The Riches that is New Zealand (Test) Cricket

So stats time.

How many NZ Test Cricket teams (aka Blackcaps) have had a dearth of 50's, 100's and the odd 200+ that this current team has.  Also the collective averages in the first 7 batsmen above 30 is probably rare amongst NZ teams.

Jeet Raval                6 x 50,  0 x 100, and 0 x 200+'s  with an average of 33.06.
Tom Latham            15 x 50,  6 x 100's,  1 x 200+ (264*)  averaging 36.20
Kane Williamson    28 x 50,  19 x 100,  1 x 200+ (242*)  averaging 51.56
Ross Taylor             29 x 50,  17 x 100,  2 x 200+ (217* and 290) averaging  46.08
Henry Nichols         7 x 50 and 3 x  100, and no 200's.  Averages 39.20
BJ Watling               16 x 50's and 6 x 100's with no double tons.  Averaging 38.11
Colin deGrandholme  3 x 50's and 1 x 100 no doubles.  Averaging 30.00

Tom Latham video

New Zealand cricket 2017/18 - international and domestic.

Yeah I know, it's almost upon us, well the domestic stuff is.  Remembering last seasons winners:

Plunket Shield - Canterbury
Ford Trophy - Canterbury
Super Smash - Wellington Firebirds.

Fair to say it's going to be a funny season, not funny as in Hahaha funny - no "the format and draws" funny.  And to confuse things even further, the International fixtures have the Blackcaps playing India away in October/November, West Indies in December/January, Pakistan for ODI's in January, a T20 tri series in Australia and back to home versus England.

The staggering thing for the coming series, 4 tests (WI and Eng 2 each) and 16 ODI's (not to mention 12 or so T20's) which sort of means that Blackcaps are out of domestic cricket for most of the season, maybe only playing domestic stuff after England.

It is good though we have plenty cricket, International and Domestic.  I'm wondering why former powerhouse in International cricket is once again relegated to December.  The West Indies need good cricket in good cricketing conditions and a little warmer in the summer sun.  And Pakistan seem to be perennially fixed with the shorter form of the game here in January.

The internationals pretty much take care of themselves. So what of the next level down??

Starting with the premier trophy - The Plunket Shield.  Starts on 23 October and plays through to 24th November and resumes on March 4th and goes through to 5th April 2018.  I seem to recall some marquee long serving stalwarts retired at end of last 2016/17 season and with a huge international schedule, it's important going ahead to cater for injuries and cover, so plenty for the domestic boys  to look forward to.

The Ford Trophy (3rd December to 24th February) is enticing this season (and Supersmash 13th  December  to 14th January 2018) so a must viewing that domestic line up.  Be good for selectors too to bring in fostered talent and give them a chance to shine (no pressure).

My biggest disappointment is that lack of a 3rd test?  If we can share with other teams then why not here?? And how did the Day/Night test impact on the draw for those tests??

Roll on Team Blackcaps, will be with you (and my Central Stags) all the way!!

Winning in Black, over Gold, on Green Fields

Three ODI's down, two important tests to follow.  So what of this Aussie/Kiwi rivalry?  Well it's hardly surprising that just about any game between the two is bathed in controversy, and all are well documented.  My thoughts are this on all the matters.  Shit happens.  To err is human and more so when the Colosseum is heavily laden with two teams who hate losing and partisan crowds seeking that win as well.

And that leads to me writing about my team.  A winning team by and large at that.  In fact since Brendon McCullum was controversially handed the reins from Ross Taylor the Blackcaps have turned around from being a lower to mid table team in all formats to now being top 3 in most. And many players dot the player rankings as well.  It took a little while for them to draw the fans back but with a coach and captain  and a team driving the train on the straight and narrow and not losing often (yes I could have said Won many but that consistency still not at 100%).

So where to the future doth we ply our winning craft?  Common knowledge Kane will soon be the new captain with Brendon's retirement and the likely retirement of Ross in the coming years, where does this team go? Well to be honest I see only continuing success and giving the fans even more silverware and reasons to come to games.

