Sports 🏏 Black Caps

[Inruin]

I get that, but he's pretty average himself, I mean he averages 29!

Yeah, agreed, I don't think he is an opener though. I'd play him at three and drop Kane to 4. Bit like england do with Joe Root

 

[WA Warrior]

Yeah, agreed, I don't think he is an opener though. I'd play him at three and drop Kane to 4. Bit like england do with Joe Root

Man the only natural opener with have is Latham.
Perfect world Conway, Williamson and Young are 3/4s

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Young's far better than his average. His career has been largely wrecked by injury, and then a strong NZ dynasty blocked his way. It sucks that he has had to play as an opener where he gets exposed a bit. His talent has been wasted.

He is just one of those sports people that has been born a bit unlucky. Even his test debut was called off for the ChCh terrorists attack. His rise as a young cricketer had people very excited before he'd even played provincial cricket.

The only thing I'd say is that his conversion rate in longer format cricket hasn't been good enough. His limited overs record is great.

 

[Possum11]

England win incoming

 

[Possum11]

Gary stead shouldn't be coaching nz cricket team & southee should have retired a year ago.

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

Gary stead shouldn't be coaching nz cricket team & southee should have retired a year ago.

I remember player power and the big player union conflicts of the past for NZ cricket.

The players have to much power and my pick is this is the coach and the type of hands off attitude from a coach they want.

The players run the team with the coach is a figure head… and now we have the inevitable result of too much power to the players.

 

[WA Warrior]

I just shake my head. The one bright spot has been Nathan Smith this series.
Fucksakes.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

At least Stevenson had been balanced out by Gower or the like so far. This stint of Stevenson/Ish Sodhi is just awful.

 

[Damo]

At least Stevenson had been balanced out by Gower or the like so far. This stint of Stevenson/Ish Sodhi is just awful.

What is wrong with Stevenson? Understand Ish Sodhi being new to commentary so give him a bit of slack there. Don't mind Sumo too much.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

What is wrong with Stevenson? Understand Ish Sodhi being new to commentary so give him a bit of slack there. Don't mind Sumo too much.

I don't know where to start with that.

A lack of understanding of the subtleties game, and the inability to tell stories from his time in the game and on tour are a couple of annoyances.

I can see what is happening ball to ball, you need more than that from a commentator. Add in the occasional cringe, or totally ridiculous reads of situations and it is pretty painful.

 

[Possum11]

Not a fan of Stevenson in commentary box . His cricket knowledge is weak

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Smithy - huge knowledge, great storyteller, happy to speak his mind, can see the big picture
Richardson - Controversial theories in between stale periods of play, tounge in cheek, stories from the game
Doull - great knowledge, tight with various squads, huge world experience, chucks in a few theories
Gower - a natural storyteller, charisma

etc.

Stevenson is the McIvor style rent-a-commentator from the TV networks.

 

[Damo]

I don't know where to start with that.

A lack of understanding of the subtleties game, and the inability to tell stories from his time in the game and on tour are a couple of annoyances.

I can see what is happening ball to ball, you need more than that from a commentator. Add in the occasional cringe, or totally ridiculous reads of situations and it is pretty painful.

Those are fair criticisms, but not every commentator has had time in the game. If anything he needs a good support commentator with time in the game.

Stevenson is fine. He's a good sport host, he speaks with clarity and has the best humour out of the lot imo.

 

[Damo]

Smithy - huge knowledge, great storyteller, happy to speak his mind, can see the big picture
Richardson - Controversial theories in between stale periods of play, tounge in cheek, stories from the game
Doull - great knowledge, tight with various squads, huge world experience, chucks in a few theories
Gower - a natural storyteller, charisma

etc.

Stevenson is the McIvor style rent-a-commentator from the TV networks.

Smithy has gone off the boil a bit lately, watched him recently and he was banging on about the drinks/food he had more than the damn game.
Still a legend regardless.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Those are fair criticisms, but not every commentator has had time in the game. If anything he needs a good support commentator with time in the game.

Stevenson is fine. He's a good sport host, he speaks with clarity and has the best humour out of the lot imo.

I think he used to be far funnier than he is now. His role for me would be the controversial wise-cracking support for a charismatic, knowledgeable ex-cricketer. He has settled into being a serious journalist now.

 

[Inruin]

Good opening partnership to start with. They have protected Williamson from coming in to bat inside the first 10 overs

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Good opening partnership to start with. They have protected Williamson from coming in to bat inside the first 10 overs

Yeah remove the instability of Devon Conway and we look like a cricket team again.

It would have been interesting to see if they would have dropped him without the birth of his child. Surely they would have.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Both these two are the king of starts though. It would be great to see one or both go on. Especially Young to get a maiden ton and find his place.

 

[Inruin]

I just shake my head. The one bright spot has been Nathan Smith this series.
Fucksakes.

I'm sorry, but how do you drop the guy that has taken more wickets and scored more runs but keep Southee in? And I'm picking Santner will largely be ineffective in this test.

 

[WA Warrior]

I'm sorry, but how do you drop the guy that has taken more wickets and scored more runs but keep Southee in? And I'm picking Santner will largely be ineffective in this test.

Seriously. Ok Stead had to go with Southee this week, I get it.
But we have seen Santner on home soil, as you said how effective is he going to be.
Last Test of the season, blood Smith even more.
Send him off with some bloody confidence.