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Saturday 23 November 2013

An Indian Summer, a wrap and synopsis

Make a note of this record.  The last time New Zealand won a test match was November 2012 in Sri Lanka.  In the last two years New Zealand Test cricket team has won two test matches, the aforementioned and versus Zimbabwe.  Does that make sober reading?  It should.

This image of a winning New Zealand team is a distant memory in Test cricket, and one that needs turning around.  Ok it's fair to say that the previous coach was at fault, but then he was in for his last year in 2012 and Mike Hesson was appointed (somewhat controversially remember) to steer the ship through 2013.  Ok we played two teams in the top four and weren't expected to perform and yes we had our moments but 2013 see this record:

Versus SA in SA - 2 tests.  First lost by an innings and 27 runs.  Second lost by an innings and 193 runs.

Versus England at our place. 3 Drawn matches, yup some good play but by and large not a winning result.

Versus England in England  Lost both, first by 170 runs, second by 247 runs.

So onto Bangladesh and expected wins.  Once again two drawn matches.  This series highlighted two things.  Bangladesh on their own pitches are a hard team now.  New Zealand Cricket team is submitting to minnow status.

We can't take anything out of drawn matches except maybe the ability to focus harder on turning these close run matches into winning ones.  That has to happen.  That it is not is a worry.

We fared better in ODI's throughout the year but marginally. Two series wins away was a good sign, but once again we failed to nail sides that should have been nailed.  To beat England and SA away then succumb to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh hints at a possible drop off in intensity within the team.  Yeah ok, they were once again on their soil, but if you have the ability, show it for every match.  The record for ODI's reads won 6 lost 8.

So where does this take NZ cricket and the A team going into The Indian Summer?  Well first thing is selections.  Players that have under-performed in the last two years at test match level need to be off loaded.  That means the Captain needs to be replaced for his batting and a younger more promising player put in his place.  Ryder or Brownlie or maybe other players performing well at Plunket Shield level.  I don't see Taylor going just yet, but he needs to lift his game versus the WI.  Bracewell is a liability at the moment.  He too needs to get some wickets in the WI series to keep his place especially with Wagner looking the goods. The other bowlers seem to be working fine, Southee and Boult are capable.

The spinning option that has been experimented with this year with no great success may have been bolstered by the return of a fit and willing Vettori.  Yes I have called for his removal from the team for a few years now, but he does seemed to have found new life after his operation.  I do hope he is fully active and ready to do some damage with his bowling.  And the plus side of that selection is he bolstering the batting stocks.

On form Rutherford is lucky to hold his spot too.  On promise he is a hope (so was Skippy) but if he fails against the Windies then Redmond is a shoe-in as a replacement. Form players need to be selected, and some faith put in them.

India is another kettle of fish.  Hopefully the selected team that fronts and wins one at least against the Windies will be better prepared and better placed to take on the Indians and we have a great series.  NZC needs to turn the tables this summer and they need to do it with style.  That stems from the very top to the very bottom.  NZC need to buy into success, the team needs to show some ability and fight, and the fans need to see that the team they support shows valid returns.

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