nzfan
International Vice-Captain
I think the point I made was lost or probably I didn't convey well enough. I was replying to Kippax's video of Ravindra nicking and wanting him to score loads of runs at club. There is no way I'm going to compare a 18 year old with the one of the two world's best test player (I believe Kane is right up the top along with Steve Smith in longer format for me). I was also not downplaying Kane, he was good, had potential and has materialized that potential as well. All I was pointing to was all players including KW couldn't go around scoring in every game or series hence not a barometer for future. I know as many times as he scored he also failed to on many occasions even in the age group (obviously I was part of the set up as mentioned previously). That's just natural, getting out is part and parcel of the game. Ravindra is no Kane as for run scoring is concerned no doubt but skills wise he's right up there. Whether that materializes into years of performances is still to be seen. It's possible but there are a lot of dimensions to the game that dictates how he goes, mental toughness is one of them. The sport is fast changing, heck there's a T10 tournament going on so quite hard to predict future of any player IMO. I agree with you he has massive potential than performance at the moment but given NZ Cricket now has taken full control of his situation and including him with Black Caps/NZ A tours they will get the best out of him I'm hoping. For a smallish population we do really well and that I believe are the support staff that make it happen. We have an amazing knack of producing world class performers in cricket particularly in the last decade or so. There must be something we must be doing right.
I disagree on your take on his bowling. I don't believe he's bits and pieces player. I believe his bowling is as good as his batting or even better. He's been a consistent player with the ball for years. I'd rather have a player that can contribute with bat, ball and hopefully some leadership as long as they are top class than single dimension players. If a bloke can bowl 10 overs and bat in the top order I will have him in the team every time.
Ravindra has got good attention over the years and I believe there are other players probably not getting as much attention although they are equally good. Someone like Finn Allen should be in the mix, he is a bloody good batter and an outstanding fielder. Ben Sears another young lad and he'll probably be one of the quickest in the country if not the quickest. Sears hasn't achieved much in terms of performances but in a right set up and with good opportunities he can give good 10 years of cricket at the top level. We are wasting him in club cricket in Wellington, hoping he gets a good go with firebirds this year. Josh Finney the lad from Otago and Ken McClure from Canterbury are two more players that should be encouraged way more.
