*Official* New Zealand Domestic Cricket Season 2012/2013

[SteveNZ]

It's really an accurate measure of how desperate he is (or in this case isn't) to get back in the national side. He knows they'll have him at any given opportunity anyway. He can have a bit of fun and slog around merrily on flat pitches against domestic attacks.

Similar situation for Lou. Can't believe that people are talking about him as an alternative for Guppy in the Test side. He's making quick 30s with lofted drives over mid-off-cover then nicking out getting stuck over his front foot, as he always has. He's only here to play HRV and fill in time around it.

[Cricket CoachDB]

Originally Posted by Bahnz

If he tries that sort of rubbish against Anderson and Broad he's going to be humiliated.

Well, Anderson and Finn, at any rate...if Broad is selected, he could hit him at the moment.

[Immenso]

So Astle is playing. Part of conversation on the other thread .... About Wagner and Martin not plating ...

So Hira gets first FC match in years, didn't bowl as it is a greentop, then replaced before he can bat. Or did online scorecard just have it wrong from the start?

[BackFootPunch]

Nah the scorecard has it right. I think Hira now heads to Rangiora to play for Canterbury A, he's probably not had a lot of bowling recently.

Wagner and Martin will come in for the next innings I imagine.

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Neesham injured?

EDIT: Scratch that, Blackcaps website was wrong.

[Immenso]

Wagner in Duffy out.

And Bartlett in the wickets. I see yesterday Hopkins made the schoolboy error of bowling him away from the camera, so we didn't get the benefit of his fearsome front on action, and Rutherford cashed in .......

[Mike5181]

Taylor shoots up ICC rankings

Following the BLACKCAPS fine win against Sri Lanka in Colombo, a number of players have made big movements up the ICC ranking ladder.

Head of the pack is captain Ross Taylor, who bolted up to eighth on the Test batting list. It’s a career high for the skipper, who is reaping the rewards from his scores of 142 and 74 in the recent victory.

It’s not surprising to see Taylor rise so high, with the 28 year-old having scored centuries in the West Indies, India and Sri Lanka this year alone. He also holds a healthy average of 43.57.

With the South Africa series just around the corner he will have the chance to continue elevating, with Kevin Pietersen a mere three points ahead of him in seventh.

Fellow batsman Kane Williamson is also befitting from his big century in the last Test, having climbed 13 positions to a personal best 35th spot.

In the bowling rankings, Tim Southee has broken into the top 20 for the first time having jumped 13 spots from 33rd. It’s fair reward for what was a breakout series for Southee, highlighted by his figures of eight for 120 in Colombo.

He joins Chris Martin on the ladder, who sits two positions higher in 18th. Bright prospect Trent Boult has not yet worked his way up that high, but few would doubt he won’t in time having impressed many during the series.

The 23 year-old sits in 48th, having ascended 16 spots. Doug Bracewell also went up three spots to be ranked 38th.

New Zealand Cricket - Taylor shoots up ICC rankings

When's the last time we had a batsman that high in the rankings?

[Howsie]

How about one bloody game where we don't let the tail wag huh?

[Howsie]

Haha, pump that chump Lou.

[Immenso]

I had vague recollections of Munro being more of a bowler in his first stint, so I checked on Cricket Archive. He batted 11 on his FC debut. And bowled first change. He had moved to number 10 by his second match.

[Flem274*]

Originally Posted by Howsie

How about one bloody game where we don't let the tail wag huh?

It's the kiwi way.

[Immenso]

And Canning was opening the bowling, ick

Hitchcock batting 6 and bowling god knows what at that stage. Yeah I think shield has improved since 5 or so years ago..... As mentioned earlier in one of the threads. Wasn't that pretty much when a glut of non-internationals we're basically retiring by their late 20s to get on with their proper careers? (plus those ruined by the academy and bio-dynamics as per o'briens article)

[Kippax]

Cricket | James Franklin Ready to Show Who is Boss... | Stuff.co.nz

Many see Franklin as a follower rather than a leader and his body language has been compared to that of a doddery aunt, but Franklin has been around the block and is excited at the honour.

His style of captaincy is expected to be in keeping with his laidback manner, think more Stephen Fleming than Steve Waugh.

"I won't be crossing my arms and kicking the dirt too much," Franklin said.

"I'm genuinely looking forward to it."

Franklin's top flight captaincy experience is limited to leading New Zealand A in Zimbabwe two years ago.

He can hear the critics, those that believe his style is not conducive to captaining a side.

But he hopes to be judged on performance and results - well in this case, result.

"I've got to be pro-active and I'll throw ideas at bowlers about possible field placings.

"Who knows, captaincy might be a good thing for me in terms of my body language and all that stuff that people have crapped on about for years."

Franklin has reviewed his game over the past few weeks and in consultation with national bowling coach Shane Bond, he is going to have another crack at bowling in the low 130kmh range rather than the mid 120kmh range.

[SteveNZ]

Originally Posted by Immenso

I had vague recollections of Munro being more of a bowler in his first stint, so I checked on Cricket Archive. He batted 11 on his FC debut. And bowled first change. He had moved to number 10 by his second match.

He certainly was, used to bat around 8-9 for club side as well. Bowled good heat, took 7 wickets in an Auckland one-day final and got called up. But always been a potent striker and worked hard on it to the point where his bowling is just a part-time fallback.

[NZTailender]

Originally Posted by Kippax

Cricket | James Franklin Ready to Show Who is Boss... | Stuff.co.nz

#FranklinforPM2014