***Official*** New Zealand in Bangladesh & Sri Lanka 2013

[Hurricane]

Sodhi gets serious turn on ocassion.

 

[Flem274*]

You're just irrationally downplaying Ronchi's ability because you disagree with the fact he's even eligible to play for us. He's scored two centuries against a strong ND attack with Tim Southee in it, two centuries on the A tour, and 2 or 3 others in the last 12-18 months. Not many players in New Zealand could do that. He's definitely the better gloveman as well, although Watling has been tidy so far.

Quality option for us IMO, but Watling's earned his spot.

Only two kiwis stood up to South Africa too...

My very rational sourness towards the Ronchi situation is pretty obvious, but I still think the Colin Munro Rule applies to a lot of his domestic exploits. He does deserve credit for his A team success, though considering the defense god that is Anderson and the joke that is Devcich maybe even meaner and more miserable people than me would downplay those runs as well (how the **** did Devcich score that hundred honestly).

I'm dubious how he would fare with the bat in test cricket. I don't like how he mixes being a nervous starter with a dodgy technique and a one dimensional style. I don't think there is much between them with the gloves (though I am not a keeper), but Watling has been excellent so far and he brings some very tidy batsmanship with him so in my view it's a no contest, and it really takes a lot to convince me a Northern Districts player can be good at anything except bowling.

 

[Flem274*]

I'm surprised they haven't shaken hands yet. Bruce Martin must be grateful he gets a chance to take 2-3 wickets and rescue himself from the meatworks truck.

 

[Hurricane]

His wicket came from a poor delivery. And he nearly got a second against tamim from another rank delivery, This bowling can't be FC standard and he didn't bowl this way in the basin reserve test against england.

 

[Bahnz]

Only two kiwis stood up to South Africa too...

My very rational sourness towards the Ronchi situation is pretty obvious, but I still think the Colin Munro Rule applies to a lot of his domestic exploits. He does deserve credit for his A team success, though considering the defense god that is Anderson and the joke that is Devcich maybe even meaner and more miserable people than me would downplay those runs as well (how the **** did Devcich score that hundred honestly).

I'm dubious how he would fare with the bat in test cricket. I don't like how he mixes being a nervous starter with a dodgy technique and a one dimensional style. I don't think there is much between them with the gloves (though I am not a keeper), but Watling has been excellent so far and he brings some very tidy batsmanship with him so in my view it's a no contest, and it really takes a lot to convince me a Northern Districts player can be good at anything except bowling.

Given that he twice made runs after Welly's feeble top order fell over v ND, Im really not too sure about the validity of the Colin Munro rule. What is it that you don't like about his technique? Looks pretty good from what a I've seen of it, especislly off the back foot, which is nice.

 

[Flem274*]

Given that he twice made runs after Welly's feeble top order fell over v ND, Im really not too sure about the validity of the Colin Munro rule. What is it that you don't like about his technique? Looks pretty good from what a I've seen of it, especislly off the back foot, which is nice.

defends with an angled bat, huge gate, likes a good prod even more than your average kiwi ()

That ND innings is different due to the presence of two known to be good bowlers obvz, but the Colin Munro Rule is a good rule because well...Colin Munro himself bats like a number ten swinging a toilet seat between 5-7 and scored huge runs. James Franklin, The Other Colin and every other number eight are also honorable mentions.

I don't think Ronchi is absolutely useless and the worst selection ever based purely on merit (because it's not - by weight of runs and his glovework he deserves to be in the frame) but Watling is clearly the better pick imo and I'm dubious Ronchi can succeed where other suspect players haven't.

Haha this is taking the piss now if cricinfo is to be believed (I gave up watching). Just bowl pies lads, we'll rip through them.

 

[Maximas]

From what I understand Bartin has gotten 2 wickets through bowling absolute pies, this is good cricket eh?

 

[Prince EWS]

Given that he twice made runs after Welly's feeble top order fell over v ND, Im really not too sure about the validity of the Colin Munro rule. What is it that you don't like about his technique? Looks pretty good from what a I've seen of it, especislly off the back foot, which is nice.

