Cricket: Official Blackcaps thread the people’s #1

[mrbrownstone]

Geez that was too close for comfort, but I'll take it. Absolute nightmares about Stoinis.

Guptill was officially MOTM but Neesham deserved it IMO, 45 off 18 and an absolute clutch final over. Credit to Boult too, six perfect yorkers after Sodhi and Southee did their best to lose it for us.

[Gumboot]

Fuck me Shane Warne just babbles on and on. He just loves the sound of his own voice. Non-stop drivel masquerading as pearls of cricketing wisdom. Is he paid by the word?

[mrbrownstone]

Fuck me Shane Warne just babbles on and on. He just loves the sound of his own voice. Non-stop drivel masquerading as pearls of cricketing wisdom. Is he paid by the word?

He's unlistenable at times. Forces his opinion on everyone around him. I feel for Isa when she has to commentate with him.

On the game, looks like we'll be chasing plenty.

[Jb1981]

We are getting smoked here - well over 200 could be on the cards. It all feels a bit surreal with no crowd and silence greeting the boundaries.

On the plus side, I can watch the final three games thanks to signing up for a seven day free trial with Spark Sport.

[Enzedder]

We are getting smoked here - well over 200 could be on the cards. It all feels a bit surreal with no crowd and silence greeting the boundaries.

On the plus side, I can watch the final three games thanks to signing up for a seven day free trial with Spark Sport.

I didn't have to sign anything

https://cricstream.me/new-zealand-vs-au ... e/stream-1

[Enzedder]

Maxwell just demolished a seat back with a huge 6

10 an over at this stage and Maxwell/Stoinis about to let loose

[mrbrownstone]

Got selection badly wrong here. Santner out and we replace him with a batsman. Should never be relying on Neesham to bowl 4 overs. 0/60...

[Jb1981]

This is already 20 more than the biggest successful chase and heading higher at pace.

[Jb1981]

We are getting smoked here - well over 200 could be on the cards. It all feels a bit surreal with no crowd and silence greeting the boundaries.

On the plus side, I can watch the final three games thanks to signing up for a seven day free trial with Spark Sport.

I didn't have to sign anything

https://cricstream.me/new-zealand-vs-au ... e/stream-1

I will save the links for the big Bangladesh series.

[Kiwias]

Got selection badly wrong here. Santner out and we replace him with a batsman. Should never be relying on Neesham to bowl 4 overs. 0/60...

Chapman is listed as an allrounder so why did he not have a bowl?

[Thor Sedan]

Woo boy......I think RCB are having some heated discussions behind closed doors about the decision to splurge 15 crore on Jamieson. Not sure if his last few outings will be filling them with confidence.

[Certain Navigator]

We are getting smoked here - well over 200 could be on the cards. It all feels a bit surreal with no crowd and silence greeting the boundaries.

On the plus side, I can watch the final three games thanks to signing up for a seven day free trial with Spark Sport.

I didn't have to sign anything

https://cricstream.me/new-zealand-vs-au ... e/stream-1

I will save the links for the big Bangladesh series.

A good plan if it avoids the commentary team associated with the above stream — Mark Waugh, Shane Warne and the English/Indian chick (Isha?). Waugh was just passable, and may even have been ok if teamed with higher-quality colleagues, but Warne was awful — totally ignorant about everything to do with cricket except himself. While Isha seemed to have absolutely no idea whatsoever about one of the teams involved (no surprises — it was NZ).

It certainly reminded me why I rarely bother watching hit-and-giggle cricket — at least proper forms have a regular turnover of commentators.

[Thor Sedan]

Yes.....bowl Jamieson in the final over.

What could possibly go wrong.

He has had a great start in tests and ODI's....but come on....he has been woeful in t20. Just drop him and bring in Milne.

RCB have made a massive error with their scouting.

[Jb1981]

That is the ugliest Kane Williamson dismissal I have ever seen.

[Kiwias]

That was the stupidest runout I have ever seen.