And given the public has bought into the team.  Diehard fans have been vindicated.  The remainder nearly filling stadiums are a breath of fresh air.  NZ Cricket must be feeling great about the turnaround and so they should be.  And with Australia here and in fine form on matters not necessarily cricket related (whingers) we can now rightfully ride our wave and get the most from our game.

Test cricket??  The onslaught continues.  "Go Blackcaps!!"

West Island Cleared by Customs and ready to Play

Unlike PNG, it's near neighbour did manage to get their Visas in order.  This is good and bad, dependent on how you see it.  Being here means they have to play cricket against us.  Being here also means some 9 months later an errant night of drowning their sorrows will see another solo kiwi mother off to be Australia-ised.

But that's by the by.  It's about a month of cricket with 2nd ranked test nation up against 6th placed us. And the Chappell/Hadlee sees 1st placed Aussie up against rapidly rising 3rd place us.  Mouth watering indeed.  3 ODI's and 2 tests (yes I rue not having a third one) seems short, but with a compressed ODI/Test series leading into this series and then WT20C teams off to India on the back of this one, something had to give.

So what of this pesky little Aussie tour? Intriguing and probably a good gauge how both teams go with forced changes (NZ some batting changes, Aussie a weakened bowling attack.).  The ODI's will be fun if for the fact it is the first time in ages (It Seems) we have played it here.  Trainspotters will clarify that.  My blog though isn't about test cricket and ODI in particular.  Well it is actually but with a twist.  I have trawled CricInfo for the highest Test Batting score for both teams in both forms on NZ soil. I have also delved and found the best bowling figures for each country in tests and ODI in NZ.

Tests

Australia

Batting HS  KD Walters 250                      

Bowling  BBI  D Lillee 6-72

ODI

Australia

Batting HS  M Hayden 182

Bowling BBI  M Starc 6/28

New Zealand

Tests

Batting HS Bruce Edgar 161

Bowling BBI  Daniel Vettori 7/87

New Zealand ODI

Batting HS Craig McMillan and Ross Taylor share 117.

 









Bowling BBI Shane Bond 5/25

So there you go.  Mouth watering look at a series.

Signs of the Time - the success and success of Hesson and NZ Cricket.

We have been waiting.  A long time, a very very long time.  New Zealand cricket has always been a hit or miss thing with the occasional hot patch (Hadlee and Crowe era), some creditable results especially under Stephen Flemings captaincy.  It's fair to say some players in the Blackcaps featured in top 10 stakes (the aforementioned two for example) and a handful since. If one was to compute under today's system for ranking points there would be a scant few. But there is currently something probably unheard of happening.  New Zealand and players across all formats litter those current rankings.

Let's start with team rankings. In tests we are slowly but surely climbing into the top 5. England, India, South Africa, Australia and Pakistan all ahead (though 5= with England) We are 10 points ahead of a Sri Lanka suffering player drain.  We are 7 points behind Pakistan.  In ODI's we are 4th with just South Africa, Australia and India ahead.  We are a clear 7 points ahead of 5th and 3 points behind 3rd.  The biggest move yet one that doesn't appear so, is T20 ranking.  They are 7th but India are behind them by 4 points, but 7th to 1st have 4 points separating all teams, so a very even contest.

But of wider interest is the players standing.  It's fair to say back in 2012 when Hesson started his tenure, the standings for our individual players would have been barren.  If one looks at the rankings today, New Zealand players litter all ranking lists.  So who and where!!

Test Batting

Kane Williamson  4th

Test Bowling

Trent Boult  7th
Tim Southee  9th

Test All Rounder

Oddly NZ prided itself on it's all rounders but it appears they have gone from that, possibly more due to injury to candidates and success of other options.


ODI Batting

Kane Williamson  4th
Martin Guptill  8th
Ross Taylor  9th

ODI Bowling

Trent Boult  2nd
Matt Henry  8th

T20  Batting

Brendon McCullum 5th
Martin Guptill  10th

T20 Bowling

Nathan McCullum 8th.

