29th Match - New Zealand v West Indies

[Neil Young]

NZ has a real chance to top the group now, and doing so could mean the difference between playing Australia/India and playing Bangladesh/Sri Lanka. We should make changes to improve the current side (Nicholls for Munro), but I don’t want us to weaken the team by giving Sodhi or Southee a run just to “see what they’ve got” and give the frontline bowlers a rest.

Yeah, don't change the team for changing the team's sake. But also don't kid yourself that Eng/NZ/Aus and India aren't going to be the semi-finalists. Because they are.

 

[Neil Young]

Really unsure why anyone is suggesting Sodhi at this point. Spinners have not been having a great time at this World Cup and the only bowler we'd remotely consider dropping is Henry. Who you'd only ever replace with Southee.

Sodhi was there as injury cover for Santner and as a genuine 5th bowling option for CDG or Neesham. CDG or Neesham aint going anywhere, they've both been awesome.

You're probably right in the sense that Sodhi may well go worse than Henry. Possibly not, but thinking about it, I'm not sure it's worth the risk given, as you say, how the wrist spinners have gone so far in the tourney.

I am hoping Henry proves me wrong over the next couple of weeks.

 

[BeeGee]

...now a semi-final place is now assured.

That's not actually true. We could lose our last three games and finish on 11. That would also hammer our NRR. If SL win their last three they'll finish with 12. Unlikely but not impossible,

The Bangers and Pakistan could finish on 11. Then it would come down to NRR.

 

[Chewie]

Kane fined for slow over rate in this game apparently

 

[Athlai]

Kane fined for slow over rate in this game apparently

Imagine how much of a farce it'll be if he gets a suspension for slow over rate in a World cup final.

 

[BeeGee]

Kane fined for slow over rate in this game apparently

They should have made Munro the official captain before the tournament started. Poor planning.

Williamson could be deputy captain, responsible for setting fields, bowling plans, batting orders, whether to bowl or bat first, etc.

 

[DriveClub]

From what Ive seen Ferguson has been a revelation, kiwis haven't had this kind of firepower since bond. If they can fix henry or bring back milne(if thats still an option) for henry the bowling will be awesome.

 

[Athlai]

Milne is a spud at the moment unfortunately.

 

[jcas0167]

Milne is a spud at the moment unfortunately.

I thought Milne looked pretty sharp for CD in the T20 semi and final where he claimed 3 wickets. I would love to see him and Ferguson both playing for NZ at some point.

Ferguson seems to have improved significantly since coming into the side.

 

[Flem274*]

baz's faith in sodhi is incredible given i still remember the days of selecting sodhi, giving him a couple of overs where he is promptly belted, hiding sodhi until the tail is in and letting him get a few quiet overs in while boult/southee/wagner did the business at the other end.

he was basically a specialist #8 batsman

They should have made Munro the official captain before the tournament started. Poor planning.

Williamson could be deputy captain, responsible for setting fields, bowling plans, batting orders, whether to bowl or bat first, etc.

we should actually do this. rotating captaincy around the team, but kane vc. captaincy decided by who played the worst in the previous game.