Fuller Pilch
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
If they pick Nicholls it would be absolutely ridiculous if he bats 7 below Blundell.
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*Official* New Zealand tour of Ireland and England 2026
- Thread starter NZTailender
- Start date
Skyliner
International Regular
There’s a speculative article about the Phillips - Nicholls / Foxcroft conundrum in The Post. They have Nicholls batting at 6 ahead of DM in their ‘possible test XI’.
ashley bach
International Coach
Don't see the point in rushing Henry for the Ireland test. Freshen him up for the series that really matters.
Skyliner
International Regular
“As a New Zealand Cricket fan – not even as a player – this is the most exciting year of test cricket we’ve ever had. It couldn’t be any better, I hope the buzz around the country is the same.”
- Rachin Ravindra
www.nzherald.co.nz
- Rachin Ravindra
Why Rachin Ravindra gave up IPL cash for Black Caps test prep
The 26-year-old left his $380,000 contract to prepare to face England and Ireland.
www.nzherald.co.nz
Immenso
International Captain
While i admire Nicholls's fortitude to stack up the runs after his test dropping.
It is black comedy that he will play Zimbabwe and now possibly Ireland, as his only tests of this stage of his career.
Black comedy from the POV of the required team's transition from the Class of 90 to 92.
It is black comedy that he will play Zimbabwe and now possibly Ireland, as his only tests of this stage of his career.
Black comedy from the POV of the required team's transition from the Class of 90 to 92.
Fuller Pilch
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Agree. He needs to be kept fresh as Mr Nicholls is our key batsman. He should bat 3 against England instead of that Williamson guy.
I'd rather he got some bowling in ahead of Lord's.
He hasn't bowled in a game since April 5. **** me.
The IPL is a ****ing scourge on our game
ashley bach
International Coach
I mean April wasn't that long ago was it. Was more thinking along the lines of him playing four tests in a row and getting burnt out.
govinda indian fan
International Vice-Captain
Exited to see how rachin will do in english conditions. However see series going 2-1 to hosts
jcas0167
International Regular
Can you imagine Richard Hadlee going into a test without having bowled in a match for 2 months? It's quite crazy how expectations have changed in terms of preparation. I think the Ireland test will effectively serve as a warm-up.
honestbharani
Whatever it takes!!!
IPL franchises play the players pro-rata based on games they were available for. So he is not giving up that much of cash, tbf.“As a New Zealand Cricket fan – not even as a player – this is the most exciting year of test cricket we’ve ever had. It couldn’t be any better, I hope the buzz around the country is the same.”
- Rachin Ravindra
Why Rachin Ravindra gave up IPL cash for Black Caps test prep
The 26-year-old left his $380,000 contract to prepare to face England and Ireland.
thundaboult
International Debutant
lol @ anyone who thought he actually gave up $380-fkn-k for the love of tuk tuk test kirkit
Skyliner
International Regular
‘Former New Zealand wicketkeeper Tony Blain believes backing Tom Blundell for the England test series is the right move because Blundell's experience and proven pedigree make him the country's best test keeper-batter. Blain stresses that the challenging English conditions and swinging Dukes ball are no place to blood an inexperienced gloveman. Blain knows firsthand, having played in the UK, that English conditions require a seasoned wicketkeeper who can handle the movement of the ball. He argues it is not the place to develop a keeper still finding their feet at the international level.’
www.thepost.co.nz
The Post
www.thepost.co.nz
Neil Young
International Debutant
So, basically, Blundell will have a good idea what the ball is going to do. Problem is he will still be powerless to do anything about it because of the way he's moving.
Skyliner
International Regular
‘Jake Egan, Tom Mayes, Liam McCarthy and Reuben Wilson are the uncapped players in Ireland's squad for their only Test against New Zealand.
Paul Stirling, Barry McCarthy, Jordan Neill, Gavin Hoey and Josh Little have been ruled out by unspecified injuries. Andy Balbirnie, the only player to feature in all 12 of Ireland's Tests so far, will continue as captain.
Egan is a 32-year-old allrounder born in Perth and has a century from his only first-class game. His 120 won Strikers the Emerald Challenge earlier this week. Mayes (25) is a bowling allrounder with five first-class games. He took six wickets and scored 25 runs for Strikers in the same game.