And it's a given that towards the end of the year these will change, and probably for the better. The only issues that could manifest itself through the year is the transition of captaincy, and also a capable replacement at 5 in the order.  And serious missing from the team after BMac goes is a batsman capable of floating up or down the order as the game dictates (Ryder???).

Famous for Tea and Cricket - The state of Sri Lankan Cricket

They appeared on the competitive cricket radar in the 1980's and soon built themselves a reputation, climbing up the ODI initially and as their player base improved, then up the test rankings too.  Many players became household names and helped give credibility to their status on those rankings.

From the comical to the very good, players came and stayed but most of all, they performed and teams they played respected their position.  In those first 30 odd years players have come and gone, but generally they have had a steady player roster.  And heroes were born. Ranatunga, Jayasuriya, Muralithiran, Vaas and Malinga to name a few.  However they have struggled since Murali retired, only being held together by Jayawardene and Sangakkara.

But this year saw the double retirement of both those last two, and sadly they leave Sri Lanka Cricket in a dire state.  Sure losing your first choice wicketkeeper doesn't help win test matches, but a depleted batting line up and a bowling unit that exists purely on spin will not, for the foreseeable future, be the way to keep a winning percentage.  But also take on-board the fact that SL aren't always on the wrong end of results.  They did well at home and had that huge series win in England last year.

The reason for this blog is to highlight a problem in world cricket, exacerbated by the likes of the issues with West Indies, Zimbabwe and I am foreseeing Sri Lanka will also fall before they get some talent in that side.  But apart from Zimbabwe, the West Indies players are suckered by T20 and Sri Lanka ODI's (Malinga e.g.).  Test cricket stocks in all these countries is in such a state that something needs to be done to rekindle the fire.  Perhaps the ICC pumps funding into player contracts in a Test World Cup every 5 years with all countries contracted and signed in please to play the iconic brand.  T20 is undoing cricket, real cricket, so we lock that as hit and giggle bums on seats and TV, and have contracted 5 day, 3 test series.  ODI's are gone.

Ok that's my bit for today.  Below are the matches Sri Lanka and New Zealand (Home/Away) have played in last 20 years up to this first test.

NZ Home matches 11, Away matches 9.  Tests won by NZ - 9, Drawn 4 and Lost 7.

1995  H  Lost  241 runs
          H  Draw
1997  H  Won  Innings and 36runs
          H  Won  120 runs
1998  A  Won  167 runs
          A  Lost   Innings and 16 runs
          A  Lost  164 runs
2003  A  Draw
          A  Draw
2005  H  Draw
          H  Won  Innings and 38 Runs
2006  H  Won  5 Wickets
          H  Lost  217 Runs
2009  A  Lost  202 Runs
          A  Lost  96 runs
2012  A  Lost  10 Wickets
          A  Won  167 Runs
2014  H  Won 8 Wickets
2015  H  Won  193 runs
          H  Won 122 Runs

Tale of the Tape - Test cricket series results from May 2013 to June 2015 inclusive.

Just a little exercise in boredom. Results tabulated in Latest Test Ranking Order.  These results cover two years from May 2013 to June 2015 inclusive.

South Africa
Played 6  Won 4 Lost 1 Drawn 1

Australia
Played 5  Won 3 Lost 2

India
Played 5  Won 1 Lost 4

New Zealand
Played 7  Won 3, Lost 1, Drawn 3.

England
Played 6  Won 3 Lost 2  Drawn 1

Pakistan
Played 7  Won 2  Lost 1  Drawn 4

Sri Lanka
Played 6  Won 3  Lost 2  Drawn 1

West Indies
Played 6  Won 1  Lost 4  Drawn 1

Just goes to show the current ranking format is shit!!  India ahead of NZ, England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka??

