*Official* New Zealand in Zimbabwe 2025 (Tests)

[NZTailender]

3 batsman in the same innings pass 150 in a test match.

Can't remember the last time that happened.

Williamson missing out not playing here & trying to bridge that century gap between himself & Smith.

1980s

https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;groupby=innings;orderby=start;qualmin2=3;qualval2=innings;runsmin1=150;runsval1=runs;template=results;type=batting

 

[SteveNZ]

Nicholls being around the squad makes a lot of sense, realistically even with him out of form he is only a couple injuries away from our best XI.

But this isn't a particularly challenging tour, so why aren't we getting some experience for a young batsman? We probably should have only had 2 or 3 of Ajaz/Mitchell/Blundell/Macewell and Nicholls rather than all 5.

But him being around the squad - unless you mean as a coach or an extra squad member that doesn't play somehow - leads to what is happening now. Rhys Mariu should be at the crease now. He hasn't been part of a Test squad, and the ability to get your debut underway in a low pressure environment, find out what a Test week looks like, hopefully get runs, that means something for future confidence.

Instead, we get the inevitable Nicholls ton v this absolute rabble of a Zim attack.

Sigh.

It's hard because Henry Nicholls is a genuine good person, and played some innings' that were of massive consequence to us and 10 Test tons is not to be sneezed at. But as Southee was, he's taking a spot that holds back development. It's happening way too often, that 30+ guys who are past their best are being kept in over alternatives

 

[Athlai]

I mean if 2 senior players get injured then Nicholls enters the squad.

 

[SteveNZ]

Got ya. As a back-up player. Makes sense.

Gary Stead developed this 30 year plus player culture, and it needs to die soon. Obviously not for those who are still performing, and some rope given to those who decline, but I really don't think we are where we should be with back-up batsmen in particular going into a big schedule after this summer (see how I didn't mention the thing I usually mention?!)

 

[Immenso]

At one point in tv commentary. They put up a graphic of the age of nz batting' top 7 in this match.

It was:

34
32
33
25
34
34
33


And this after our 33 year old captain/opener and 35 year old star batsman are not in the eleven.

That 35 year old was replaced in the squad by a 33 year old, and when the original 33 year old got injured the replacement 33 year old leapfrogged 2 spots into the starting eleven. Against Zim ffs.

A mass extinction event is hitting nz batting in 1 to 2 years time, and Walter and co are doing .... ?

Walter better not jump ship before the meteor hits.

 

[straw man]

Yeah that's the necessary context for why Nicholls is a terrible selection, despite a great Plunket Shield average last season. It's not some one-off must-win during an injury crisis after we lost unexpectedly at home to a non-Big 3 tourist (test 2 after Ebadot Bangladesh perhaps?) - that might almost be justifiable. It's a series we were already going to win and could instead have served as a good intro to another young batter or two. And of course Blundell is the other one to start moving on from.

I'd like to believe the optimistic take that the next A tour of South Africa is instead the crucial series for young batters. I guess we'll know once the WI series rolls around after that.

 

[Immenso]

Funny thing is. Many on here think it is either Chapman or Kelly that should have gotten Nicholls's spot. They are both 31.

Only Mariu would be genuinely young.

But. As with Matt Henry who is only 3 years younger than Trent Boult. A lot can be achieved by a hungry 31/32 year old at the top of their game making up for lost time due to generational log-jams.

But recalling Nicholls is more like replacing Southee by bringing back Doug Bracewell, rather than O'Rourke or Smth etc.

 

[Prince EWS]

Funny thing is. Many on here think it is either Chapman or Kelly that should have gotten Nicholls's spot. They are both 31.

Only Mariu would be genuinely young.

But. As with Matt Henry who is only 3 years younger than Trent Boult. A lot can be achieved by a hungry 32 year old at the top of their game making up for lost time due to generational log-jams.

But recalling Nicholls is more like replacing Southee by bringing back Doug Bracewell, rather than O'Rourke or Smth etc.

Dougeh!

 

[Mike5181]

Funny thing is. Many on here think it is either Chapman or Kelly that should have gotten Nicholls's spot. They are both 31.

Only Mariu would be genuinely young.

But. As with Matt Henry who is only 3 years younger than Trent Boult. A lot can be achieved by a hungry 31/32 year old at the top of their game making up for lost time due to generational log-jams.