[Kiwias]

One of our more pathetic run chases.

[Jb1981]

I wonder how Southee wrangled batting above Jamieson.

[Thor Sedan]

So is anyone in the BC's actually in form at the moment?

The last game was what you'd expect for a 200+ chase - you live and die by the sword.

But this has been woeful. Not sure how NZ managed to get the 2 wins at the start - Aussie is just better in every department.

Management need to rethink their team. Is it time to just throw Finn Allen into the mix? He can't do any worse than Seifert is doing at the moment. Just put Milne into the action and let Jamieson take a break. Looks like he needs one. Maybe Williamson could do with a break as well?

[Enzedder]

Nah, we're just crap at T20

[JPNZ]

The Black Caps and India will not meet at Lord's as originally planned for the World Test Championship final in June.

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has revealed that Southampton's Rose Bowl will now be the venue for the inaugural test championship.

Ganguly said Southampton is better suited because it has an on-site hotel, which suits with the strict guidelines around Covid-19.

"It [the WTC final] is in Southampton," Ganguly told India Today. "It has been decided a long time ago. They have the hotel, which makes it easier for them to control (the bio-secure environment). That's why when England started cricket after Covid times, a lot of Test matches were held in Southampton and Manchester because they have hotels alongside the ground."

New Zealand have never played a test at the Rose Bowl while India have lost their only two encounters at the ground, the most recent a 60-run loss in 2018 where neither team passed a total of 280.

Of the three tests played at the ground last year, two finished in draws with rain falling on all five days in the first test between England and Pakistan.

The Black Caps are still scheduled to play at Lord's in the lead-up to the World Test Championship final, in the first test of a two-match series against England.

The second test will be at Edgbaston.

[mrbrownstone]

The Black Caps and India will not meet at Lord's as originally planned for the World Test Championship final in June.

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has revealed that Southampton's Rose Bowl will now be the venue for the inaugural test championship.

Ganguly said Southampton is better suited because it has an on-site hotel, which suits with the strict guidelines around Covid-19.

"It [the WTC final] is in Southampton," Ganguly told India Today. "It has been decided a long time ago. They have the hotel, which makes it easier for them to control (the bio-secure environment). That's why when England started cricket after Covid times, a lot of Test matches were held in Southampton and Manchester because they have hotels alongside the ground."

New Zealand have never played a test at the Rose Bowl while India have lost their only two encounters at the ground, the most recent a 60-run loss in 2018 where neither team passed a total of 280.

Of the three tests played at the ground last year, two finished in draws with rain falling on all five days in the first test between England and Pakistan.

The Black Caps are still scheduled to play at Lord's in the lead-up to the World Test Championship final, in the first test of a two-match series against England.

The second test will be at Edgbaston.

Not the worst result. India have lost the two tests they've played there, plus another final at Lords was never the best omen.

[JPNZ]

Yes, Southampton not perfect weather wise and its the surface that takes spin the most in England so no surprises president Ganguly chose it.

Either way its going to be a cracking match! Coverage starts at 10pm NZT 8PM AU so I sense a few late starts at work in June.

[Enzedder]

Not what I would have agreed to if I had been in charge - London has hotels that could be safely used.

Lords has a perfect pitch for us.

Still, we don't have the rupees so we take the scraps

[Jb1981]

Good of the BCCI to announce that.

I see that India has taken top spot off us too. It was good while it lasted but we can now head into the final in our familiar position as plucky underdogs.

[mrbrownstone]

Just had a quick look - from six tests there 3 have been rain affected draws, and 24% of wickets have fallen to spin. It leaves an interesting selection headache. Does Jamieson bat at 7 so you can select all four quicks + a specialist spinner? If not, who do you leave out? Does Williamson bowl a lot of overs to cover? Does Conway come into consideration to add some batting solidity against a quality Indian attack & who for?

