*Official* New Zealand Domestic Cricket Season 2012/2013

[lockton2skipper]

plus if vinay kumar is leading the attack it must be pretty friendly.

[Immenso]

This article from Andrew Aldersen re: Wagner's place in the pecking order seems extremely out of touch, like he's spent the last few weeks somewhere exotic, like Sri Lanka ...... rather than in Lincoln. An article quoted on the previous page of this thread, revelaed Littlejohn's odd explanation for playing only 2 seamers, and omitting Wagner, in the most recent 'A' match.

Cricket: Getting back in the swing
By Andrew Alderson

Neil Wagner's demotion to 12th man for the New Zealand A match against India A last week raises questions about his international future.

Wagner became eligible to play for New Zealand earlier this year and was promptly included in the test squad to play in the Caribbean.

He played both tests as part of a New Zealand attack which struggled to contain the West Indies batsmen. Wagner took four wickets at 52.25 runs apiece. He remained part of the test touring party to India but wasn't required in the two test defeats there.

In that series, he was behind Chris Martin, Doug Bracewell, Trent Boult and Tim Southee in the pace bowling pecking order. His New Zealand A selection also presumably pushes him behind Brent Arnel and Andy McKay, who made the starting XI. Mark Gillespie will also be in the mix for selection when he recovers from injury.

The status quo places Wagner in an intriguing position. He and New Zealand Cricket have invested a lot in his Kiwi future. His Otago first-class record is outstanding - 137 wickets at 27.27, including six five-wicket bags.

Of those dismissals, 88 have come in the last two seasons when he topped the country's wicket count.

The 26-year-old is not panicking. He remains adamant he has made the right decision to move from his native South Africa to qualify as a New Zealand citizen.

"There just happens to be strong competition in the test bowling ranks," Wagner says. "In India, I was struggling for timing at the crease. I just wasn't at full pace or strength. Sometimes the ball can come out my hand too early and I can't control it. The opportunity was amazing but equally I realised it was a different level; there is no room for error.

"I also wouldn't have got anywhere near the reverse swing people might've expected from me in India. With monsoon rain, the grounds were lush, green and soft rather than abrasive. That meant relying on more conventional swing because the ball doesn't scuff as much. It was similar in the West Indies."

Wagner has kept in regular contact with New Zealand coach Mike Hesson, the man who originally recruited him for Otago ahead of the 2008-09 season.

"I spoke to Hess in India before I left. He said to work on a couple of things like getting my swing to return from good length deliveries and staying aggressive. He is one of the reasons I came here. He has been instrumental in my career and feeds me with a lot of confidence."

Hesson says Wagner is progressing well but despite four recent test losses, pace bowling remains an area with plenty of competition.

"Neil is continually working on improving his wrist position so he can swing the new and older ball consistently," says Hesson.

"The one thing you know about Neil is, if conditions suit and he gets an opportunity in the starting XI, he will never let you down."

Wagner admits he lacks the same impact in limited overs cricket but has worked hard on that over the New Zealand winter.

"I've been training on my shorter formats. Hess knows I can bowl at the death but if I seriously want to move into that type of cricket, I need to work more on my bowling variations, keeping my economy rates down and getting as many dot balls as possible.

"I also worked hard on batting over the winter so I can contribute better at nine or 10 by playing little knocks which can set the game up.

"I'm not sure how long Kyle Mills and Jacob Oram will be around as limited overs bowlers, so if I get an opportunity, I have got to be ready to step up."

Cricket: Getting back in the swing - Cricket - NZ Herald News

[SteveNZ]

Yeah, I saw the snippet on the front of the paper and cringed.

Although K.Lawnbowls' explanation of why he was 12th man was a classic example of the new-age wankery and over-complication that is rife in some wings of professional sport these days. Keeping Wagner out to see how the rest of the attack goes without a spearhead? Does this seem a better idea than actually playing him and giving him a chance to impress/fine tune his game ahead of Sri Lanka, where it's not inconceivable that he could play?

[Hurricane]

Originally Posted by SteveNZ

Yeah, I saw the snippet on the front of the paper and cringed.

