Man its been a while since i last updated this, and since i last played the game.
atm its the start of the 2014 season and its shaping up to be NZs biggest ever (possibly). We have a tour of England, then Bangladesh, then Australia and the tri series before returning home to face Aussie in our own backyard before we face Sri Lanka in the end.
The team of the 2013 season (last year) was:
Timothy Roth
Peter Fulton*
Timothy Lythe
Jonathan Morris
Jesse Ryder
Jacob Oram
Michael Arkwright
James Franklin
Wade Garrett
Mark Gillespie
Gareth Shaw
The batsmen
Timothy Roth, famous for his heroic as an 19 year old on debut against Australia, leading NZ to victory with a century and an unbeaten 80 odd, has had poor form in the last two seasons. Fulton, now the captain, continues to dominate anyone and anything, with a titanic record involving an average of 57.63 with 16 centuries and 30 fifties over 62 tests, making him arguably NZs best ever. NZ in the wake of Flemings retirement and Ingrams lack of form in the number three position, has finally found a replacement in Tim Lythe. Averaging 47 with 4 centuries (including a 201*) and 9 fifties after 19 tests, the 34 year old has cemented his place.
A lot has been spoken about Jonathan Morris, the 25 year old from Canterbury. In his 15 tests he has managed 2 centuries and five fifties at 40.23. Many hold high hopes for him.
Jesse Ryder has had a stylish breakthrough season a couple of seasons ago. Overall his record states 4 centuries and 16 fifties at 47 from his 43 tests.
Jacob Orams career was looking perilously close to lost last year. until the final series against SA he had averaged 16 with the bat and 40 with the ball. Then he met the South Africans. The South African bowlers had NZ on the ropes several times but each time Oram strode to the crease he destroyed them. Scoring three fifites and a new high score of 256 (entering the fray when NZ were 5 down and still in the mid 100s), he pushed the seasons average up to 46. Overall he has 12 hundreds and 20 fifties at 43 from his 75 tests.
Michael Arkwright, the young wicketkeeper, was brought in after McCullum dropped one catch and scored one annoying 20 too many. He did OK but is currently injured so McCullum gets a recall.
Other batsmen include Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor (who is the absence of Ryder through injury was called in and actualy did something for a change, scoring a hundred and three fifties to average 36 for the season) and Peter Ingram. All (bar Taylor) with good records but havent been good enough to get a game ahead of an exceptional batting order. They would have got in ahead of Taylor after Ryders injury except their form was mediocre.
The bowlers
After a fustrating start, NZ finally have a bowler that can help out James Franklin in Wade Garrett. For so long Franklin was the be all end all of the nZ bowling attack. There was panick in the ranks when midway through the season, he got injured. His career record speaks for itself: 66 tests, 286 wickets at 28.66 with 18 5fers. However, in stepped Wade Garrett, there was skeptism in the media, after all, this was the man whom in his previous attempt managed to go at 8 an over in tests, so there was genuine fear than Pakistan would romp to victory. They didn't.
in 6 test matches, Garret took 37 wickets at 24.62 with BB of 7/70 vs Pakistan. He bowled with fire and danger, and finally found some accuracy, and he was rewarded.
Gareth Shaw had an average season, with 37 wickets at 32 from 11 tests, including BB of 5/99. Gillespie had a shocker, taking 17 wickets at 45 from 6 tests, which was a dissapointment considering his promising previous season.
Shaun Houghton, the 22 year old fast bowler, can be considered unlucky. He came in for the injured Gillespie in Sri Lanka and bowled well, including BB of 4/89. Overall though his record is poor after his first 9 tests, with 28 wickets at 44, however vs SA his 4/79 could have easily been 8/79, as all series if a catch was dropped, it wasn early always off his bowling. He will be persisted with in the 2014 season, as he showed promise early.
Trent Andrews, NZs next spinning hope, sucked. NZ still has a big hole left by Vettori, and it needs filling.
The 2014ers will most likely be:
Peter Fulton*
Timothy Roth
Timothy Lythe
Jonathan Morris
Jesse Ryder
Jacob Oram
Brendan McCullum
James Franklin
Wade Garrett
Shaun Houghton
Gareth Shaw
They have a big season ahead. Last time in England they won 1-0, and last time in Australia they had a 1-1 draw. At home they beat Australia 1-0. The teams goal is to defeat the record of the 2009 team, lead by Stephen Fleming, who defeated England and Australia away from home, drew with India in India, and smashed the WI.
Hope we manage it.
came as a complete shock, only like 31. Took 320 odd wickets and 19 5fers
