*Unofficial* New Zealand Black Caps Thread

[Starfighter]

The Hobart Test of 2011 was good though. Led to a drawn series too.

Would be close to the best match in Australia of the decade that one. Not least cause it wasn't 400 plays 550.

 

[SteveNZ]

Yeah, and on paper at least it's likely to be a weaker NZ side next time - though if Taylor can be persuaded to stick around and Boult manages to stay fit I could see us being a tad more competitive.

I think it'll more be a case of Ross' body staying together, although does look as if he's stringing together games for Notts (not scoring a truck load of runs, mind). You'd hope a three-Test series and Boxing Day at the G would be enough to keep him motivated.

No doubt we're still rank underdogs when Australia can expect to line up with Starc, Cummins, Hazelwood and Lyon against a brittle batting line-up. But hell, bring it on for 3 opportunities to test ourselves.

 

[jcas0167]

Strength of the side doesn't really mean much, it's all in the head. The 2011 team was terrible and they won a test, and the 2015ers were much better than Fleming's team yet they were competitive with Waugh's much better team than any the 2015ers faced.

NZ weren't helped by Southee and Boult being half fit sure, but it was a pretty sorry sight that Doug Bracewell was the only kiwi bowler who could land 6 balls in a row on one side of the pitch. We also refused to use Wagner despite him being our road specialist.

Good NZ cricket teams have a really bad habit of wilting against Australia, regardless of form against other sides.

Hopefully Wagner can maintain his intensity and fitness till then. His attitude lifts the others.

 

[jcas0167]

A couple of articles about Devon Conway, who becomes eligible to play for NZ in early 2020.

https://citizen.co.za/sport/south-a...-mates-wants-to-play-cricket-for-new-zealand/

He's now officially a 'qualifying player' which allowed him to be contracted by the Firebirds alongside fellow Johannesburg product and top-order bat Malcolm Nofal. Conway was pursued by Auckland, too, but stayed loyal. The pair are among 13 South African born-and-raised players on NZC's payroll for the coming season, headed by Black Caps Wagner, BJ Watling and Colin Munro...

"I'm working really hard on my batting with [assistant coach] Glenn Pocknall and Bruce Edgar, so that's my main focus but I won't neglect my glovework and will be pairing up with Tom Blundell to work on that skill because it could come in handy.

"I'd like to see myself in the top order, whether that be one, two, three or four it doesn't matter. Then it's all about producing the results when I get the opportunity."

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/crick...-to-becoming-the-next-south-african-black-cap

 

[Howsie]

Sounds like Devcich has given up his ND contract so he’s able to travel the world as a 20/20 specialist. Somehow by the look of things he’s managed to pick up a Big Bash gig.

 

[Mr Miyagi]

Sounds like Devcich has given up his ND contract so he’s able to travel the world as a 20/20 specialist. Somehow by the look of things he’s managed to pick up a Big Bash gig.

He is a good t20 player, but with his useful spin option as well and all that time playing in Hamilton makes him a fair T20 prospect - especially for Asian leagues.

 

[Chewie]

https://www.nzc.nz/news-items/second-round-domestic-contracts-offered

Auckland

Second round offers:
Finn Allen
Michael Barry
Graeme Beghin
Mitchell McClenaghan

Full list of 16:
Finn Allen
Michael Barry
Graeme Beghin
Jamie Brown
Craig Cachopa
Mark Chapman
Danru Ferns
Michael Guptill-Bunce
Ben Horne
Ben Lister
Mitchell McClenaghan
Matt McEwan
Robbie O’Donnell
Glenn Phillips
Sean Solia
Will Somerville

Canterbury

Second round offers:
Jack Boyle
Fraser Sheat

Full list of 16:
Chad Bowes
Jack Boyle
Blake Coburn
Leo Carter
Andrew Ellis
Cameron Fletcher
Andrew Hazeldine
Kyle Jamieson
Ken McClure
Cole McConchie
Stephen Murdoch
Ed Nuttall
Fraser Sheat
Henry Shipley
Will Williams
Theo van Woerkom

Central Districts

Second round offer:
Navin Patel

Full list of 16:
Doug Bracewell
Tom Bruce
Josh Clarkson
Dane Cleaver
Greg Hay
Christian Leopard
Willem Ludick
Ryan McCone
Ajaz Patel
Navin Patel
Seth Rance
Bevan Small
Ben Smith
Blair Tickner
Ben Wheeler
Will Young

