Fuller Pilch
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
NZ A has 3 one dayers and 2 4 dayers (4-day "tests") away vs SA A in September. Hopefully those 2 and many promising youngsters will get a decent shot.
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*Unofficial* New Zealand Black Caps Thread
- Thread starter NZTailender
- Start date
NZTailender
I can't believe I ate the whole thing
Bracewell is replacing Phillips in the test squad
Fuller Pilch
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Especially when a lot of them won't (shouldn't) make the tour to Oz to 18 months
Skyliner
International Debutant
Bracewell in as a replacement….for just the first test. Then a new replacement will be needed for the second test….provided their schedule allows it. This is all becoming farcical. You wonder what Trent Boult makes of it all.
‘Michael Bracewell has been named replacement for the injured Glenn Phillips for New Zealand's first Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.
Bracewell, initially unavailable for the series due to his commitments with The Hundred, was already in Zimbabwe as part of New Zealand's T20I squad for the tri-series. With his schedule allowing him to feature in the opening Test, head coach Rob Walter said the decision to include him was a straightforward one.
Bracewell will return to the UK to link up with Southern Brave after the first Test. A decision on a replacement for the second Test will be made in due course, according to an NZC release.’
‘Michael Bracewell has been named replacement for the injured Glenn Phillips for New Zealand's first Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.
Bracewell, initially unavailable for the series due to his commitments with The Hundred, was already in Zimbabwe as part of New Zealand's T20I squad for the tri-series. With his schedule allowing him to feature in the opening Test, head coach Rob Walter said the decision to include him was a straightforward one.
Bracewell will return to the UK to link up with Southern Brave after the first Test. A decision on a replacement for the second Test will be made in due course, according to an NZC release.’
My 2 cents ... selectors / coach are debating whether they want a batter or spinner as replacement in squad for Philips (Bracewell), want to look at possible pitches at Bulawayo before deciding. Then either Sodhi or Hay stay in Zimbabwe.
But several options.
With possible risk for Patel (returning from injury, might have big workload in 1st test) they might keep Sodhi in Zimbabwe as backup spinner, or less likely fly in Lennox / Ashok.
Or they might want conservative option of another spin bowling all-rounder to start alongside Santner / Patel and quicks in case of Santner / Patel injury / fatigue, so fly in Foxcroft.
Or less they could decide Ravindra can cover backup spinner role for 2nd test and keep Hay in Zimbabwe as batting cover.
Zimbabwe test squad of 4 quicks and and 2 spinners + spinning all-rounder Sikandar Raza doesn't give many clues to NZ. Cricinfo story says of Bulawayo that "conditions are difficult for quicks and run-scoring can typically be slow".
Between this, the White Ferns tour & the Women's T20WC, it's a good sized English holiday to go along to as a NZ cricket fan for those with the money/time to go (much easier if you're England-based, of course). I believe there is a block of T20WC games the WFs play at the Rose Bowl between the 1st & 2nd Tests. London-Southampton isn't too onerous a journey.
Skyliner
International Debutant
Mitchell was pretty ponderous last night. His constant habit of carefully pushing the ball for a single and then looking as though he’s amping to run a second is irritating. This is not the same dynamic player from earlier in his career, this is a player in decline.
ataraxia
International Coach
What an absurd example. That Mitchell actually runs properly rather than giving up and jogging like most old and laboured players is a testament to his work ethic, be it irritating to you or not.
We should move on from him sooner rather than later though, especially in tests.
Fuller Pilch
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
There are LOTS of players we should move on from in tests. Mitchell (43.8) is our only player except KW with an average of 40+. He also grew up in Oz and is one player who could stand up over there in 18 months.
Look at the rest of the over 30s on this tour who could bat in the top 7
Latham 38.38 (33)
Nicholls 37.16 (33)
Conway 36.72 (34)
Blundell 34.48 (34)
Young 31.26 (32)
Santner 26.00 (33)
M Bracewell 19.92!! (34)
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Skyliner
International Debutant
I just find it inauthentic. There’s never a second run there but he is trying to portray himself as hungrily seeking runs when he’s actually playing well within himself. He was retired out in a MLC match recently for not getting on with it and his pedestrian strike rate last night almost cost us the match.
ataraxia
International Coach
This is a terrible mentality. How many times do you see a fielder fumble a ball on the boundary or do a wayward throw in a T20? Heaps.
