*Official* New Zealand in England 2015

[GGG]

No interest.

 

[Furball]

Yep, It's ludicrous, especially Williamson, who only played the first couple of games. We may be ranked 3rd in Tests atm, but we're still treated like 5th-rate citizens.

Could you imagine 4-5 of the Australian players turning up for their Ashes series 1-2 days prior to the 1st test having only played T20 cricket in completely foreign conditions?

No-one forced Williamson to accept an IPL contract.

If he comes into this series underdone then that's his problem, not his IPL franchise's.

 

[Athlai]

Guptill
Latham
Williamson
Taylor
McCullum
Anderson
Watling
Craig
Henry
Southee
Boult

Looking likely.

 

[Athlai]

Just noticed my first post in this thread is the same xi

 

[wellAlbidarned]

probably the most aesthetic NZ XI I've ever seen

 

[GGG]

Are we sure on Latham? Someone posted a while back about players starting out with a hiss and a roar only to fall back to their rightful average and I am starting to think that Latham's is early early 30's. I hope I am wrong as the alternatives are just as bleak.

 

[Bahnz]

Even if Latham's 'rightful average' is early 30's that would still make him NZ's best specialist opening bat since Richardson.

 

[El Nino]

Was fantastic watching the lads perform under some considerable pressure at the end there, Craig was good a d Henry stood up well.

Pretty confused to why Corey didnt bat in the second dig (i was told he was still waiting on an IPL clearance to play during the first innings)and also didnt field at all during the second innings, hope its not a fitness thing.

 

[hendrix]

Are we sure on Latham? Someone posted a while back about players starting out with a hiss and a roar only to fall back to their rightful average and I am starting to think that Latham's is early early 30's. I hope I am wrong as the alternatives are just as bleak.

Latham's first class average for someone his age is pretty awesome. Especially as an opener.

Is he likely to succeed in early season English conditions against Anderson and Broad? No.

Do we have any better alternatives? Maybe McCullum. But that's not happening so no.

 

[Bahnz]

According to George Dobell's match report, Henry definitely has the backing of the Worcestershire batsmen as the best of the NZ seamers on display. I still think Wagner would be a perfectly reasonable selection - he's a safe pair of hands - but if NZ really want to win then I think they need to take a gamble on Henry.

 

[hendrix]

According to George Dobell's match report, Henry definitely has the backing of the Worcestershire batsmen as the best of the NZ seamers on display. I still think Wagner would be a perfectly reasonable selection - he's a safe pair of hands - but if NZ really want to win then I think they need to take a gamble on Henry.

The fact that Wagner and Bracewell opened the bowling means that Henry is the front runner IMO.

Every one of the pre-selected players (Latham, Taylor, Watling, Craig etc) has batted and bowled in position. Guys like Ronchi, Rutherford, Duffy, Santner etc have batted and bowled out of position.

 

[kiwiviktor81]

Just noticed my first post in this thread is the same xi

And it's the exact XI I want to see, lock it in baby

 

[Bahnz]

The fact that Wagner and Bracewell opened the bowling means that Henry is the front runner IMO.

Every one of the pre-selected players (Latham, Taylor, Watling, Craig etc) has batted and bowled in position. Guys like Ronchi, Rutherford, Duffy, Santner etc have batted and bowled out of position.

I think it's more a case of wanting to give Henry a chance to bowl 1st change after Wagner and Bracewell did the duties in the first innings. Still, Henry seems to have come through fairly strongly, so hopefully he'll get his chance.

 

[SteveNZ]

Yep, lock in Boult/Southee/Henry/Craig as your front-line attack. If ever I've seen a man who was destined to bowl with a Duke, it's Matt Henry.

 

[Zinzan]

No-one forced Williamson to accept an IPL contract.

If he comes into this series underdone then that's his problem, not his IPL franchise's.

Don't disagree with any of that, I'm essentially moaning about the scheduling in the first place. I'm confident NZ would beat England comfortably had the whole squad had a decent 3-4 game lead-in to the 1st test. Also totally agree that Tom Moody is entitled to hang on to Williamson until the agreed date, however it would have been nice for him to be released a week early given the sunrisers have had no interest in playing him....although I'm sure they'd say they needed him there for injury cover.

You are right, I'm just pissed we're turning up underdone....could mean a big step back for NZ after the giant strides forward. And the fact it's just a 2 test series makes the lack of preparation for the 1st test all the more significant.

 

[Bahnz]

TAB offering $1.80 on the draw no bet option for England. Seems like good value imo.

 

[Kippax]

Bahnz in the money already. Now $1.65.

Jimmy Anderson vs. the South Island agribusiness community at $3.50 is another good one.

 

[Bahnz]

Bahnz in the money already. Now $1.65.

Bah, sadly not as I don't currently have any disposable income and won't until Wednesday.

 

[Kippax]

 

[Hurricane]

Goodness agribusiness still cracks me up