Editted to Add:

If one was to apportion points for series results (3 for series win, 1 for series draw) and individual test results (2 for Test win, 1 for Test draw) for the past two years as quoted above this is how the teams would stack up in order:

Series Points Individual Tests Points Total for Ranking New Zealand 12 23 35 Australia 9 22 31 England 10 19 29 South Africa 13 14 27 Pakistan 10 16 26 Sri Lanka 10 10 20 West Indies 4 11 15 India 3 11 14

The Baby Faced Assassin - Mike Hesson, NZC Coach.

While all the plaudits are going to the players and the captain, and rightfully so, one man has stood back and engineered those plaudits.  A Geek Boy to look at and listen to, Mike Hesson is far from that.  When appointed NZ Cricket coach in 2012 after the unsuccessful yet much publicised reign of NZ great John Wright, everyone was left standing aghast.  Mike Who??  The media soon stood up though when this softly spoken man announced that there were changes afoot, and one not so popular at the time.  But he had a mission.  And he was going to do it his way.  The fallout was loud, long and potentially calamitous for New Zealand cricket going forward, but he stuck to his guns, still quietly spoken, and got on with his vision.

So what has Mike Hesson achieved in two and a half years?  Sure results are on the board and now the public is back in the fold.  A team to follow and admire.  But how have those results come about?  In 2012, the cupboard was bare and there had to be changes made.  Some players just weren't performing, and key players weren't performing to potential.  Yet two and a half years downtrack, the core base of that 2012 team is still playing.  Hesson didn't go out and axe, cut and thrust, he parried.  He started getting the players to believe in their abilities and fostered improvement.  The results are a testament to that improvement.  Hesson has fashioned a record unenviable in New Zealand Cricket, and one that probably will never be matched or bettered.  Yes he is blessed to have the talent at the right time, but the talent are also blessed to have a mentor that not only believes in them, but drives them to greater things.

Below I have compiled a synopsis of core players performances from the Pre Hesson days and still performing.  Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum, BJ Watling, Tim Southee, and Trent Boult are all core players that have been in the team for some time, so their performance indicators make interesting reading.

Kane Williamson
Career Average  45.7
Pre Hesson  32.6
Post Hesson  56.5

Ross Taylor (this is surprising giving the circumstances surrounding the captaincy loss)
Career Average  44.9
Pre Hesson  42.4
Post Hesson  51.3

Brendon McCullum (I have only counted his pre Hesson roles as higher order batsmen, not WK batsman.)
Career Average  38.7
Pre Hesson  40.9
Post Hesson  47.4

BJ Watling (only played a few games before Hesson)
Career Average  40.7
Pre Hesson  32.7
Post Hesson  46.0

Tim Southee
Career Average 31.6
Pre Hesson  42.9
Post Hesson  26.8
Pre Hesson averaged 1.5 wickets per innings. Post Hesson up to 2.2 wickets per innings.

Trent Boult
Career Average  27.1
Pre Hesson  35.4
Post Hesson  25.3
Pre Hesson averaged 1.5 wickets per innings. Post Hesson up to 2.2 wickets per innings.

The marked improvement of these core players is testament not only to the team and captain, but a coach that has come along with a plan and stuck with that plan. And the players, the administrators, and now the public are also buying into it.  The coach change in 2012 brought about a change in fortunes for NZ cricket, and long may that reign.

England - Pretenders or a Case Study of Crisis Management?

England, the romantic birthplace of International Cricket.  Where the MCC is based and where grounds such as Lord's and The Oval stir cricketing loins the world over.

But the owners of the Rights to the name Cricket are in turmoil.  Badly so.  I'm sure all cricket followers have been, and are, watching the crisis that pervades not only the game there, but the people that govern it.  In modern times it seems like the Old Boy's are succumbing to the practices that now rule the game world wide outside of England, and they're fighting it instead of letting nature take it's course and developing a game there that the players want, a team the players would be proud to play in, and not alienating a deep rooted cricketing public with their silly nonsense.