It is always worth it to push hard and put the boundary fielder under pressure. It gets on my nerve when batsmen don't even look at what's happening and remain oblivious fumbles and overthrows – because as we saw last night, every single run matters.
Skyliner
International Debutant
Righto mate, I’ve never seen him turn a one into a two yet. GP does, not carthorse Mitchell.
Is interesting to compare with June 2021 when we won Word Test Championship final, when 5 of top 7 had 40+ averages. Only Blundell Young and Santner of the players above have increased batting average since then. The other over 30s have made enough runs to stay in the test squad, but I think we need to look now for the next Williamson/Taylor combo - perhaps Ravindra / Hay?
Latham 41.84 (29)
Nicholls 43.40 (29)
Conway 76.50 (29) but had only played 2 tests before WTC final
Blundell 38.13 (30)
Young 34.50 (28) but had only played 3 tests before WTC final
Santner 24.70 (29)
WTC final players now retired, or with limited availability:
Williamson 53.60 (30)
Taylor 45.76 (37)
de Grandhomme 36.18 (34)
Watling 37.89 (35)
Immenso
International Vice-Captain
I think they want both Mitchell and Blundell to hang around as they have good techniques for those conditions.
They'll both probably be too declined by then, though, IMO.
Not that I'd be brave enough to phase out Mitchell too early, either. Because his chutzpuh when batting is beneficial.
But I guarantee when picking an 11 for the 2nd or 3rd test of the NZ tour of Aus about 4 or more 35 year olds will have their careers terminated.
Bahnz
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Yes, RW is in a tricky position where he has to either stick or twist with regard to selections, and for now he does seem to be sticking. It's a heck of a big gamble on the idea that a group of 33 to 34 year-old players will still be good enough to win games 18 months from now (especially when those guys have never really enjoyed success in Australia even in their prime). Having said that, they never really had success in India either, so who knows.
If they are sticking with Blundell for his backfoot game, they haven't watched a heck of a lot of Australian cricket in the past couple of years. The kookaduke has made pitching the ball up and nipping it around the go-to strategy for the Australian bowlers. Short pitched bowling has reverted to being more of a surprise weapon than a sustained tactic.
If they are sticking with Blundell for his backfoot game, they haven't watched a heck of a lot of Australian cricket in the past couple of years. The kookaduke has made pitching the ball up and nipping it around the go-to strategy for the Australian bowlers. Short pitched bowling has reverted to being more of a surprise weapon than a sustained tactic.
Bahnz
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
This will be a huge tour for those trying to put their hands up for next year's tours - in that regard, significantly more important than the upcoming test series. SA conditions are as close to Australia as you'll find anywhere outside Australia. Any batsmen who can make runs there will have made a solid case that they're ready to step up.
Skyliner
International Debutant
An article here on the rise of Fisher. Comments by RW below will gladden the hearts of fans of 'raw pace'.
"Raw pace is highly regarded everywhere in the world, and generally it brings a point of difference to your team," Walter said. "So, for me, that's the main thing. We've got Will O'Rourke, who's probably the top end of speed in our team, and to have someone who can then come and back him up if needs be is very important from a squad point of view. But, as we build a battery of fast bowlers, we're very blessed in the country at the moment to have a large number of really good, strong fast bowlers. And we're just adding Fish into that mix now, giving them a little bit of touring experience, a bit of taste of what it means to be part of the Black Caps, and that just bodes well for our stable of fast bowlers."
"Raw pace is highly regarded everywhere in the world, and generally it brings a point of difference to your team," Walter said. "So, for me, that's the main thing. We've got Will O'Rourke, who's probably the top end of speed in our team, and to have someone who can then come and back him up if needs be is very important from a squad point of view. But, as we build a battery of fast bowlers, we're very blessed in the country at the moment to have a large number of really good, strong fast bowlers. And we're just adding Fish into that mix now, giving them a little bit of touring experience, a bit of taste of what it means to be part of the Black Caps, and that just bodes well for our stable of fast bowlers."
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