Rourke especially has been good.

England are playing very, very well. The current partnership is the world's first and second ranked batsmen.

 

[John Nick]

how embarrassing - just checking back in on the game - I left when Williamson was still in yesterday... far out

It's same as our beloved Warriors.
Time for new blood energy and enthusiasm .

 

[Tragic]

The Indian series looks dodgy asf considering all our other recent results

 

[jonesy101]

It's same as our beloved Warriors.
Time for new blood energy and enthusiasm .

I see it in Nathan Smith and Ravindra. O'Rourke looks the goods and Phillips is batting a spot too low. Hopefully Sears will stay fit enough to replace Southee and Hay comes in and proves himself at 7. Conways form remains a huge concern.