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*Official* New Zealand in Sri Lanka 2012

SteveNZ

Cricketer Of The Year
250 would have been a winning score if the rain had stayed away and Jayawardene didn't go on too much further. It was a par score if not better.

When you are a very average batting side like us, consolidation is necessary.
 

straw man

Hall of Fame Member
Sad reflection on our recent ODI record that I looked at the score this morning and although we'd lost thought 'looks a decent effort'.

Do feel a little aggrieved that the rain came just after the 20 over mark to make it a match, while still a long way from the finish. SL were favourites from that position but we still had a good chance.

Think the go-slow at the top of the order is symptomatic of the wider problem, which is that the top order know we can't afford to lose too many wickets because the batting is generally weak and ends at 6 (with NcCullum the only reliable bat-thrower). And of course batsmen like Nicol are pretty limited as well.

I'm really starting to hate the way Williamson is floated around the order too, used either as an insurance policy or not at all. Sure he's not a great hitter but he's not as one-dimensional as they make out either. Absolutely no reason he couldn't have come in at 3 yesterday, especially given the success Watling had at 6 v West Indies. Williamson is never going to learn how to play limited-over cricket if this keeps up. It's also just a generally crap tactic - a waste of resources. If they really rate him this little then just pick someone else. Otherwise, captain should back his players.

I would also like to see Southee bat a little more often in limited-overs.
 
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Scaly piscine

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
250 would have been a winning score if the rain had stayed away and Jayawardene didn't go on too much further. It was a par score if not better.

When you are a very average batting side like us, consolidation is necessary.
If you're weak and want to surrender meekly then consolidation is necessary. If you have batsman with a bit of quality who they get in and make it count. Sri Lanka have those sorts of batsmen. New Zealand's batting is full of plodders and sloggers. Guys like Nicol need to be scoring quickly or they're a complete waste of space. New Zealand need to use what they've got and take calculated gambles to make up for their mediocrity. You can catch up runs in ODIs by taking risks.
 

SteveNZ

Cricketer Of The Year
If you're weak and want to surrender meekly then consolidation is necessary. If you have batsman with a bit of quality who they get in and make it count. Sri Lanka have those sorts of batsmen. New Zealand's batting is full of plodders and sloggers. Guys like Nicol need to be scoring quickly or they're a complete waste of space. New Zealand need to use what they've got and take calculated gambles to make up for their mediocrity. You can catch up runs in ODIs by taking risks.
We are weak. Eighth in all forms of the game confirms that.

We have plodders and sloggers, exactly. So with that mix, isn't plodding at the start mixed with slogging at the end the best fit? I'd suggest it is, given we made 250. I don't see the point of calculated gambles when we didn't take any and made that score, which could well have been a winning one. I don't think our total represented 'surrendering meekly'.

But hey don't worry, with the benefit of experience we'll get better.
 

Howsie

International Captain
I'm really starting to hate the way Williamson is floated around the order too, used either as an insurance policy or not at all. Sure he's not a great hitter but he's not as one-dimensional as they make out either. Absolutely no reason he couldn't have come in at 3 yesterday, especially given the success Watling had at 6 v West Indies. Williamson is never going to learn how to play limited-over cricket if this keeps up. It's also just a generally crap tactic - a waste of resources. If they really rate him this little then just pick someone else. Otherwise, captain should back his players.
Yep, he can bat at three in the test team but he can't do it in the ODI team. Massive WTF as far as I'm concerned. He averages mid 40's in one day cricket domestically, with a superb record at three, why the **** not bat him there?

Perhaps if he played and missed every third ball, charged down the wicket every sixth ball and wogged the occasional six he'd get a decent run.
 

Bahnz

Hall of Fame Member
Yeah, I reckon it's time Kane was given a go in the top 3. His batting style better suits it than number 5 anyway.

Dream top 5

Ryder
Guptill
Williamson
Taylor
McCullum

Actually looks like a top order that could win some games.
 
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Prince EWS

Global Moderator
Personally I don't think I'll ever be convinced that opening the batting with Ryder in one day cricket is actually a good idea. When Ryder's available again I'd be going with a top five of Guptill-McCullum-Williamson-Taylor-Ryder in both Tests and ODIs. Having Ryder there near the end of the innings would be gold IMO, and I think there'd be advantages to having the same top five in the same order in both formats too, especially when they're all project players to some extent other than Taylor.
 
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Hurricane

Hall of Fame Member
Personally I don't think I'll ever be convinced that opening the batting with Ryder in one day cricket is actually a good idea. When Ryder's available again I'd be going with a top five of Guptill-McCullum-Williamson-Taylor-Ryder in both Tests and ODIs. Having Ryder there near the end of the innings would be gold IMO, and I think there'd be advantages to having the same top five in the same order in both formats too, especially when they'll all project players to some extent other than Taylor.
*they're

struggled with what u meant :)
 

Bahnz

Hall of Fame Member
Opener records v non-minnow nations

Ryder 36.76 with SR of 100+

McCullum 29.8 with SR of around 90.

Ok, so Ryder's record does come from a small sample of matches (he's only opened on 18 occassions, he's also played another 5 times at number 3 where he's averaged around 50), but that's pretty exceptional. McCullum has a lot more experience down the order, and has performed the role with great success. He's also a bit quicker between the wickets, which counts for a lot in the death overs.

I do concede that with the new fielding rules, Ryder's ability to find the gaps could come in handy in the later overs.
 
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straw man

Hall of Fame Member
At least it's sunny for now. Hira in for Ellis and McCullum for Latham, so that strengthens the side a little.
 

Howsie

International Captain
Why bother taking the likes of Milne and Latham over if you're not going to play them?

Nice, Watling's now opening. Poor bastard, next game he'll probably be batting at eight and bowling abit of right arm off-spin.
 

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