Sports 🏏 Black Caps

[mrblonde]

Found a WTC Calculater and working through a few permutations - obviously more but: Basically we're in the Final if We win the series against England 2-0, Sri Lanka beats South Africa 1-0 and Australia beats Sri Lanka 1-0.
Looks like Australia v India is irrelevant to New Zealand's chances of making the WTC...

 

[Inruin]

Latham is the only genuine opener we have. I was toying with the idea of Conway doing that keeper/middle order role in my head for half a second earlier. They really need to give a guy like Hay a shot rather than force people into those positions though.

I'd like to see Latham at 1, Young at 3, Williamson 4, Ravindra at 5, Mitchell 6. I guess Conway is 2 by default. Blundell/Hay at 7 (Hay isn't in the squad, boo) Phillips is our spinner at 8, and I'd hope that 3 seamers can handle the rest of the load in more friendly conditions. Nathan Smith can bat if chosen giving us a long batting line up. O'Rourke, Henry, Southee/Smith.

Hopefully Blundell finds some form. He is a decent player in home conditions.

I don't think that's enough bowling unfortunately. I think Blundell's lack of form is really the sticking point. We need 6 and 7 to be batting all rounders, one a keeper and one a bowler. Philips is picking up the bowler one and I think Hay is next up for the keepers role very soon. That leaves 4 bowling spots and we alternate between 4 seamers or 3 and another spin option (more spin than that in the subcontinent). I think Mitchell or Young are the ones fighting for the last batting position. Young seems to have the best recent form and I like the idea of him at 3, KW 4 and RR 5

 

[Ever Hopeful]

I don't think that's enough bowling unfortunately. I think Blundell's lack of form is really the sticking point. We need 6 and 7 to be batting all rounders, one a keeper and one a bowler. Philips is picking up the bowler one and I think Hay is next up for the keepers role very soon. That leaves 4 bowling spots and we alternate between 4 seamers or 3 and another spin option (more spin than that in the subcontinent). I think Mitchell or Young are the ones fighting for the last batting position. Young seems to have the best recent form and I like the idea of him at 3, KW 4 and RR 5

We'll see what the pitch is like. I'm expecting a swing bowler's paradise for Southee's swansong to be able to justify his place in the final X1

Their young fella Bethell looks like a really exciting prospect.

 

[Riz]

Looking forward to a day on the embankment tomorrow, way better than being at work!

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Looking forward to a day on the embankment tomorrow, way better than being at work!

My boy is sick, so I'm off work with him tomorrow.

Silver linings...

 

[mrblonde]

Seth Effrica might be looking for it RAIN and to RAIN HARD! on the basis of Day 1 so far.

Quite happy for it to piss down and actually bork both teams chances of getting maximum WTC points. And do that to the second test, too.

Of course, that relies on the Black Caps carrying on where they left off in that little crappy cricket backwater called India and Brendan McCullum to remember his whakapapa, his history and tell his charges that this series doesn't matter shit, you're not going to make the WTC Final whatever the fuck you do so YOU OWE MY COUNTRY OF BIRTH!!

 

[Hardyman's Yugo]

Not sure how this will go tbh. England have some really good players, Root is still class and there are some up and coming batsmen and bowlers.

I don’t get the Bazball thing though, we lose more test matches through reckless batting than we win with aggressive play. Play to the conditions says Geoff Boycott and he’s right

 

[Hardyman's Yugo]

Speaking of Boycott, his piece in todays Telegraph is headlined

New Zealand should prepare spinning pitches for England, but they will not be brave enough​

His rationale is we can’t bat against spin.

 

[miket12]

The decision to play Conway instead of Young didn't pan out too well.

 

[Hardyman's Yugo]

Good bowler is Atkinson. He’s taken a pile of wickets in the home tests

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Speaking of Boycott, his piece in todays Telegraph is headlined

New Zealand should prepare spinning pitches for England, but they will not be brave enough​

His rationale is we can’t bat against spin.

I agree with this. Bazball comes off in green conditions, because the risk/reward often provides the difference in low-scoring encounters rather than waiting for 'the' wicket-ball.

Is Stokes bowling again? If not England only have 3 seamers and 2 spinners, much like I was talking about when finding space for Young. They seem to be an opening bowler short - I don't see Woakes as a spearhead.

I don't like Williamson exposed at 3 in these conditions after so little cricket. He was always going to be in early.

They have done with Pope, what our discussion was earlier with Latham/Conway by manufacturing him as a middle order wicket-keeper.

I can't believe how much the pitch is marking up. It is so early in the season for test cricket, the pitches must be quite soft.

 

[Hardyman's Yugo]

Bring back Anderson

Woakes is a similar bowler, moves it through the air and off the seam in English conditions. He might do OK in these tests

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Stokes is fit enough to bowl it seems. We'll see how long that lasts.

He is playing at home too.

 

[Canonball]

Unpopular opinion, but I'd drop Mitchell for Young.

that's not so unpopular - that shot he played to get out today was horrible and a continuation of the jumping around and falling over he was doing in india

 

[miket12]

that's not so unpopular - that shot he played to get out today was horrible and a continuation of the jumping around and falling over he was doing in india

Except Mitchell is yet to bat.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

NZ have done a great job today in conditions that were quite difficult. There is some vulnerability in our batting line up, so one wicket could lead to many. They could score 250 from here or 500. Williamson loves standing up against England.

 

[Canadian_Warriors_Fan]

NZ have done a great job today in conditions that were quite difficult. There is some vulnerability in our batting line up, so one wicket could lead to many. They could score 250 from here or 500. Williamson loves standing up against England.

As does Mitchell.

 

[Canonball]

Except Mitchell is yet to bat.

lol - sorry I read Conway for Mitchell, duh

Conway shouldn't be in the team atm - so out of form - and Young was a rock in the last series

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Yep, there's that vulnerability outside of Latham, Williamson, Ravindra, Mitchell. It is a tricky wicket though with that tennis ball bounce.

 

[jonesy101]

lol - sorry I read Conway for Mitchell, duh

Conway shouldn't be in the team atm - so out of form - and Young was a rock in the last series

Conway got 76 and 91 in the India tests so those innings have probably earnt him this series.