NZ v Pakistan: ODI series Game 1 25 January

[ANTiLAG]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/76185414/Ross-Taylor-out-for-Pakistan-Australia-ODI-series-with-side-strain

Terrible news for NZ cricket fans. Rossco is out of the side for not only the Pakistan series, but also the Australian ODI series. It is hoped he will play Australian tests, but without having been in the middle of the pitch for 3 weeks.

It is good news for Niccolls who retains his place in the team, and for Murno who returns to the squad as a result.

Luke Ronchi will be rested for games 2 and 3 against Pakistan. Rochi got out to a fairly good shot in the T20 against Pakistan, but has not scored a run in internationals since his 170*. BJ Watling gets a go (presumably to see if he can slog anywhere near as well as he can bat) in games 2 and 3.

Anderson and Elliot return to the ODI team. I wouldn't mind seeing Manu given a go higher in the order again, with Anderson, but Niccolls may want to be evaluated by the coach. Not sure Niccolls will be back from BBL final in time for Monday's game.

Traditional looking line up:

Guptil
Latham (Game 3 BMac)
KW
Niccols (Guess Manu if Niccolls is in Melbourne the night before game 1, and possibly Elliot bats 4)
Elliot
Anderson
Ronchi/Watling
Santner
Milne
Henry/Boult
Mitch/Boult

Personally - I hope we see some more of Anderson and Munro up higher in the innings like the recent T20. But the team looks a lot weaker without Ross the Boss in the teamsheet at either 4 or 5. That said, Watling's introduction can change the dynamic and batting order should Hesson so wish.

Hopefully Tom Latham ups his strike rate. It seems certain the NZC are backing his clear technical proficiency and cricketing talent to the hilt and sticking with him as the ODI opener to replace BMac. For those that want a brighter future without KW opening in ODI (which I am not opposed to trialling based on his T20 results), opener Glenn Phillips is smashing the Australian U-19s and Pakistan U-19s at a very good SR. M Bracewell has put together a few good scores of late at a fair clip, too. And he who shall not be named just shamed Tom Latham's slow 100 in getting CD through to the final with a big 100 at a fast clip.

 

[ANTiLAG]

Wow. By way of some small miracle, Sky TV will show a New Zealand domestic match.

Ford Trophy Final LIVE
Channel: SKY Sport 1
Genre: SKY Sport
Description: SKY Sport is proud to bring you LIVE coverage of the 2nd innings of the Ford Trophy Final - New Zealand's premium domestic one-day cricket tournament. Teams and venue TBC.

Show Time:
Sat 30 Jan10:55

 

[Twatface Magee]

Why are all the Kiwis so quiet?

Oh, they're 6/104... that's why.

 

[Iafeta]

This is a good wicket. Offers a chance to all bowlers, and you can make runs if you are patient. All the shots they've played to get out to were impatient and just accurate bowling. The guys further down the order in Anderson and Aussie Luke are most culpable, they showed an absolutely inability to adapt to the game situation. Too much T20 bravado in batsmen these days when the going gets tough.

Pakistan are bowling well.

Big test for Nocholls and Santner. They could establish their international careers here if they bat NZ through.

 

[African Monkey]

Well played Nicholls. Can't say the same about the others.

 

[Rod]

Wow. By way of some small miracle, Sky TV will show a New Zealand domestic match.

Ford Trophy Final LIVE
Channel: SKY Sport 1
Genre: SKY Sport
Description: SKY Sport is proud to bring you LIVE coverage of the 2nd innings of the Ford Trophy Final - New Zealand's premium domestic one-day cricket tournament. Teams and venue TBC.

Show Time:
Sat 30 Jan10:55

Sky always show the Ford Trophy final.

Good game for the new breed in Nicholls and Santner and a bit lucky we picked a pretty deep batting order because very little else there to speak of.

 

[Iafeta]

Outrageous comeback. They seem to make a habit of it. Well played lower order.

 

[ANTiLAG]

Sky always show the Ford Trophy final.

Good game for the new breed in Nicholls and Santner and a bit lucky we picked a pretty deep batting order because very little else there to speak of.

It is not luck to bat deep. The long batting order is deliberate.

Merely showing the final is pathetic by Sky TV. Especially after showing so much foreign domestic cricket.

 

[Das Gupta]

Why are all the Kiwis so quiet?

Oh, they're 6/104... that's why.

:lol:

Sing when your winning, nein when your not

 

[Rod]

Henry and McClenaghan completely turned the match, great hitting at the end there.

 

[ANTiLAG]

Henry and McClenaghan completely turned the match, great hitting at the end there.

That was good hitting. Henry's been doing it for a while now.