Although K.Lawnbowls' explanation of why he was 12th man was a classic example of the new-age wankery and over-complication that is rife in some wings of professional sport these days. Keeping Wagner out to see how the rest of the attack goes without a spearhead? Does this seem a better idea than actually playing him and giving him a chance to impress/fine tune his game ahead of Sri Lanka, where it's not inconceivable that he could play?

Wonderful post - love the language usage.

[Hurricane]

How long do Oram and Mills each have left like Wagner has asked? Steve? Anyone.

[SteveNZ]

Originally Posted by Hurricane

How long do Oram and Mills each have left like Wagner has asked? Steve? Anyone.

How long is a piece of string, or a hamstring for that matter? It's anyone's guess. Chris Martin thought he was going to retire two summers ago but things change.

Oram I would say is more likely to go first. It was fairly generous to give him a contract this season, and the word from NZC was it centred more than a little bit around sentimentality and reward for 'dedicated service'. He'll probably settle into being a T20 for hire by summer's end.

Mills might stick around a bit longer if his body allows it. Not to the 2015 World Cup but maybe a couple more summers

[Cricket CoachDB]

Does anyone know why Scott Kuggeleijn hasn't carried on playing for the Dutch? I notice he hasn't been playing in their domestic league this season, and I'm certain that he could be in their best national XI with some ease-he'd form quite a quite fearsome new ball partnership with Timm van Der Gugten by Associate standards.

I'm starting to assume that he's given it up to further his FC career in New Zealand, so is now the right time to adjust his nationality in the Cricket Coach DB to Kiwi with second nationality Dutch, rather than the other way around at present?


For anyone who plays the Cricket Coach game, I've almost finished completing my NZ update, complete with all U19I's of note and every Provincial "A" player who I could find a DOB for. I'd love to hear any feedback on my ratings-the Kiwi threads on here are great for info that bare playing stats don't reveal! The latest DB is downloadable here: Rockingham Software Ltd | Cricket Coach Series | Online Player Editor

[Kippax]

I have to admit I've never seen it in writing the one overseas player rule for NZ domestic sides, whether Woakes coming to Wgtn would mean he couldn't play in the same XI.

[Kippax]

Yep, the only time you're allowed to have more than one player (or two in T20) in any XI not ready to play for NZ at a moment's notice is a Wagner-type holding period.

2. Overseas Player means a person who is not eligible to play for the Black Caps; and does not meet
the NZ Qualifying Player criteria.
3. NZ Qualifying Player is a player who:
a) has declared his intention, in writing to NZC, to become eligible to represent the
BLACKCAPS;
(b) is not currently eligible to be selected for the BLACKCAPS or available for selection
for another country‟s national team;
(c) has, immediately following his declaration played in New Zealand for two (2)
consecutive seasons and/or resided in New Zealand for a continuous period of not less
than 12 months; and
(d) continues to demonstrate his ongoing commitment to becoming eligible for the
BLACKCAPS to the satisfaction of NZC and the CPA.

[Kippax]

Originally Posted by Cricket CoachDB

I've almost finished completing my NZ update, complete with all U19I's of note and every Provincial "A" player who I could find a DOB for. I'd love to hear any feedback on my ratings-the Kiwi threads on here are great for info that bare playing stats don't reveal! The latest DB is downloadable here: Rockingham Software Ltd | Cricket Coach Series | Online Player Editor

Hah, you've even taken into account various CW posters' sentiments towards Matt Henry and Ish Sodhi in the 'bowl potential' numbers by the looks, guess that's just what their early stats suggest as well. State Championship can be changed to Plunket Shield, State Shield changed to Ford Trophy. de Grandhomme being quicker than Southee is wrong (CdG was ~130 last night tbf, so I'd make him MF, Southee FM), and Butler's FM/MF these days. Have you got Oram's 59 score in injury proneness one of the very worst of all 4921 players?

