thundaboult
International Debutant
This is a fun little idea I thought up of in regards to what your gut instinct is when you see your favorite team's bowlers run and in bowl. My favorite team is New Zealand so I'll try to describe to my best of ability of what I feel when I see the current NZ side's bowlers running in and doing their thing. You can use any team you like... it doesn't have to be your favorite...IPL, CPL, International cricket (odi, test, t20) ANY TEAM IN ANY FORMAT. And I'd be lying if I didn't say that I also wanna know who has a similar opinion to mines.
Team: New Zealand
And now, the bowlers:
Grant Elliott: When he's bowling, I'm quite assured that he will bowl out of a few good overs and restrict the runs. But in death overs or a pressure situation I never trust him with the ball in hand as much as I do when he has the bat.
Matt Henry: Fizzled out after a great start to his career, no variety or X-factor in his bowling though. Needs time to rediscover his mojo or step his game up so that the international stage doesn't leave him behind. Love that Shane Bond-like action tho I must admit.
Mitch Mclenaghan: Just like Henry, has fizzled out after an awesome first two years in his career. Whenever I see him bowl now, I just know he's gonna leak runs like he always has but unlike before, won't get any wickets. His time is up I'm afraid. Really disappointed as of late as well due to the fact that he was bowling so fast in the IPL (fastest ball of the IPL this season at 151.2kmph) but ever since then his pace and aggression has died off.
Nathan Mccullum: Needs to go away. Don't know why he still has a contract. Give Ish Sodhi that spot.
Kane Williamson: Similar to Elliott.
Jimmy Neesham: Lacks the bite, but I know he can develop into something better. Needs a confidence-boosting bowling performance. Promising all-rounder in test matches but don't trust him in limited overs formats with ball in hand...or bat for that matter but that's a different thread then isn't it
Corey Anderson: An uncanny but natural wicket-taker. Has a knack for breaking partnerships. When I see him bowling I know he's gonna go for runs but I also know he'll bag some wickets, even the crucial ones. Reliable fourth seamer who can maintain pressure and also take wickets.
Doug Bracewell: Haven't seen him at all recently, but If I was the team's captain, I would have no problems in trusting him with the ball in tests. Need to see more of him in limited overs to form an opinion of his bowling though.
Ben wheeler: Need to see more of him to form an opinion but I've been mildly impressed by what I've seen from him so far.
Neil Wagner: Good and reliable third seaming option in tests. And he should stay a test bowler as well.
Ish Sodhi: Has age on his side. I see a lot of potential in him when he's bowling but needs to be given more chances at the top. I feel that the more he will play, the better he will get.
Mitchell Santner: Impressive so far with the ball IMO. Along with Sodhi he could be the future of NZ's spin attack.
Mark Craig: Love his bowling and fully trust him with ball in hand in any situation. NZ's best spin bowler at the moment. Should totally get a run in limited overs as well.
Tim Southee: Unplayable when the conditions are in his favor. And if they aren't..he's completely lost and toothless. Blowing hot and cold all the time and lacks consistency. A bit overhyped in my opinion.
Adam Milne: Has extra pace which is promising and exciting but that's about it when it comes to his arsenal.Needs that one standout bowling performance that will give him confidence in his ability. I see him as a strike bowling option rather than a third seamer in the future...but that's all up to how he develops in the next one or two years. When he runs in and bowls I'm confident that he will take a crucial wicket or two but his injury-thon is highly frustrating. Please don't end up like Bond.. Milny.
Trent Boult: Currently the only guy who I completely trust when he's bowling for NZ in any situation, in any format. THE strike bowler of New Zealand and THE leader of the attack. Can turn up the pace, bowls in the right areas, has variety, and can obviously get movement and swing it like the pitch is full of demons. Barely ever bowls a bad a ball and isn't afraid to use yorkers, bouncers, short balls, all that good stuff on a regular basis. Big future ahead of him and such a joy it is to watch his bowling action.
Team: New Zealand
And now, the bowlers:
Grant Elliott: When he's bowling, I'm quite assured that he will bowl out of a few good overs and restrict the runs. But in death overs or a pressure situation I never trust him with the ball in hand as much as I do when he has the bat.
Matt Henry: Fizzled out after a great start to his career, no variety or X-factor in his bowling though. Needs time to rediscover his mojo or step his game up so that the international stage doesn't leave him behind. Love that Shane Bond-like action tho I must admit.
Mitch Mclenaghan: Just like Henry, has fizzled out after an awesome first two years in his career. Whenever I see him bowl now, I just know he's gonna leak runs like he always has but unlike before, won't get any wickets. His time is up I'm afraid. Really disappointed as of late as well due to the fact that he was bowling so fast in the IPL (fastest ball of the IPL this season at 151.2kmph) but ever since then his pace and aggression has died off.
Nathan Mccullum: Needs to go away. Don't know why he still has a contract. Give Ish Sodhi that spot.
Kane Williamson: Similar to Elliott.
Jimmy Neesham: Lacks the bite, but I know he can develop into something better. Needs a confidence-boosting bowling performance. Promising all-rounder in test matches but don't trust him in limited overs formats with ball in hand...or bat for that matter but that's a different thread then isn't it
Corey Anderson: An uncanny but natural wicket-taker. Has a knack for breaking partnerships. When I see him bowling I know he's gonna go for runs but I also know he'll bag some wickets, even the crucial ones. Reliable fourth seamer who can maintain pressure and also take wickets.
Doug Bracewell: Haven't seen him at all recently, but If I was the team's captain, I would have no problems in trusting him with the ball in tests. Need to see more of him in limited overs to form an opinion of his bowling though.
Ben wheeler: Need to see more of him to form an opinion but I've been mildly impressed by what I've seen from him so far.
Neil Wagner: Good and reliable third seaming option in tests. And he should stay a test bowler as well.
Ish Sodhi: Has age on his side. I see a lot of potential in him when he's bowling but needs to be given more chances at the top. I feel that the more he will play, the better he will get.
Mitchell Santner: Impressive so far with the ball IMO. Along with Sodhi he could be the future of NZ's spin attack.
Mark Craig: Love his bowling and fully trust him with ball in hand in any situation. NZ's best spin bowler at the moment. Should totally get a run in limited overs as well.
Tim Southee: Unplayable when the conditions are in his favor. And if they aren't..he's completely lost and toothless. Blowing hot and cold all the time and lacks consistency. A bit overhyped in my opinion.
Adam Milne: Has extra pace which is promising and exciting but that's about it when it comes to his arsenal.Needs that one standout bowling performance that will give him confidence in his ability. I see him as a strike bowling option rather than a third seamer in the future...but that's all up to how he develops in the next one or two years. When he runs in and bowls I'm confident that he will take a crucial wicket or two but his injury-thon is highly frustrating. Please don't end up like Bond.. Milny.
Trent Boult: Currently the only guy who I completely trust when he's bowling for NZ in any situation, in any format. THE strike bowler of New Zealand and THE leader of the attack. Can turn up the pace, bowls in the right areas, has variety, and can obviously get movement and swing it like the pitch is full of demons. Barely ever bowls a bad a ball and isn't afraid to use yorkers, bouncers, short balls, all that good stuff on a regular basis. Big future ahead of him and such a joy it is to watch his bowling action.