*Official* New Zealand in Zimbabwe 2025 (Tests)

[SillyCowCorner1]

443-3 @SillyCowCorner1

Please please for 444-4

 

[honestbharani]

why no 4th yet?

 

[ashley bach]

Imperious century from Nicholls what a great prospect we have.

 

[Nintendo]

Those are some real hairy nipples.

 

[Moss]

Nicholls is only the 8th NZer to make 10 test hundreds. He’s completely tailed off for 3-4 years now, but that’s still a pretty solid achievement in a bowler’s era. At least 4-5 of those were really good hundreds.

 

[Silver Silva]

Nicholls is only the 8th NZer to make 10 test hundreds. He’s completely tailed off for 3-4 years now, but that’s still a pretty solid achievement in a bowler’s era. At least 4-5 of those were really good hundreds.

Can't believe Fleming only made 9 tons from over 100 tests shocking conversion rate

 

[Shortodds]

Nicholls is only the 8th NZer to make 10 test hundreds. He’s completely tailed off for 3-4 years now, but that’s still a pretty solid achievement in a bowler’s era. At least 4-5 of those were really good hundreds.

I agree Nicholls is a great player for NZ, did an excellent job securing home test victories. I still think persisting with him now is a mistake on the part of the selectors, not because he cant perform, but because someone needs to perform in 18 months time.

 

[Silver Silva]

I agree Nicholls is a great player for NZ, did an excellent job securing home test victories. I still think persisting with him now is a mistake on the part of the selectors, not because he cant perform, but because someone needs to perform in 18 months time.

In 18 months time Nicholls will be only 35 ..It's not like he's pushing 40 or something..He's younger than KW and Conway

 

[trundler]

Nicholls is basically NZ's Asad Shafiq so I shouldn't find him weaseling back into the side as amusing as I do.

 

[Silver Silva]

Zim commentators literally begging for NZ to declare today

 

[Athlai]

Really begs the question - do they get paid per Test or per day

 

[Athlai]

Nicholls is only the 8th NZer to make 10 test hundreds. He’s completely tailed off for 3-4 years now, but that’s still a pretty solid achievement in a bowler’s era. At least 4-5 of those were really good hundreds.

Hes a proper Ian Bell style player. Doesn't set the world on fire, has good games, genuinely Test quality. Though has a few glaring issues in their game that mean you never expect much when you're in a difficult situation.

(Bell averaging 42 is with the big caveat that he played in an easier batting era)

 

[Shortodds]

In 18 months time Nicholls will be only 35 ..It's not like he's pushing 40 or something..He's younger than KW and Conway

Hes younger, but with more obvious limitations and less upside. In an aging batting line up something should give way to development, and honestly I thought he had allready and I was surprised to see him in this serries. Williamson is an ATG who will pick his games until he retires, Conway is admittedly in the same boat, but I dont think he's had the same extended string of failures away from home.

 

[Athlai]

Hes younger, but with more obvious limitations and less upside. In an aging batting line up something should give way to development, and honestly I thought he had allready and I was surprised to see him in this serries. Williamson is an ATG who will pick his games until he retires, Conway is admittedly in the same boat, but I dont think he's had the same extended string of failures away from home.

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.

 

[Silver Silva]

Damn Scott Styris sounds like he's about 70 ..
Thought it was Jeremy Coney all this time lol

 

[Shortodds]

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.

Yeah pretty much this. I think Blundell and Nicholls are the oddest decisions becuase it seems likly it could/should be their last tests if developing players performed, but developing players (outside of pace bowling which is exciting) havent really been given chances

And just to add on, the best part of this test as a Kiwi has been watching the debutants. As a spectator, give me more of that.

 

[Athlai]

Also it's interesting to me that in terms of ODI record at age 25, Rachin is 2nd only to Williamson for NZ. 5 100s

But in Tests this is only his 3rd 100 leaving Rachin in less impressive company. KW was already averaging 50 by now after a rough start in his early 20s.

 

[Shortodds]

Also it's interesting to me that in terms of ODI record at age 25, Rachin is 2nd only to Williamson for NZ. 5 100s

But in Tests this is only his 3rd 100 leaving Rachin in less impressive company. KW was already averaging 50 by now after a rough start in his early 20s.

Without looking it up this feels like an unfair comparison - I remember Williamson looking good without scoring big in his first 20 tests, with the exception of a big score in Sri Lanka with Ross Taylor? Might have been Taylors last test as captain.

 

[Athlai]

Without looking it up this feels like an unfair comparison - I remember Williamson looking good without scoring big in his first 20 tests, with the exception of a big score in Sri Lanka with Ross Taylor? Might have been Taylors last test as captain.

What part is unfair, that KW is better than Rachin? Cos yeah

 

[trundler]

Hopefully Ravindra will never try killing test cricket in NZ by declining a central contract and choosing to play The Hundred instead