I have been watching closely the destruction to the English team and hierarchy with interest.  It almost mirrors New Zealand's slip into dark days after the Fleming era and pre Brendon McCullum.  No consistency of selections, outspoken, yet talented players shunned, coaches coming and going, and results on the board not materialising.  New Zealand slipped down the test ranking ladder and almost ended up behind Bangladesh, not that I see that happening to England just yet.  Sitting 4th on the ladder is a fair statement that all seems alright, but this year England are faced with two tough test series ahead at home, seemingly in disarray.  The first is a niggly two test series versus a resurgent New Zealand, the second a no win Ashes series.  Having come off a drawn series in the Caribbean that they should have won, two home series should be winning results at home.

Let's start with the New Zealand series.  As stated, New Zealand Test Cricket is on the rise (now sitting 5th on the rankings 3 points behind England) and with pitches mirroring home pitches, New Zealand should go into this series as equal favourites.  And they have redemption in mind having lost terribly there in 2013.  So how do the teams stack up in test cricket for the past 3 years:

NZ
2013
Played 4 series, won 1, drew 2, lost 1 (Eng in Eng)
2014
Played 3 series, won 2, drew 1.
2015
One series series won.

So that's a 4 won, 3 draw 1 loss record.

England
2013
Played 4 series Won 2, drew 1, lost 1.
2014
Played 2 series, Won 1, lost 1.
2015
Played one series, Drawn.

So that's a 3 won, 2 draw, 2 loss record.

One therefore would have New Zealand slightly ahead of the betting on recent results, which should be extended even more in favourtism if one was to put the crisis in their (England) team and selections in perspective, and given the opposite with New Zealand, confidence and consistency.

I saw a newspaper article online from the BBC where the writer was waxing lyrical about England's chances in the Ashes series whilst ignoring the New Zealand series.  If that writer seriously thinks that New Zealand isn't important to English cricket he's gravely mistaken.  England need to get three things right in that series:

1.  Correct selections.
2.  Unanimous support for those selections and performances
3.  Gain confidence from both.

The glaring and obvious statement in all this is that that won't happen.  Strauss is a good selection to try and turn things around but it won't happen overnight and I'm expecting despite a new coach and players, a 2 series loss this summer and England slipping below New Zealand in the rankings.   The following image is what England desires to rekindle their hopes, will they see enough of it on their home soil this year?

The (Very Rocky) road to a CWC Final and beyond.

This journey for New Zealand Cricket started back in 2012 with the appointment of two key administrators of our home game.  David White as CEO and a little later, the much unheralded appointment of a nobody, Mike Hesson from Otago.  White set about setting in motion a plan to improve NZ cricket stakes, more especially the placings in the World Cricket Rankings and he felt Hesson was the man to do that.

Hesson's appointment was seen, amongst cricketing guru's, a temporary failure, more especially when he struck the first blow in culling Ross Taylor from the captaincy and installing his Otago protege, Brendon McCullum.  It is well documented how this split cricketing pundits in this country and the derision that went on (and in some cases still goes on).  But a lost test series in South Afirca followed by a rare ODI series win set in motion the Hesson/McCullum masterplan.  And backed by the appointment of Bruce Edgar as selector, the stone was set in concrete and the race up the rankings commenced.

But back in that South Africa series and Hesson's amalgamation with McCullum as leadership group, were they thinking Cricket World Cup 2015?  You'd have to suspect the planning started back then,  Since that series, especially in both test cricket and ODI's, the Blackcaps have gone about their business succeeding well, a few hiccups, but improving.  And a lot of that improvement came in selection consistency in both forms.  Sure both teams aren't 100% perfect and winning 100% of the time, but the rankings prove that improvement is indeed happening (4th in ODI's {about 8th/9th 2012} and 5th in tests (a deep 9th {almost 10th} in 2012)).  The plan was set, and it's now bearing fruit.