A few home ground corrections:
Basin Reserve for Wellington
University Oval for Otago rather than Carisbrook
Village Green destroyed in Feb 2012 earthquake, Hagley Oval for Cantabs

[Cricket CoachDB]

Originally Posted by Kippax

Hah, you've even taken into account various CW posters' sentiments towards Matt Henry and Ish Sodhi in the 'bowl potential' numbers by the looks, guess that's just what their early stats suggest as well. State Championship can be changed to Plunket Shield, State Shield changed to Ford Trophy. de Grandhomme being quicker than Southee is wrong (CdG was ~130 last night tbf, so I'd make him MF, Southee FM), and Butler's FM/MF these days. Have you got Oram's 59 score in injury proneness one of the very worst of all 4921 players?

A few home ground corrections:
Basin Reserve for Wellington
University Oval for Otago rather than Carisbrook
Village Green destroyed in Feb 2012 earthquake, Hagley Oval for Cantabs

Heck yeah I considered things people said on here and last season's thread, then went away and investigated them myself. For example you can't really argue with Henry's quality, and I'd consider rating him above the likes of Arnell and McKay (I think he's better), but then the game would pick Henry ahead of them for NZ. And the selectors aint that smart

Sodhi looks a top prospect; his club performances last year were really impressive (can't remember where I got the stats from now), his U19I showings are decent, and it's understandable why there's a bit of a buzz about him.


Yes I took Southee up to FM just the other day after seeing him touch 140 in the WC. Thanks for the other pointers on bowling speeds, you know how unreliable the likes of Cricinfo are. I made Colin MF a while back now so I'm not sure if you've got the very latest DB: lob these two files into the DB instead of the same-named ones that are there and it's bang up to date: CC 12 LATEST.rar

That Butler pointer is really invaluable, thanks! I think I'll go FM for now, as long as he can hit 134/5 still.

As for Oram's 59 IPR: as it happens the most injury-prone player in the DB is a Kiwi. See if you can guess/spot him...he's a seamer.


Any other info on incorrect bowling speeds would be brilliant. Is Van Beek genuinely quick, for example? This calls him "medium-pace"! http://www.cricketeurope4.net/DATABA...9/000933.shtml

Bowling ratings also give me sleepless nights at times...I'm still not sure if I have Small and Neesham quite right. I'm on a bit of a mission to get all nations pitched at the right levels relatively, but then you look at Jarvis's figures last season and wonder about the standard sometimes.


And thanks for the stadia info-I didn't use to be able to edit that part of the DB, but I can now, so I'll get to building (and demolishing).



I'm also a big fan of Dutch cricket and will try and get their league in the game soon, which is packed with Kiwis. There's a few in the lower league too, but this may be of interest to people to see how the top-flight guys over there have been going this season: Topklasse Statistics

[Cricket CoachDB]

Oh yeah and I'm not sure if we can get away with the competition names due to rights issues (check our Big Bash franchise names!), but I'll ask the games supremo to see if we can.

[Immenso]

Originally Posted by Cricket CoachDB

Oh yeah and I'm not sure if we can get away with the competition names due to rights issues (check our Big Bash franchise names!), but I'll ask the games supremo to see if we can.

Plunket Shield isn't a sponsors name. it is the traditional name, that was ditched in about the late 70s when Shell took over sponsorship. Delighted to see it back, but truth be told it was because they couldn't find another sponsor.

Ford Trophy is sponsors name obviously.

BTW, The old State Championship & State Shield were sponsors names (An insurance company)

P.S. I would guess Van Beek bowls about 130ish from looking at him last season on the pooch player

[Cricket CoachDB]

Good stuff, we should be able to re-name the Plunket then. And I'll go for RMF for van Beek I think.

[Cricket CoachDB]

Does anyone know what the Hagley Oval bowling ends are called or its capacity? Sounds like there's some serious expansion work planned.

Guess I'll go with the Wiki seating of 6000 for University Oval, but again-does anybody know the bowling end names?



Great second win for Auckland in the Champions League. That's the best Azhar Mahmood has bowled in a while! Suppose I'd better stick Lou Vincent back there as a T20 Only player seeing as he's probably not going to be involved for Rhino's. It does seem a bit tenuous his involvement, he only played one HRV Cup game for them last season. Anyone know if he's likely to be back there this year?