Feels more and more to me like the WTC final victory was Kane's Everest. Since then, he's scored a solitary score of 50+ in 20 innings for NZ across all formats (the World T20 final), put up the worst statistical batting effort in IPL history, and generally looked tired. Fatherhood, injury, illness, COVID, potentially lack of support/leadership from his coach...you count out champions at your peril, but I'm interested to see where Kane goes from here, even if he is 'only' 32
Hi Andy, sorry I hadn't seen your reply. It's a head-scratcher about Stead, isn't it? We had a scratchy period between 2016-18 under Hesson/Williamson, but our record from mid 2018 when he took over to 2021 was as good as any period in NZ cricket history (T20 + 50-over final, WTC champions, won home/away Test series' against England, nigh-on unbeatable at home, beat Pakistan in the subcontinent etc). So his initial results speak to good performance. Trouble is, it's been horrible since. A lot of players have regressed, our selections have been head-scratching, we aren't winning at home etc. So it's hard to say, isn't it? I can only judge it like you, on media appearances. He does seem keen on cliches, saying a lot of nothing, avoiding the obvious (ie that we have a massive mental block v Australia) and kind of failing to explain what this team is about and/or what they're trying to be. It's hardly inspirational or encouraging stuff in that regard. Big year ahead with a lot of cricket + big tournaments, so it'll be very interesting to see how we respond to such a poor 12 months - the first one since 2012, really.
Great read thanks Dylan. Silver Lake and NZR boys thinking our 1st XV rugby gonna be like college football in USA feeding into the NFL? A draft for the Super clubs? Well the Super 8 would have to be the SEC given how often that conference wins the Top4! Hamilton = Alabama? Hastings = Clemson? How long before they want their own television deal (or network) LOL. Seriously though, having been to that tournament as a spectator for many years now, I am
already seeing a growing division in the boys 1st XV’s - South Island teams can’t seem to foot it with the teams up here at that tourney (some big boys up here) - which ever NI schools turn up, they tend to physically dominate the south’s teams and it’s getting more noticeable. Even Wellington 1st XV’s seem to struggle against the super 8 sides in games I have seen over last few years. Northern drift!
Nice wrap Dyls - NRL, yep the Easts / Souths clash went back 30 years to bring back the biff. But did you see a side in the top 8 that wouldn't have put 50 points on the Warriors over the weekend? Next year is obviously our season but you might say they'll need to have a pretty good off-season. Especially since we aren't re-building. Lets Gone Warriors.
My home club basically lost half its age grade players between 13s and colts because we all went to town and had to play for school. Each school age grade would have 4 or 5 teams, and if you weren't playing in the A team you were prob being coached by a couple of older students on thrashed mudpits. In my circumstances there were a large group of boys who would have been better off playing club rugby where we would have bolstered the clubs and been provided a higher level of development. More would prob stay in their clubs as well rather than leaving school and giving up rather than transitioning back to club rugby
Not having spark sport I had to revert to listening to US open tennis online. What a pleasure to have knowledgeable commentators with passion and teamwork. Makes me hark back to the days of Matt Brown and David Mustard at ASB classic.
Question - who do you think is New Zealands most versatile commentator? I vote Glen Larma (excuse spelling), winter Olympics one week, league the next then summer Olympics.
I'm a fan of him as a human, but regardless of that Scotty Stevenson would get my vote for versatility. A ridiculous range of high-level sport on his CV.
Regarding the BCs that was another tour to Oz that massively failed to meet expectations. Boult was magnificent with the ball and as a unit the bowlers largely held up their end of the bargain, which brings me to your point Dylan....the batting. I've been a big fan of Guptill and Williamson over the years - both would make my all time NZ ODI XI - but there comes a time when change is needed. Honestly I think Guptill is done - he will still score runs against weak international attacks (like Ireland, Scotland etc) because he has enough skill left to ride out the tough patches and the nous to put a score together, but it's a different story when he faces spinners challenging both edges or pacers hitting good areas at high speed. As for Kane, he's still got life left in him but I think it's time - even if it only ends up being temporary - that we recognise he's not our best middle order ODI player and right now he's soaking up silly amounts of balls and placing pressure on who follows. His strike rate compared to his colleagues this series was dreadful - Oz just dried him up by bowling to his off side drop shot and stacking the field. The whole batting order works around the presumption that he is inked in at 3 - Mitchell in the form of his life, Conway opening, Young cast away completely. I think we need to ask ourselves who are our in-form batters *right now* and get them in the key spots. Kane may need to drop down the order or perhaps even open and accept that the innings won't be constructed around him, just like a young player has to. I hope he is in a funk as you put it Dylan, but his ODI form has been well down for a couple of years now.