Liam McCarthy (24) is a bowling allrounder, who was born in South Africa and moved to Ireland in 2021. He has 19 wickets from six first-class games and has played for Ireland in four games across both white-ball formats. Wilson, the 19-year-old medium pacer, is the freshest face in the side, with one first-class game, 12 List A games and 13 T20s under his belt.
Stirling and Hoey were part of Ireland's XI that took on Bangladesh in Mirpur last year, which is the last Test they played. Barry McCarthy had played the first Test in Sylhet.
This will be the second ever Test at Belfast, Ireland had beaten Zimbabwe in the first in 2024. It will also be Ireland's first ever Test against New Zealand.’
Ireland squad for New Zealand Test:
Andrew Balbirnie (Capt), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Cade Carmichael, Stephen Doheny, Jake Egan, Matthew Humphreys, Tom Mayes, Andrew McBrine, Liam McCarthy, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Reuben Wilson, Craig Young
Paul Stirling, Barry McCarthy, Jordan Neill, Gavin Hoey and Josh Little have been ruled out by unspecified injuries. Andy Balbirnie, the only player to feature in all 12 of Ireland's Tests so far, will continue as captain.
Egan is a 32-year-old allrounder born in Perth and has a century from his only first-class game. His 120 won Strikers the Emerald Challenge earlier this week. Mayes (25) is a bowling allrounder with five first-class games. He took six wickets and scored 25 runs for Strikers in the same game.
Liam McCarthy (24) is a bowling allrounder, who was born in South Africa and moved to Ireland in 2021. He has 19 wickets from six first-class games and has played for Ireland in four games across both white-ball formats. Wilson, the 19-year-old medium pacer, is the freshest face in the side, with one first-class game, 12 List A games and 13 T20s under his belt.
Stirling and Hoey were part of Ireland's XI that took on Bangladesh in Mirpur last year, which is the last Test they played. Barry McCarthy had played the first Test in Sylhet.
This will be the second ever Test at Belfast, Ireland had beaten Zimbabwe in the first in 2024. It will also be Ireland's first ever Test against New Zealand.’
Ireland squad for New Zealand Test:
Andrew Balbirnie (Capt), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Cade Carmichael, Stephen Doheny, Jake Egan, Matthew Humphreys, Tom Mayes, Andrew McBrine, Liam McCarthy, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Reuben Wilson, Craig Young
ataraxia
Hall of Fame Member
Has he seen Blundell keep in the past two years? Lol.‘Former New Zealand wicketkeeper Tony Blain believes backing Tom Blundell for the England test series is the right move because Blundell's experience and proven pedigree make him the country's best test keeper-batter. Blain stresses that the challenging English conditions and swinging Dukes ball are no place to blood an inexperienced gloveman. Blain knows firsthand, having played in the UK, that English conditions require a seasoned wicketkeeper who can handle the movement of the ball. He argues it is not the place to develop a keeper still finding their feet at the international level.’
The Post
Days of Grace
International Captain
Will it rain for 3 out of the 4 days?
Fuller Pilch
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Skyliner
International Regular
22 May 2026
‘England batter Jacob Bethell has returned to the UK after sustaining a finger injury during a stint with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League.
The 22-year-old will be assessed and monitored by the England medical team to determine if he will be fit to play in the first Test against New Zealand, which begins on 4 June at Lord's.
Bethell missed the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) game against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday and, given the issue with his left ring finger, the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise and the England and Wales Cricket Board agreed he would play no further part in the tournament.
Although Bethell's absence on Friday was thought to be precautionary, further assessment is required to discover the extent of the injury.’
‘England batter Jacob Bethell has returned to the UK after sustaining a finger injury during a stint with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League.
The 22-year-old will be assessed and monitored by the England medical team to determine if he will be fit to play in the first Test against New Zealand, which begins on 4 June at Lord's.
Bethell missed the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) game against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday and, given the issue with his left ring finger, the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise and the England and Wales Cricket Board agreed he would play no further part in the tournament.
Although Bethell's absence on Friday was thought to be precautionary, further assessment is required to discover the extent of the injury.’