Hope Mitch is okay and not gun shy from now. I like his pull and ramp shots. Someone's been working hard in the nets.

I remain a fan of KW's bowling. Often underused I think.

 

[Mr Angry]

NZ showing how a good team fights...they will win this.

 

[ANTiLAG]

Grant Elliot, man of the match for me. But it sounded like they were giving it Niccolls.

But Grunter as the 6th bowler, 10 overs 3 for 43, created initial scoreboard pressure for the collapse at the end. All that given a frontline seamer was injured and not to bowl at all. Hard to underestimate the value of Grunter, there.

I hope Mitch is okay - I am typically his harshest critic, but his last 3 games (incl this one) have been of the very good quality.

 

[Iafeta]

Why are all the Kiwis so quiet?

Oh, they're 6/104... that's why.

Well that was all a bit premature.

 

[Hutty1986]

Boult now the #1 ranked ODI bowler according to Cricinfo?

 

[ANTiLAG]

Boult now the #1 ranked ODI bowler according to Cricinfo?

He shouldn't be. It appears to be a default victory with Starc out injured and losing more points than Boult has since injury.

Boult still does not look right. And his pace is still down (I care less about the pace and more about his loss of shape myself).

He did well in mopping up the tail today with a RRR of 11+ but he's not getting the bowler wickets in his first and second spells with swing bowling that he was famous for. He is bowling a lot of short stuff, too. That is not his typical go. That said, his economy has been alright, though. But NZ already has an Adam Milne.

 

[vvvrulz]

He shouldn't be.

He still does not look right. And his pace is still down (I care less about the pace and more about his loss of shape myself).

He did well in mopping up the tail today with a RRR of 11+ but he's not getting the bowler wickets in his first and second spells with swing bowling that he was famous for. He is bowling a lot of short stuff, too. That is not his typical go. That said, his economy has been alright, though. But NZ already has an Adam Milne.

Boult's decline is a massive worry.

He's the first genuine pace spearhead we've had since Shane Bond, nobody else has the full range including Southee still only shows us glimpses. Henry has the most potential among the rest, but we need Boult back in that 2014/15 form if we're going to make serious claims towards world #1. Just as important as Williamson imo.

 

[ANTiLAG]

Boult's decline is a massive worry.

He's the first genuine pace spearhead we've had since Shane Bond, nobody else has the full range including Southee still only shows us glimpses. Henry has the most potential among the rest, but we need Boult back in that 2014/15 form if we're going to make serious claims towards world #1. Just as important as Williamson imo.

I totally agree with you but to be honest, I think we need Boult firing just to remain undefeated at home when Australia comes calling, let alone chasing number 1.

Southee on song causes right handers problems with genuine outswing and the occasional cross seamer for lbw, but Boult can not only dominate the left handers of Sangakarra quality with his outswing, but because he can swing it both ways at will, he can cause right handers a whole lot of grief too. Especially those who move in front of their stumps.

I know it is fantastic when he is bowling 140+ and getting the ball to shout, but I would settle for 130-135 with the ball talking again.

 

[vvvrulz]

I know it is fantastic when he is bowling 140+, but I would settle for 130-135 with the swing back.

Agreed, he's be an excellent bowler on swing and control alone.

But if he get's that pace back, we're talking dare I say Hadlee level potential.
Would be an utter shame if he doesn't revive all aspects of his game.

At the moment he isn't doing anything particularly well without bowling terribly, i.e. McLeneghan.

 

[ANTiLAG]

Agreed, he's be an excellent bowler on swing and control alone.

But if he get's that pace back, we're talking dare I say Hadlee level potential.
Would be an utter shame if he doesn't revive all aspects of his game.

At the moment he isn't doing anything particularly well without bowling terribly, i.e. McLeneghan.

My thoughts exactly. He even looks like Mitch with all these ODI wickets off innocuous short balls at 130 km/h.

Although, Mitch with his change in pace, has been bowling smarter in the past 3 games (incl today when he did not bowl). I've never seen Mitch bowl smart before the T20 series against Pakistan. I am his self proclaimed harshest critic, but I was rather impressed with him.

Mitch has grown as a player this summer. Those ramp shots today demonstrate just how much work he has been doing on his game. I hope being hit in the head today does not effect him like it did Stuart Broad. His pull shot for 6 is pretty damn good as demonstrated today before the injury. But his ramp shot, is remarkably good for a tail ender. I used to loathe his selection, but between him and Henry these days, and Boult looking ordinary, there is not much between them, and Mitch has been looking good. His economy is leading the way of all the seamers this summer (incl SL series). Southee is the person being missed most as genuine wicket taking threat with the new ball - but maybe not as missed later in the game as i would have initially feared, while Milne continues to impress.