Feels more and more to me like the WTC final victory was Kane's Everest. Since then, he's scored a solitary score of 50+ in 20 innings for NZ across all formats (the World T20 final), put up the worst statistical batting effort in IPL history, and generally looked tired. Fatherhood, injury, illness, COVID, potentially lack of support/leadership from his coach...you count out champions at your peril, but I'm interested to see where Kane goes from here, even if he is 'only' 32
What are your thoughts on Stead Dean? I don’t have any knowledge except the brief media appearances he puts in.
Hi Andy, sorry I hadn't seen your reply. It's a head-scratcher about Stead, isn't it? We had a scratchy period between 2016-18 under Hesson/Williamson, but our record from mid 2018 when he took over to 2021 was as good as any period in NZ cricket history (T20 + 50-over final, WTC champions, won home/away Test series' against England, nigh-on unbeatable at home, beat Pakistan in the subcontinent etc). So his initial results speak to good performance. Trouble is, it's been horrible since. A lot of players have regressed, our selections have been head-scratching, we aren't winning at home etc. So it's hard to say, isn't it? I can only judge it like you, on media appearances. He does seem keen on cliches, saying a lot of nothing, avoiding the obvious (ie that we have a massive mental block v Australia) and kind of failing to explain what this team is about and/or what they're trying to be. It's hardly inspirational or encouraging stuff in that regard. Big year ahead with a lot of cricket + big tournaments, so it'll be very interesting to see how we respond to such a poor 12 months - the first one since 2012, really.
All really good points 👍
Great read thanks Dylan. Silver Lake and NZR boys thinking our 1st XV rugby gonna be like college football in USA feeding into the NFL? A draft for the Super clubs? Well the Super 8 would have to be the SEC given how often that conference wins the Top4! Hamilton = Alabama? Hastings = Clemson? How long before they want their own television deal (or network) LOL. Seriously though, having been to that tournament as a spectator for many years now, I am
already seeing a growing division in the boys 1st XV’s - South Island teams can’t seem to foot it with the teams up here at that tourney (some big boys up here) - which ever NI schools turn up, they tend to physically dominate the south’s teams and it’s getting more noticeable. Even Wellington 1st XV’s seem to struggle against the super 8 sides in games I have seen over last few years. Northern drift!
Nice wrap Dyls - NRL, yep the Easts / Souths clash went back 30 years to bring back the biff. But did you see a side in the top 8 that wouldn't have put 50 points on the Warriors over the weekend? Next year is obviously our season but you might say they'll need to have a pretty good off-season. Especially since we aren't re-building. Lets Gone Warriors.
My home club basically lost half its age grade players between 13s and colts because we all went to town and had to play for school. Each school age grade would have 4 or 5 teams, and if you weren't playing in the A team you were prob being coached by a couple of older students on thrashed mudpits. In my circumstances there were a large group of boys who would have been better off playing club rugby where we would have bolstered the clubs and been provided a higher level of development. More would prob stay in their clubs as well rather than leaving school and giving up rather than transitioning back to club rugby
Not having spark sport I had to revert to listening to US open tennis online. What a pleasure to have knowledgeable commentators with passion and teamwork. Makes me hark back to the days of Matt Brown and David Mustard at ASB classic.
Question - who do you think is New Zealands most versatile commentator? I vote Glen Larma (excuse spelling), winter Olympics one week, league the next then summer Olympics.
I'm a fan of him as a human, but regardless of that Scotty Stevenson would get my vote for versatility. A ridiculous range of high-level sport on his CV.
Regarding the BCs that was another tour to Oz that massively failed to meet expectations. Boult was magnificent with the ball and as a unit the bowlers largely held up their end of the bargain, which brings me to your point Dylan....the batting. I've been a big fan of Guptill and Williamson over the years - both would make my all time NZ ODI XI - but there comes a time when change is needed. Honestly I think Guptill is done - he will still score runs against weak international attacks (like Ireland, Scotland etc) because he has enough skill left to ride out the tough patches and the nous to put a score together, but it's a different story when he faces spinners challenging both edges or pacers hitting good areas at high speed. As for Kane, he's still got life left in him but I think it's time - even if it only ends up being temporary - that we recognise he's not our best middle order ODI player and right now he's soaking up silly amounts of balls and placing pressure on who follows. His strike rate compared to his colleagues this series was dreadful - Oz just dried him up by bowling to his off side drop shot and stacking the field. The whole batting order works around the presumption that he is inked in at 3 - Mitchell in the form of his life, Conway opening, Young cast away completely. I think we need to ask ourselves who are our in-form batters *right now* and get them in the key spots. Kane may need to drop down the order or perhaps even open and accept that the innings won't be constructed around him, just like a young player has to. I hope he is in a funk as you put it Dylan, but his ODI form has been well down for a couple of years now.