The only thing I have against Ish is the fact that his bowling average is pretty much fifty at domestic, while he leaks runs at around 4 and has been comprehensively outbowled at domestic level by spinners either in his own side or in the opposition.
Your big long hyperbole about Jono Boult is made moot by the fact that Bout averages 5 runs less per wicket and almost an entire run less per over in the same domestic competition as Sodhi.
This continues the long held agenda by NZ Cricket to select a leg spinner even if they're struggling to hold their spot in the ND Line Up - hell, had Sodhi not been plucked from obscurity to become the next Greg Loveridge/Brooke Walker/Tarun Nethula/Todd Astle he'd have been dropped from ND at this point due to how bad he bowls for them.
Yet, I have a chip on my shoulder for pointing out he has no business at test level, and probably none at domestic, and acts far too arrogantly for someone who bowls as **** as he does. I think you've got a chip on your shoulder against people pointing out fact such as "Sodhi has no future in the game" - Do I assume people are idiots if they think Sodhi actually should be playing test cricket? Absolutely. Do I think we're stupid for playing both Sodhi and Craig knowing they'll have no impact on the result? Absolutely.
"Shown more than anyone else" - what, more ability to go for runs and not take wickets while doing it? Tarun Nathula, Brooke Walker, Todd Astle all had better starting stats than he's had. Ish hasn't shown anything except being "The next leg spinner for us to select, persist for a few tests with before realising we have to drop him"
The reality is when you make statements like this, I can't help but assume you don't follow the domestic game that closely, because at domestic level, even guys who are no hopers have had better returns than Sodhi. But we're supposed to believe he's going to develop into something amazing? Why? Because you say so?
"The last investment that NZ made in spin was Vettori" - complete utter ****.
Again, Astle, Loveridge, Nethula, Walker, Patel, - all guys picked young in their careers, where are they now? Only Astle has any chance of coming back into the fold and that's debatable - what's more, all of these guys have statistics that out performed Sodhi at respective points in their careers and continue to do so.
The idea that "Sodhi is the best we've seen since Vettori" is another myth perpetuated by people who clearly do not follow NZ cricket.
Jono Boult is also 28 and bowls, like most in this country, off breaks.. Like I have said before age and bowler type is a factor. If there was a huge gap between Jono Boult's stats and Ish, and by huge I mean difference making, but the fact remains is that Ish is 22 and Jono is 28, and like I stated earlier Ish's ceiling would appear to be far higher given the fact that he is performing the hardest job in cricket atm, in a country thats notoriously useless at managing leg spinners. These are all factors.
Do I think Ish got thrown in Tests too early? Yes. Do I think he needs far more First Class cricket and consistent seasons to be a regular? Absolutely. It's the fact you make it seem like this is all his own doing, when he's doing the best he can (dare I mention it again, he's only 22 and a leggie. The learning experience is the steepest in cricket IMO, due the the complete lack of resources/knowledge and also the glut of limited over cricket where containing is the key).
I'm not gonna go into the fact that you think I know nothing about the domestic game here, because form what I have read, no one knows anything about the game here except you, in your mind. Unlike you, I don't go out of my to try and prove that I know it all, because this isn't an 'I'm right, you're wrong" situation its discussion board for christs sake.
My last investment comment still stands, Wiseman was 28 when he made his debut, how is that an investment? Just to be clear here, my idea of investment is young potential, backed and resourced with the likelihood that they will succeed rather than fail. Nethula never even played a Test match, todd Patel was always gonna be second fiddle to Vettori unfortunately, and how on earth are were Walker and Loveridge investments in your eyes?
Ish has had the luck of coming in when Daniel Vettori is not the automatic spin choice for NZ's Test side. These are all things out of his hands and not his doing as well.
I just think there are plenty of people who clearly see and know more than us that are backing Ish to succeed. So my point is give the guy a ****ing break, either support the fact that he's the guy in that position at the moment, or AT LEAST have healthy debates. You can champion whoever you want, but its the fact that you have to belittle everyone else (including posters on here) to make a point about someone YOU think should be getting the opportunity.
Also, are you some ex first class cricketer? Because you definitely have the arrogance and chip on your shoulder that many of the domestic games elder players tend to do (I'm judging this from the fact you mentioned you were heavily on 'the scene' when Kane was 14).
the result of the first test? i haven't even commented about the game since NZ officially lost.