So what of controversy?  There are still those that feel happy to give Hesson a serve about selections (Rutherford in tests, Taylor in ODI's) but to be fair 90% of what Hesson and the Blackcaps have achieved in the past 2 years is bearing fruit across the nation (as can be seen by support at the grounds and the viewing public, in both tests and ODI's.  Cricket is back at the tips of everyone's tongues.

I prefer to call the Vettori/Taylor/Wright years The Dark Ages.  A time when history just stood still, nay regressed, and records tumbled downwards, especially with the rankings.  Sure there are still some dark moments in the current reign (3 zip loss in ODI's in Bangladesh) but as these are few and far between now let's concentrate on the way ahead.  Yes the CWC could be mentioned here before moving ahead, but why, we all have our thoughts.  I will say at the start of the competition I expected us to finish no higher than 3rd or 4th.

Ok so where to from here.  Damp wet England for a two test 5 ODI and a handful of god awful T20.  That's it I think until a short tour of South Africa for ODI's and T20, then a test series in New Zealand in November against Australia..  We are 5 points away from overtaking South Africa on ODI Rankings and a series win against both the Poms and Yarpies should see that achieved.  But for me the more important matter in hand is winning two tests in England and three in New Zealand to help elevate us over Pakistan (once again needing 5 points to surpass).

How are retirements going to affect this team ethic that is growing everyday?  Well it is fair to say the likes of BMac, Taylor and Mills are ready to move on (Dan's already gone).  Ok settle down, yes Taylor isn't all that bad, but for me there is something seriously holding him back from his full potential.  Whether it is the tinkering of his action, his closeness and sad situation with his mentor, or something completely different, the fact remains, Taylor is missing in action.  Sure he's fighting and builds solid innings, but as I see it, he doesn't seem to be buying into the team ethos.

It's now a very good time, post CWC, to get another young up and comer in the frame, to build further on the prowess of our top six.  Guptill, beyond my expectations, cements the openers berth (sorry world I was wrong), Bmac has a couple of more years in him, Kane is the rock and the future,  I'd like to see Nicholls brought into the fold at 4 ahead of Latham (Who should be retained as batting cover more especially at opener).  The rest of the lineup barring Mills is set in stone for years to come.  Except Ronchi!!  One good innings doth not maketh a summer.  I have always said having BJ Watling in the ODI team would be like having a Chris Harris or Michael Bevan at 7.  As seen with his record breaking partnerships in test cricket, he has the ability to not only stick around with the set top order batsmen, but be the anchor at run a ball for the lower order to feed off.

Make of that as you may.  The surety in all that come before us is that Hesson will still set lofty targets for the team, and the leader of that team will motivate and lead by example and bring more gold to the purse that is New Zealand Cricket and it's burgeoning adoring public.In 2012 I said Who?? to Hesson's appointment, I said Yes to Taylor losing the captaincy, and I appluaded loudly Bruce Edgar's appointment.  What I didn't ever get around to saying was Thank You The Blackcaps for the road to the final, sad you had to lose to the old foe, but next time will be a decider yes??

Solving the Auckland Test Cricket Venue Problem

As an older ground, The Basin is our prime Test Cricket venue. Seddon Park led the new ground layout charge for all cricket, and University Oval soon followed.  And just recently Hagley Oval joined the party.  That's four test venues set up for the premier form of the game.  The process involved recognised that 20,000 + were not going to attend test matches per day, so why build overly ostentatious facilities?  And to be honest, boutique venues with that nice touch of green embankments and picket fences works way better than other older concrete jungle venues (Lancaster Park, Carisbrook, and Eden Park)

And there is my in to the problem facing Auckland and New Zealand Cricket, a suitable test venue of boutique proportions in the city.  It's well documented that Eden Park is too small for serious cricket, that it sits in a residential area, parking and access are issues, and then there's the moaning neighbours.  Some have stated that Eden Park No 2 should be developed and used as a test venue but a majority of the problems will still exist so that leaves other possible venues.  So what criteria would New Zealand cricket seek for a better proposition?  Three grounds come to mind.  Two are already earmarked as cricket venues, the other is a red herring and mooted with some derision.