Northern Districts

Second round offers:
Sean Davey
Matthew Fisher

Full list of 16:
James Baker
Peter Bocock
Dean Brownlie
Henry Cooper
Sean Davey
Matthew Fisher
Daniel Flynn
Zak Gibson
Brett Hampton
Nick Kelly
Scott Kuggeleijn
Daryl Mitchell
Bharat Popli
Brett Randell
Tim Seifert
Joe Walker

*Anton Devcich declined his first-round offer

Otago

Second round offers:
Josh Tasman-Jones
Christi Viljoen

Full list of 16:
Matt Bacon
Warren Barnes
Neil Broom
Mark Craig
Jacob Duffy
Josh Finnie
Shawn Hicks
Josh Tasman-Jones
Anaru Kitchen
Michael Rae
Mitch Renwick
Michael Rippon
Hamish Rutherford
Nathan Smith
Christi Viljoen
Brad Wilson

Wellington

Second round offer:
Andrew Fletcher

Full list of 16:
Hamish Bennett
Tom Blundell
Michael Bracewell
Devon Conway
Andrew Fletcher
Lauchie Johns
Iain McPeake
Jimmy Neesham
Ollie Newton
Malcolm Nofal
Jeetan Patel
Rachin Ravindra
Ben Sears
Logan van Beek
Luke Woodcock
Peter Younghusband

 

[GoodAreasShane]

Thought McClenaghan was done with First Class cricket? Although on the evidence I saw during his time with the Thunder he may be finding T20 contracts rather harder to come by than expected.

 

[54321]

Anyone know what's going on with the coaching situation? It's been a couple of months since Hesson's announcement and I haven't heard anything about a new coach yet

 

[Smudge]

Anyone know what's going on with the coaching situation? It's been a couple of months since Hesson's announcement and I haven't heard anything about a new coach yet

It hasn't even been a month.

 

[Dan]

Probably a good thing tbh. Actually take the time, rather than hotshot in whichever coach happens to be available.

 

[54321]

It hasn't even been a month.

Oh wait, my bad. It's felt like ages since the announcement to me. Nonetheless, I spotted in some article that the bigwigs are gonna start looking for coaches at the end of Julyish.

 

[Mr Miyagi]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/crick...ble-game-time-during-english-summer-with-kent

Matt Henry's half season stint is over. Hopefully this keeps Tim Southee on his toes for tests as NZ's depth option edges closer.

Tim's actually had good numbers of late in tests. It is more's the pity Todd Astle didn't get a county cricket gig.

 

[Mr Miyagi]

Tom Latham is captaining Durham in the Blast.

CdG is bowling full allotments in the blast for Birmingham. 1 v good game, 1 mediocre.

Munro is with Hampshire. (He literally hit a 6 first ball of the innings and was out second ball - he is becoming his own meme) - but he took a valuable wicket.

Milne has started where he left off of last year - starting with an absolute blinder of a game first up:

South Group (N), Vitality Blast at London, Jul 6 2018 | Match Summary | ESPNCricinfo

Guppie is under way with a 50 for Worcestershire.

Tom Bruce is at Sussex with a failure first up.

Anderson is at Sommerset - still bowling pies it would seem.

And Ish Sodhi has started very well for Notts with excellent economy.

I guess Santner is still injured. KW will play for Yorkshire maybe later.

 

[Mr Miyagi]

 

[straw man]

In other off-season action I see Hamish Bennett had a good turnout the other day

scoring a vital goal in the knockout, while young Brendon McCullum has also been pretty good on the wing

 

[Mr Miyagi]

The top one looks more like Chris Woakes to me. But the young McCullum is good.

 

[straw man]

Maybe this is a better one

 

[Mr Miyagi]

The first one looks a lot like Jared from Silicon Valley. Which means Woakes will like Jared.

 

[Mr Miyagi]

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12086538

This is getting dire for NZC now.

Bond, Flem, Vettorri, Adams, we're consistently losing our best coaching talent. People who could make a difference to the national team.

Adams struck me as someone who was more than a motivator, but an actual tactician. I hope we can keep Mills in NZ.