Quick suggestion re getting Will Young in the XI. I understand that wicket keeping at test level and playing as a specialist batter doesn't work (Lathan, Sangakarra etc). But looking at Blundell out of form can you tell me why shouldn't, between the three of them - Latham, Conway and Phillips (and if injury, Michael Bracewell too) they keep a session at a time or an hour and switch at drinks. Is it not worth getting creative to ensure we have our strongest lineup out there? They might not be the most top class out and out keepers in test match standards, but they can be near enough for an hour or two at a time and conserve energy to bat too.
Just a thought that would also have us pushing the innovation factor in test cricket, Rassie Stead has a ring to it.
Been looking forward to this email since 8:35 last night. I still can’t believe it. We outplayed them as a collective three times. Three times! A friend sent me a message this morning saying he believed it was a fraction behind Rome 1960 Snell and Halberg golds in great NZ sporting achievements. I don’t know if that’s right or not (he was alive for both) but it doesn’t sound hyperbolic.
Expectations insurance premiums - I like that a lot. I may burn mine and just take it as it comes.
What an amazing result! I feel like everything I thought I knew about cricket has been called into question - 3-0. Who knew?!!
Great analysis too Dylan. The result puts a lot of questions and considerations about the team on the back burner, so I don’t expect to see the same team play England before Xmas perhaps minus Ajaz.
Apart from the result one of the heartening things was to see some new chemistry out in the field, especially in that third test. I don’t know whether it was Southee’s absence (side note: it was interesting to see him commiseration with Kohli rather than celebrating with his team mates post match) or just a new vibe / belief that’s developed this series under Latham, but it was great to see Conway fielding like his life depended on it, Will Young animated under the lid and Darryl Mitchell inputting into the reviews like a senior pro. But it felt different and it felt good.
I thought Blundell kept very well and in India you need a specialist with soft hands. But his batting looks cooked. No doubt he’ll get a stay of execution after this result but I see things slightly differently to you Dylan on the Phillips question. I’d put Phillips at 6 and Blundell at 7. No doubt Phillips looked sketchy with his back foot technique in India but I felt that was just him “finding a way”. NZ poses different questions and he’ll be much more composed. I feel like his batting development in tests has been stymied by coming in after two quick wickets and batting with the tail. Lots of 20s, 30s and 40s batting with the tail. I’d rather see him get the chance to set the tone off a stronger platform.
Stoked to see Young come good and look every inch the player we all thought he could be. Super impressive. Haven’t worked it all out but someone’s going to have to miss out. Looks to me that either it’s him no way this selection group will bump any other batter) or they all play and we go in with one less bowler.
It's been an unbelievable three weeks, and I'm now much more looking forward to spending ~five days at the Basin than I was at the end of September! And you're right about how much of a team effort it was. Nobody's aggregate figures from the series were eye-popping, but everyone made at least one vital contribution - with Blundell and Sodhi being the most tenuous.
Blundell hasn't looked like a top six (or even a top nine) batsman for over 18 months now, averaging 12.78 from his last 13 tests. I'll be interested to see how Mitchell Hay goes in the upcoming white-ball matches in Sri Lanka (noting that his stats suggest red-ball cricket is more his forte).
I'd like to keep Young at four, push Blundell down to seven or eight, and just have four frontline bowlers: Henry, O'Rourke, Southee, and whichever spinner is chosen*... which probably won't be Patel because he can't bat as well. Ravindra provides enough cover as a part-time fifth bowling option.
*Or a fourth seam option because, let's be honest, that's what we usually choose, and it is Christchurch in November. Assuming Jamieson and Sears are still injured, Smith or Duffy?
Quick suggestion re getting Will Young in the XI. I understand that wicket keeping at test level and playing as a specialist batter doesn't work (Lathan, Sangakarra etc). But looking at Blundell out of form can you tell me why shouldn't, between the three of them - Latham, Conway and Phillips (and if injury, Michael Bracewell too) they keep a session at a time or an hour and switch at drinks. Is it not worth getting creative to ensure we have our strongest lineup out there? They might not be the most top class out and out keepers in test match standards, but they can be near enough for an hour or two at a time and conserve energy to bat too.
Just a thought that would also have us pushing the innovation factor in test cricket, Rassie Stead has a ring to it.
That’s not dumb at all Guy. There was a time when I felt Blundell & Watling were both in our top 7 batters and could share the gloves in tests.
Been looking forward to this email since 8:35 last night. I still can’t believe it. We outplayed them as a collective three times. Three times! A friend sent me a message this morning saying he believed it was a fraction behind Rome 1960 Snell and Halberg golds in great NZ sporting achievements. I don’t know if that’s right or not (he was alive for both) but it doesn’t sound hyperbolic.
Expectations insurance premiums - I like that a lot. I may burn mine and just take it as it comes.
What an amazing result! I feel like everything I thought I knew about cricket has been called into question - 3-0. Who knew?!!
Great analysis too Dylan. The result puts a lot of questions and considerations about the team on the back burner, so I don’t expect to see the same team play England before Xmas perhaps minus Ajaz.
Apart from the result one of the heartening things was to see some new chemistry out in the field, especially in that third test. I don’t know whether it was Southee’s absence (side note: it was interesting to see him commiseration with Kohli rather than celebrating with his team mates post match) or just a new vibe / belief that’s developed this series under Latham, but it was great to see Conway fielding like his life depended on it, Will Young animated under the lid and Darryl Mitchell inputting into the reviews like a senior pro. But it felt different and it felt good.
I thought Blundell kept very well and in India you need a specialist with soft hands. But his batting looks cooked. No doubt he’ll get a stay of execution after this result but I see things slightly differently to you Dylan on the Phillips question. I’d put Phillips at 6 and Blundell at 7. No doubt Phillips looked sketchy with his back foot technique in India but I felt that was just him “finding a way”. NZ poses different questions and he’ll be much more composed. I feel like his batting development in tests has been stymied by coming in after two quick wickets and batting with the tail. Lots of 20s, 30s and 40s batting with the tail. I’d rather see him get the chance to set the tone off a stronger platform.
Stoked to see Young come good and look every inch the player we all thought he could be. Super impressive. Haven’t worked it all out but someone’s going to have to miss out. Looks to me that either it’s him no way this selection group will bump any other batter) or they all play and we go in with one less bowler.
It's been an unbelievable three weeks, and I'm now much more looking forward to spending ~five days at the Basin than I was at the end of September! And you're right about how much of a team effort it was. Nobody's aggregate figures from the series were eye-popping, but everyone made at least one vital contribution - with Blundell and Sodhi being the most tenuous.
Blundell hasn't looked like a top six (or even a top nine) batsman for over 18 months now, averaging 12.78 from his last 13 tests. I'll be interested to see how Mitchell Hay goes in the upcoming white-ball matches in Sri Lanka (noting that his stats suggest red-ball cricket is more his forte).
I'd like to keep Young at four, push Blundell down to seven or eight, and just have four frontline bowlers: Henry, O'Rourke, Southee, and whichever spinner is chosen*... which probably won't be Patel because he can't bat as well. Ravindra provides enough cover as a part-time fifth bowling option.
*Or a fourth seam option because, let's be honest, that's what we usually choose, and it is Christchurch in November. Assuming Jamieson and Sears are still injured, Smith or Duffy?