But recalling Nicholls is more like replacing Southee by bringing back Doug Bracewell, rather than O'Rourke or Smth etc.

I think it's more "if you're going to go with experience why not Chapman or Kelly". Mariu and Hay should've been in the original squad in the first place. With Nicholls they deserve everything they get if he's still around against top teams. I said he shouldn't be in the squad, people said "well he's just in the squad, he probably won't play". He ended up playing both tests. Now they are in a spot where there's no justifiable reason to drop him because he's 1 or 3 people in the line up scoring 150+.

 

[Starfighter]

Can't wait till Nicholls scores a ton and gets an extra year and a half out of it

It's happening!

 

[James]

Just woke up and saw the score. No need to declare. Bat until the end of day 3 and try to beat SL's 952 imo.

100% , I want to see them tick over 1,000 which they have more than enough time to get to.

 

[Skyliner]

I still think Nicholls is being used as a placeholder while the selectors wait for someone to seize a spot in the squad. People have a bunch of names they think could / should be that player, but there is no consensus on who it should be. If you lobbed Kelly, for example, into these tests against Zimbabwe then would anything really be learned about his ability to be a top level test batsman, when the Zim attack is so very poor & nightwatchman Duffy is out there making batting look relatively easy. Rachin was out there playing sumptuous shots all around the ground because the bowling offered no terrors and he was under almost no pressure. It’s ‘test cricket’ in name but not much of a genuine test in reality.
It’s unfair to label RW as ‘Stead II’ this early in his tenure when we have no idea what is plan is for the team. Let’s remember that there were 3 debutants on the bowling side of the equation and that hasn’t happened for donkeys years.

 

[James]

I found these highlights on YouTube this morning which are pretty decent if others are struggling:

 

[Immenso]

I think it's more "if you're going to go with experience why not Chapman or Kelly". Mariu and Hay should've been in the original squad in the first place. With Nicholls they deserve everything they get if he's still around against top teams. I said he shouldn't be in the squad, people said "well he's just in the squad, he probably won't play". He ended up playing both tests. Now they are in a spot where there's no justifiable reason to drop him because he's 1 or 3 people in the line up scoring 150+.

Absolutely.

I actually think this tour has been a bit of a disaster for Blackcaps Inc.

Back injury to most exciting bowler since Bond, and now Nicholls has 'earned' his place in pecking order for the next 2 to 3 years.

We've been set backwards.

 

[Skyliner]

The constant angst around Henry Nicholls is wearying. Go back to before the first test and there were fears that his presence would weaken the batting order….and also that he would score heaps of runs. The bloke is seemingly despised, which is a bit unfortunate.
Personally I think Walter will be able to put any batting performances against this Zimbabwe attack into the proper context. He knows they do not possess a bowling attack on par with other test nations.

 

[ataraxia]

Quadruple digits might be a hard ask here. Need 7 an over to get there by tea, and we don't have sloggers to come except Henry. No rain scheduled though which is good.

 

[ataraxia]

Nicholls hasn't exactly leapfrogged Conway or Young here lol. He's still just the reserve batsman, which is a reasonable spot for him to be. Granted, doesn't mean that Mariu shouldn't have been selected for this tour instead.

Talking about Nicholls distracts from the real problem, which is Blundell's selection. There is never ever going to be a more straightforward, obvious replacement of a keeper. Poor Mitch Hay.

 

[Immenso]

What's the point of a reserve batsman the same age as 6 other batsmen on the verge of retirement/decline?

Apart from an injury replacement, granted.

Especially if said batsman was given 3 years worth of rope by the previous coach before finally being relegated.

Meanwhile the A team gave been pulling up trees for a few series in succession, with e.g. Kelly succeeding in exactly the conditions that Nicholls had been constantly failing in.

 

[Immenso]

I'm not under the illusion that Nicholls isn't 'good' by NZ standards. And it is great to have a player of his abilities around.

I have respect for the fact he dominated Plunket Shield after his dropping.

It would be good (for us) if Nicholls sticks around as a professional cricket for a few years, and is available if required. Although he's probably blown that pathway by stinking out county cricket this season.

But his selection for this tour was ridiculous. There are 3 other uncapped batters who should have been picked before they contemplated calling him up.

 

[Athlai]

We'd have killed for Nicholls in the 2000s