The White Ferns need to be better. They have an absolutely golden opportunity with a number of free to air games without competition from the men's game in early December. They could bring the public along with some heroic performances but bugger me that was a tough watch on Sunday.
Wasn't as critical as it is on many pitches in neighbouring India, but batting fourth in Asia is invariably tougher than batting first... it's the reverse of here where there is too much weighting towards bowling first.
Is the Barrett re-signing actually something to celebrate? We've got limited resources (as we are often told), produce lots of decent backs, so I struggle to understand why we'd sign a 30+ utility back for 4 years. There's got to be a trade-off right - that's coin that can't go somewhere else
1. There is a dearth of first-five talent. Some might be just around the corner, but 'might' is a fraught word.
2. The NZR contracting system is incredibly complex, but his deal is propped up by third-party money and no, that coin probably isn't going elsewhere because the third-party is paying for star power, not potential.
Everyone will have an opinion on whether he's test-level still, but Robertson won't pick him on reputation because they have no history. But regardless, keeping him in the NZ game rather than Europe or Japan, where he had massive offers, seems like a outcome with no downsides.
Ravindra and Santner were our best batter and bowler respectively at the World Cup. Swapping them for Nicholls and Sodhi would strengthen the team but selectors are usually conservative.
This is a good shout. The criticisms of Santner in tests have been around his inability to take wickets and his overrated batting (he’s come in as high as 6) but I reckon there’s enough spin on offer to bring him back in. Maybe the subcontinent is the only place you would play him in tests. He would improve the batting and fielding as well if in for Sodhi - who was positively dreadful in the field.
Absolutely nailed the test match analysis Dylan. I felt the toss was important and it was, but it was actually the best cricket wicket I’ve seen in Bangladesh ever. Their spinners were so much better than ours, threatening both edges and tying us down. Conway, Blundell and Nicholls got very bogged down. Conway is going to have to learn move his feet back and forward if he’s to make any runs in test two, I’ve never seen him look so cast. It was a crime not to pick Ravindra, I can’t see a scenario where he doesn’t play the second so will be interesting to see who makes way.
Re: the Mitchell Johnson / David Warner stoush I’m siding with Warner. Pre sand paper he was about the most detestable character in cricket but he has changed. Certain team mates might think he wasn’t contrite enough but the whole thing was a circus and I struggle to believe the bowling unit knew nothing. Johnson himself has plenty of demons. Post retirement he carried on his on field rivalries with vicious Twitter posts and he still has some growing up to do.
The White Ferns need to be better. They have an absolutely golden opportunity with a number of free to air games without competition from the men's game in early December. They could bring the public along with some heroic performances but bugger me that was a tough watch on Sunday.
I felt the toss wasn't that important. Bangladesh chose to bat and were bowled out in one day and one ball.
NZ were capable of pushing towards a lead of 150 with a bit more application and a bit less wafting at the ball turning away from them.
I'd bring Wagner in for Sodhi and Ravindra in for Nicholls. Leaves you with new ball swing, full Wags when needed and a trio of spin.
Wasn't as critical as it is on many pitches in neighbouring India, but batting fourth in Asia is invariably tougher than batting first... it's the reverse of here where there is too much weighting towards bowling first.
Is the Barrett re-signing actually something to celebrate? We've got limited resources (as we are often told), produce lots of decent backs, so I struggle to understand why we'd sign a 30+ utility back for 4 years. There's got to be a trade-off right - that's coin that can't go somewhere else
A couple of things to consider.
1. There is a dearth of first-five talent. Some might be just around the corner, but 'might' is a fraught word.
2. The NZR contracting system is incredibly complex, but his deal is propped up by third-party money and no, that coin probably isn't going elsewhere because the third-party is paying for star power, not potential.
Everyone will have an opinion on whether he's test-level still, but Robertson won't pick him on reputation because they have no history. But regardless, keeping him in the NZ game rather than Europe or Japan, where he had massive offers, seems like a outcome with no downsides.
Agree with this. He’s in his twilight years well and truly. The value will be to his franchise (mentoring young players) rather than the ABs I think.
Ravindra and Santner were our best batter and bowler respectively at the World Cup. Swapping them for Nicholls and Sodhi would strengthen the team but selectors are usually conservative.
This is a good shout. The criticisms of Santner in tests have been around his inability to take wickets and his overrated batting (he’s come in as high as 6) but I reckon there’s enough spin on offer to bring him back in. Maybe the subcontinent is the only place you would play him in tests. He would improve the batting and fielding as well if in for Sodhi - who was positively dreadful in the field.
Agree, Santner deserves a go on a turning pitch. And if nothing else he would bring a lot more economy with less loose balls to release the pressure
Agree- Sodhi's piss poor fielding has long been a bee in my bonnet.
Absolutely nailed the test match analysis Dylan. I felt the toss was important and it was, but it was actually the best cricket wicket I’ve seen in Bangladesh ever. Their spinners were so much better than ours, threatening both edges and tying us down. Conway, Blundell and Nicholls got very bogged down. Conway is going to have to learn move his feet back and forward if he’s to make any runs in test two, I’ve never seen him look so cast. It was a crime not to pick Ravindra, I can’t see a scenario where he doesn’t play the second so will be interesting to see who makes way.
Re: the Mitchell Johnson / David Warner stoush I’m siding with Warner. Pre sand paper he was about the most detestable character in cricket but he has changed. Certain team mates might think he wasn’t contrite enough but the whole thing was a circus and I struggle to believe the bowling unit knew nothing. Johnson himself has plenty of demons. Post retirement he carried on his on field rivalries with vicious Twitter posts and he still has some growing up to do.