*Unofficial* New Zealand Black Caps Thread

[NZTailender]

He’s been on 3 tours of Australia though.

3 to England too iirc. At least.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

3 to England too iirc. At least.

2013
2015
2021
2023

 

[Fuller Pilch]

I really hope we tour the Windies and SA in the next WTC cycle

 

[RMBolton]

Devon Conway looking to go back on full-time contract with NZC. I had thought he was a bit older than he actually is. He’ll be 35 in July.

‘Black Caps batter Devon Conway is ready to end his New Zealand Cricket central contract exile, and recommit full-time to the national organisation.
The 34-year-old opted out of a national contract in 2024, and has been casually contracted to New Zealand Cricket (NZC) ever since.’

‘For Conway, though, a full year of test cricket (14 tests in 12 months) comes first and foremost.
“I’m not a big planner,” he explained. “For me, we’re going into a test block, that’s exciting.”
“When you get to the end of that, what’s next? An ODI World Cup in ‘27 in South Africa, that could be pretty cool.”
“I don’t really think about that, because it’s about the test stuff now. It’s about prepping and knowing the greater goal for the World Test Championship.”
“I forget about my age, I try to make sure I’m fit - [turning] 35, time’s no longer on my side. But as long as I’m fit, giving to the team, doing my job and trying to improve, it’s as simple as that.”’

‘Fully available’: Black Caps contract exile wants to end freelance status

The 34-year-old would be the first player to re-sign after taking a casual deal in 2024.

www.nzherald.co.nz

Good man
When he first went casual, I sensed a personal angle at the time, between his dip in form, his personal struggles & going to play for JSK.

i predict a random injury to hit kane during the england and aussie tour this year to continue the good ol kane ducking the hard series theme

Might be just what we need to sweep them both. 7-0 all-up, boys!

 

[RMBolton]

I really hope we tour the Windies and SA in the next WTC cycle

From memory, back in 2024 during the Test series, there were some meetings between folks at NZC & CSA which confirmed not only the T20 series that finished the home summer but also Home & Away all format tours during the next FTP.
This should point to a SA tour in the next WTC cycle whether in the 2027-8 summer for the 2028-9 summer. If it's, say, in the '7-8 summer, then that would effectively be straight after the 2027 WC & would go into New Year's, which would be mutually beneficial as SA can then go straight into SA20 while our boys can return home for the NZ20 launch.

Over the next FTP cycle, the only series we know to be confirmed to be happening are the 2 SA series & a 3 Test home series vs India in 2030-1.

 

[thundaboult]

finn allen in the world class category of t20 batters

 

[DougieRydal]

Devon Conway discovering that international cricket is now his priority hits a bit different when the T20 phone stops ringing

 

[Skyliner]

‘Now, on the verge of his third test tour of England, Conway is relishing the chance to kick off New Zealand’s red ball block in familiar climes.

“We’ve been wanting something like this in the calendar for a while,” he told the Herald.
“If you look at all the tours coming up, it’s a very exciting 12 months for the test squad.
Playing in England is a different challenge, particularly as an opening batter. But playing at the grounds – Lord’s again, with all the history, it’s probably one of my favourite grounds – there’s certainly great memories.
We haven’t played a test match at the Oval, so I’m looking forward to that challenge. And then to finish the tour at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, where we know it’s a nice place to bat if you get in, is very exciting.”’

'We’ve been wanting something like this': Conway raves over NZ's test calendar

The Black Caps will play a whopping 14 test matches over the next 12 months.

www.nzherald.co.nz

 

[Athlai]

Surprising that Conway has had the opportunity to do 3 England tours

 

[RMBolton]

Surprising that Conway has had the opportunity to do 3 England tours

From 2021-4, we've had 10 Tests with England: 5 home, 5 away, equivalent to a home & away Ashes cycle. Yes, they were broken up into 2/3, but still.

Here's me hoping England will come over in 2030 for a Centennial Test series. If there's any time to host a 4 Test series for the first time since the 60s, that is the time.

 

[Athlai]

From 2021-4, we've had 10 Tests with England: 5 home, 5 away, equivalent to a home & away Ashes cycle. Yes, they were broken up into 2/3, but still.

Here's me hoping England will come over in 2030 for a Centennial Test series. If there's any time to host a 4 Test series for the first time since the 60s, that is the time.

In England

NZ 1 - ENG 3

In NZ

NZ 2 - ENG 3

An Ashes that England can actually win eh

 

[kaetor]

The last England tour was heartbreaking to watch, as we failed to defend a good target 3 times in a row...

I'm often surprised we do relatively poorly against England, it feels like the media makes it out as if they are in constant crisis but we still aren't and haven't really ever been the favourites.

 

[Kippax]

Yeah you want braai guys and Aussie-borns, not really Cantabs to beat England more often. Cantabs would almost be up on an elder abuse charge when they do it. They can't kill their own sire, their own Yoda.

 

[Skyliner]

'Cricinfo Honours' is a retrospective ranking and celebration by ESPNcricinfo that recognizes the greatest men's international cricketers of the modern era.’

——

‘Pure technical mastery, an unshakeable calmness at the crease, and the leader who always steadied the ship
At No. 16: Kane Williamson

 

[DougieRydal]

These lists are usually heavily weighted towards Indian cricketers, I see Dhoni is at #14 for instance

 

[Bahnz]

These lists are usually heavily weighted towards Indian cricketers, I see Dhoni is at #14 for instance

Tbf it's an all format ranking, and Dhoni was a more valuable white ball player than Kane.

 

[hendrix]

Dhoni was a hugely impactful player in all formats.

His hackiness as an away batsman in test cricket doesn't detract from that because he was also the captain as well as the wicket keeper and basically until the very end of his career was a huge net positive.

No problem with him being ranked above KW.

 

[thundaboult]

Yeah Dhoni is a massive massive name with a CV to show for it. Hell imo he is leagues above Kane. Captained his team to no.1 test rankings, trophies in all 3 white ball major tournaments, including an iconic finals performance. Its funny though, if there was such a thing as justice and we rightly take the 2019 wc, for me it makes Kane an equal to dhoni seeing how his batting + captaincy carried us all tournament. Damn results...damn cricket.

 

[RMBolton]

Yeah Dhoni is a massive massive name with a CV to show for it. Hell imo he is leagues above Kane. Captained his team to no.1 test rankings, trophies in all 3 white ball major tournaments, including an iconic finals performance. Its funny though, if there was such a thing as justice and we rightly take the 2019 wc, for me it makes Kane an equal to dhoni seeing how his batting + captaincy carried us all tournament. Damn results...damn cricket.

Now imagine a world where Kane captains NZ to not only the WTC but also to win the 2019 WC & 2021 T20WC to hold both WCs & the Mace together at the same time like some kind of cricketing Thanos.

We were only "the barest of margins" & likely a coin toss from that actually happening.

 

[Skyliner]

‘Steady the ship’ as a phrase associated with Kane Williamson is the ACC’s lasting contribution to the global cricketing consciousness. Whereas their full current nickname for Jimmy Neesham i.e. “The Stud; formerly Little Lamb Neesham - some people say he looks like an alpaca” will no doubt never feature in any ESPNCricinfo features or articles.