The real worry for Ronchi is that he's quite possibly the worst starter relative to his play when he gets in that I've ever seen. He goes really hard at the ball early with no footwork; he has absolutely no plan for actually getting himself in. This means that even in domestic cricket he can be prone to excessive periods of lean patches and consecutive really low scores, which not only hurt him and his side immediately but build up psychological barriers. Despite all this he's managed to forge himself a pretty reasonable First Class record in two countries now but you know as a fielding captain that if your bowlers bowl well to him early, you should be able to get rid of him before he gets set and starts batting properly.

I think it'd probably be exaggerated at Test level because it's less likely for Test bowlers to just be off their game and serve you up a bit of crap right after a wicket feels and you're new to the crease, but despite that I do think he should be in the mix for a Test middle order spot. Watling should be under absolutely no pressure though; he's been given a pretty new role and absolutely excelled at it. He should be one of the safest players in the side AFAIC.

 

[Flem274*]

Nice one Sodhi. Hopefully that does his confidence some good.

Can't help but get the feeling McCullum is trialling the three spin options now.

 

[Bahnz]

Sounds like Sodhi bowled a good one to get his wicket. And Kane's going well too.

So what do we think we'll see in the next test? Will the selectors go with 4 seamers, or will one of Sodhi/Bartin survive? Surely there's no chance of McHesson persisting with two spinners?

 

[Flem274*]

I can't actually remember many Ronchi single digit scores for Wellington, but he has stormed to 20-30 before getting out. This is without looking at the scores though so I could be off my tree. Hopefully for Wellington he's improved on the whole hundred or bust party trick.

 

[Maximas]

I would like to see three pacers, Anderson, Sodhi and Wiiliamson, that way you have a proper pace attack with spinners spinning the ball both ways which gives you options depending on who's at the crease, Sodhi has probably bowled a bit better than Bartin anyway

 

[Flem274*]

Sounds like Sodhi bowled a good one to get his wicket. And Kane's going well too.

So what do we think we'll see in the next test? Will the selectors go with 4 seamers, or will one of Sodhi/Bartin survive? Surely there's no chance of McHesson persisting with two spinners?

I think it will be either two spinners or just the one specialist and KW. I'd guess they would stick with Sodhi since it's almost like Martin has the yips. There is no way he has however many wickets at 35 bowling like this. Most NZ spinners are dire because they're accurate straight breakers or get selected with late season turners in mind. This is nuts.

 

[Bahnz]

I think it will be either two spinners or just the one specialist and KW. I'd guess they would stick with Sodhi since it's almost like Martin has the yips. There is no way he has however many wickets at 35 bowling like this. Most NZ spinners are dire because they're accurate straight breakers or get selected with late season turners in mind. This is nuts.

To be fair to him, this is his first match back after a fairly nasty injury. Might wait to see how he goes in the first few rounds of the PS before we judge him too harshly.

 

[hendrix]

would have to say points to Bangladesh here.

 

[hendrix]

Really? I wouldn't agree at all. Ronchi has better first-class batting stats, in a much stronger domestic comp, and from what I've seen is a far superior keeper.

Interested to know why Watling is preferred.

Watling's stats are really skewed by the fact that for the first half of his career he was turned into an opener for no good reason. Since joining the team as a wicket-keeper batsman he's been excellent (averaging 45 IIRC).

I think Ronchi is a very good gloveman with superb technique, but I watched Watling keeping in England at Lord's where both Prior and Haddin had an awful time and Watling was superb. Taking difficult catches with ease, even the ones that were dying on him.

 

[BeeGee]

Watling should be under absolutely no pressure though; he's been given a pretty new role and absolutely excelled at it. He should be one of the safest players in the side AFAIC.

I second. Very impressed with his glovework, especially.

 

[SeamUp]

SuperSport normally show every series involving test nations but I've noticed lately they haven't been showing Banger home series of late. Pity, would have liked to have seen some of this action.

 

[hendrix]

just in case we're under any illusions about the nature of our bowling attack, our seamers bowled 11 overs between them. Both Bracewell and Boult's run rate was under 3, while Anderson's 2 overs were both maidens.

 

[RxGM]

My TV broke down prior to the test, and thanks to Radio Sport abandoning the idea of being a live sport station, really could only follow it when I was at the pub. How was Watling's keeping standing up to the stumps, I saw on the commentry that several catches dropped short of the slip corden, was he standing too far back, and thus pushing the cordon back.