I think I'd pick the following:

1. Latham
2. Blundell
3. Williamson
4. Taylor
5. Nicholls
6. Conway
7. Watling
8. Southee
9. Wagner
10. Patel
11. Boult

Jamieson would be incredibly unlucky to miss out, but I think you need a spinner, and he's as-yet unproven away from home, which could be a big ask in a one off game. I think you have to go back to the proven trio of Boult, Southee, Wagner. Could change my mind if Jamieson impresses in the lead-in tests against England.

I don't think de Grandhomme or Mitchell offer enough to warrant selection over Conway, and I think you have to find a place for Conway somewhere.

[mrbrownstone]

In other news, Finn Allen has picked up an IPL contract to replace Josh Phillippe, which can't hurt his development. We've also named an ODI squad to play Bangladesh. Feels like we haven't played an ODI in ages (only four since that game).

Squad: Tom Latham (capt & wk), Trent Boult, Devon Conway, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Will Young

Williamson injured so not considered. I'd assume:

1. Guptill
2. Nicholls
3. Conway
4. Taylor
5. Latham
6. Neesham
7. Santner
8. Jamieson
9. Southee
10. Henry
11. Boult

Res: Mitchell, Young

[Kiwias]

CdG could well be in doubt for the tour to England due to having surgery on his ankle.

https://www.nzc.nz/news-items/colin-de- ... MwUIOqwQe4

[mrbrownstone]

CdG could well be in doubt for the tour to England due to having surgery on his ankle.

https://www.nzc.nz/news-items/colin-de- ... MwUIOqwQe4

Might be a blessing in disguise and open up a spot for Conway.

[Jb1981]

Just had a quick look - from six tests there 3 have been rain affected draws, and 24% of wickets have fallen to spin. It leaves an interesting selection headache. Does Jamieson bat at 7 so you can select all four quicks + a specialist spinner? If not, who do you leave out? Does Williamson bowl a lot of overs to cover? Does Conway come into consideration to add some batting solidity against a quality Indian attack & who for?

I think I'd pick the following:

1. Latham
2. Blundell
3. Williamson
4. Taylor
5. Nicholls
6. Conway
7. Watling
8. Southee
9. Wagner
10. Patel
11. Boult

Jamieson would be incredibly unlucky to miss out, but I think you need a spinner, and he's as-yet unproven away from home, which could be a big ask in a one off game. I think you have to go back to the proven trio of Boult, Southee, Wagner. Could change my mind if Jamieson impresses in the lead-in tests against England.

I don't think de Grandhomme or Mitchell offer enough to warrant selection over Conway, and I think you have to find a place for Conway somewhere.

The two tests beforehand against England give a good chance to see how Jamieson looks over there.

[Jb1981]

Match day bump with the Bangladesh series starting at 11am today.

It feels a bit weird after a lull for a series to be starting on 20 March and with Super Rugby well underway.

[Monkey Magic]

Saw a headline about Taylor being out but had no idea the series actually started this weekend.

Good chance for Conway to get more international experience and Jamieson to get his mojo back

[Jb1981]

NZ win the toss and will bowl.

[Enzedder]

Softish pitch, slow bounce by the look of it but the trundlers are in force in the Kiwi lineup with 130kph "screamers".

In saying that, Boult has sent down a couple of pearlers. 19-0 after 4

Nope - Boult gets Tamim LBW dead in front

[Jb1981]

19-2 all of a sudden.

[Enzedder]

And then another with a slowish tennis ball bounce

20 - 2

And Boult picks up the pace. Very good over

[Jb1981]

Henry is looking good. I like the mix of Boult’s swing with Henry nipping it a bit off the pitch.

[Kiwias]

I still have absolutely no f*cking idea how Neesham gets the wickets he does. He never actually looks even slightly threatening.

[Jb1981]

“Better to be lucky than good” comes to mind sometimes with Neesham.

[Jb1981]

and now a run out off Neesham’s finger at the bowlers end.

[Enzedder]

“Better to be lucky than good” comes to mind with sometimes with Neesham.

The Ian Botham gambit - "shit gets wickets"