1st Test D/N: New Zealand v England @ Mount Maunganui Feb 16-20, 2023

[Meth]

Handy from Kuggeleijn. Hopefully Southee can do the same

 

[JJ]

Come on Tommy

 

[JJ]

Brilliant century

 

[Meth]

Great stuff

 

[JJ]

300 up, that’s something

 

[JJ]

And as an aside, whatever happens, f**k you Baz

 

[Meth]

Special innings this from Blundell. Came to the crease at 5/83

NZ saved by the tail.

 

[JJ]

Even Stevens?

 

[JJ]

Is it just me, or if Boults’s playing are we likely in front?

 

[JJ]

Big day today, sadly everything seems to have lined up for the Poms
Two of our best bowlers out, selectors chose not to pick the best, bowling first was ‘interesting’, their declaration was effective, we were less effective in the evening.

but Conway and Blundell showed that good test batting works, hopefully Latham, Williamson and Mitchell can help out…. Hell maybe Nicholls will get lucky again

 

[TheParraboy]

Is it just me, or if Boults’s playing are we likely in front?

Easily IMO

Couple of their t20 lads dont get regular wides and short shit to thrash at

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Is it just me, or if Boults’s playing are we likely in front?

Didn't he choose not to play tour incessantly with the black caps to spend more time with his family? And then pops up in every overseas t20 comp?

Fine player but you're either in or you're not in. Is he going to Pakistan mid year, or is he spending time with family?

 

[JJ]

Didn't he choose not to play tour incessantly with the black caps to spend more time with his family? And then pops up in every overseas t20 comp?

Fine player but you're either in or you're not in. Is he going to Pakistan mid year, or is he spending time with family?

He did, but he’s available at times and is in the country and both Henry and Jamieson are out…. It’s a no brainer, these guys make Mick Lewis look good

 

[TheParraboy]

Didn't he choose not to play tour incessantly with the black caps to spend more time with his family? And then pops up in every overseas t20 comp?

Fine player but you're either in or you're not in. Is he going to Pakistan mid year, or is he spending time with family?

tbf, Jumping into a couple of t20 leagues (of his choosing) for 3-4 weeks is very different to being contracted and told to go away for months of the year

He is 34yo this year and every right to do what he has done.

However he is still available for selection at home. Nothing wrong picking your best 11contracted or not IMO, especially when you have injuries and poor depth

 

[AlwaysGreen]

tbf, Jumping into a couple of t20 leagues (of his choosing) for 3-4 weeks is very different to being contracted and told to go away for months of the year

He is 34yo this year and every right to do what he has done.

However he is still available for selection at home. Nothing wrong picking your best 11contracted or not IMO, especially when you have injuries and poor depth

Disagree with you here. How can you develop players if you're picking Trent when he decides to be available? The other sod has to do the leg work in Pakistan yet gets dropped from the team because Trent has a VIP pass to whatever game doesn't clash with his t20 contracts or sister in laws gender reveal.

Good decision by the team to leave him out, short term pain, long-term stability.

 

[TheParraboy]

Disagree with you here. How can you develop players if you're picking Trent when he decides to be available? The other sod has to do the leg work in Pakistan yet gets dropped from the team because Trent has a VIP pass to whatever game doesn't clash with his t20 contracts or sister in laws gender reveal.

Good decision by the team to leave him out, short term pain, long-term stability.

Fair enough

Just with the injury to Jamierson and having to debut a plodder. As a one off for this series would have been something to seriously consider

 

[JJ]

tbf, Jumping into a couple of t20 leagues (of his choosing) for 3-4 weeks is very different to being contracted and told to go away for months of the year

He is 34yo this year and every right to do what he has done.

However he is still available for selection at home. Nothing wrong picking your best 11contracted or not IMO, especially when you have injuries and poor depth

also, I think, a key issue here is how little our guys get paid playing for NZ relative to Aust/Eng/India - little we can do about that, not sure why NZ cricket can't be more flexible, pick the 11 best available, a similar approach cost us the best years of Glenn Turner

 

[JJ]

Disagree with you here. How can you develop players if you're picking Trent when he decides to be available? The other sod has to do the leg work in Pakistan yet gets dropped from the team because Trent has a VIP pass to whatever game doesn't clash with his t20 contracts or sister in laws gender reveal.

Good decision by the team to leave him out, short term pain, long-term stability.

Kuggeleijn is 31 with a first class average of 32, and Tickner 29 with a first class average of 35... there's no development angle here, they are journeymen plodders... if there was some development or long term stability here, I’d be ok with it….

 

[TheParraboy]

Could become a cracker of a test

Poms 4/144
lead 163

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Kuggeleijn is 31 with a first class average of 32, and Tickner 29 with a first class average of 35... there's no development angle here, they are journeymen plodders... if there was some development or long term stability here, I’d be ok with it….

But they've committed themselves to playing for New Zealand. Boult has indicated he only wants to play for New Zealand on his terms.

Even the greats on bigger pay packets in bigger team sports around the world don't get the luxury to pick and choose. Boult is good but he ain't indispensable.