We start with a few of our favourite stinky Blackcaps nuggets after another Test loss vs England and in New Zealand. Then we go deeper into the mangroves to discuss Tim Southee, Devon Conway, selected a losing team again and admirable efforts from youngsters led by Nathan Smith.
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2 Comments
Leave the cricket before the cricket leaves you
Tim southee,tom latham, tom blundell
And also Daryl Mitchell n Kane
Afg avg players age 24 in T20wc24 and nz players avg age was 33 ( Glenn Phillips and mark champan under 30 only) oldest team in T20 wc24 😢
In this series Nathan,will o.., Glenn and rachin under 27
In english team woakes, stokes and Joe root is above all the other are under 27 big difference
It's interesting to look at the difference between the NZ media and the Australian media. Before the India series Sam Konstas scored 2 centuries (in the same game) and the Australian media is pushing for him to be the opener. Meanwhile Mariu scores 240, 185 and two half-centuries and the only thing I can find on him is 1 puff piece from the Press (which mentions nothing about potential Blackcaps selection).
At this point in time, I have no idea if Latham should remain in the squad, the only reason why I wouldn't drop him is because he's now captain, but he cannot be the opener anymore. Maybe just give him the gloves and kill two birds with 1 stone? However he should only get 1 WTC cycle to be captain.
1. Mariu (time to learn on the job mate)
2. Young/Solia [I don't mind if Solia would only average 30 as a test opener if he's also contributing as a 4/5th seam option]
3. Williamson/Young [Honestly I think Kane needs to make a decision if he's in or out. It's not like he's a massive T20 superstar anyway…]
4. Ravindra (He's young so expect inconsistency)
5. Mitchell/Latham/Chapman [I fully believe that Mitchell's problem is mental because he usually gets starts; Latham's is more technical, but is also another that simply isn't converting when he gets starts]
6. Phillips [let's stop stranding our guy on 30 or 40 not out because he's batting too low]
7. Latham/Hay (wk) [Sorry Blundell but scoring 100+ when your team is 400 runs down isn't a good century]
8. Santner/Smith
9. Jamieson/Smith [I would prefer Henry and Smith be the opening pair bowlers, but I suspect when Jamieson returns he's given the new ball]
10. Henry
11. O'Rourke/Patel
Obviously 8-11 is based on conditions, I think we've reached the point where even if Santner isn't taking wickets at home, only going for only 3rpo is the better outcome. Mitchell's seam bowling completely disappearing at Test-level is a massive disappointment, that's why I'm keen on Solia just to pad-out the bowling options.
I don't think Young will do any better as an opener than Conway/Latham. But at least it takes out the right-hand around the wicket dismissal out of the equation.