 Let's look at that third one, Western Springs. Yes it has a boutique feel to it, but seriously the amount of work required to get it to test match standard is huge and can Auckland Cricket afford that?  Yes it's in an area that isn't really residential but it is well documented that local neighbours have a vested interest in what goes on there.  Of the three options, to me this is a distant third.

So what of the other two?  Well it's fair to say Colin Maiden Park is a possible choice as it is a regular domestic cricket venue and has some pedigree.  But like Eden Park No 2 (and the main stadium) there would be huge issues with residential zoning, parking, and infrastructure/  Like Western Springs, huge development costs.



By my reckoning that leaves one possible venue.  It is already an established first class oval, it is not in residential zones, it has stacks of parking and very good transport connections, it's relatively in the middle of the city, it has huge room for some not too costly development, and it would tick all the boxes for a boutique test venue.

There is established changing rooms and offices for players and administrators.  A Media Centre ergo Lords could be built behind the pitches, and existing embankments further developed to cater for 8000+ patrons.  I'd wager the actual playing surface would need development as it's stood idle since the Stadium Complex was built, and maybe the playing area stretched a little for international cricket, but to me it's a goer! It's the only goer in my books.  And it would be greatly less cost for all concerned. And as the home of Auckland Test cricket another First Class ground to choose from in the city.  I'd also tend to propose that a good number of cricket fans in Auckland live on the North Shore.

Anyway, that's my two cents worth.  Everyone will have their own opinion and rightly so, but surely it's time to reevaluate Aucklands Home of Cricket and recognise a boutique test ground is the best thing for national cricket.  (Would also mean I don't cringe when I see a test match at the hopelessly inadequate Eden Park in tests).

Edited to add my proposal:

The Martin Crowe Oval

Warming the Bell - New Zealand in England

New Zealand is touring England again (last in 2013) and is setting on revenging the home draw to them and the 2-0 away loss.  So what has changed since those results?  It's fair to say, quite a bit.  The Blackcaps are on a role having gone unbeaten in series in the past 15 months,, and beating Sri Lanka 2-0 at home, a team that was the last team to beat England in England in a series.  So realistically the omens are pointing to a  very interesting series.  The quantum shift in our fortunes suggest that New Zealand have a good chance of stealing a result in the series.

So what of this English tour there?  Well it appears the Gods could smile on us even more.  The tour is a two test series at Lords and Leeds and at that time of year the pitches should be seamer friendly.  Yes I know that should favour our twin opening attack, but let's not forget the English bowlers will also be used to those conditions.  So where will the difference lie in determining a result?  If one looks at the New Zealand team it's fair to say 3 through 7 are a formidable proposition.  Does England have the same firepower? Looking at the recent 5 test series in England versus India one would say 3 and 5 (Ballance and Root) have serious firepower, and with Bell getting the occasional scores, they look solid.  But apart from that they are weak.

New Zealand will relish playing at Lords, the so called home of cricket (I'd wager the Basin has a better rap)?  Firstly May weather will dictate the game.  The deck will be well grassed and it will probably stay that way throughout so a four pronged seam attack is the go.  And New Zealand can go into a game with four quality seamers now, debatable England can.  So that should swing in our favour.  And I'm picking Leeds won't be much different.  The key for me is how well our rooky openers adapt to those decks.  If they can give us a solid start, like in Wellington recently, then we have a good chance of batting England out of the match and the luxury of bowling them out under pressure.

If we win both matches we move ahead of Pakistan and threaten England in the Test Rankings.  With series in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Australia, then home series versus Pakistan and Australia, come March 2016 we should be threatening the top three in the world!! (and get 5 match test series)

My choices for the coming cricket year - New Zealand Tests and ODI teams

Tests (3), ODIs (5) and T20 (2) versus Pakistan at UAE and CWC 2015.  (Edited to add there is a 2 test, 3 ODI home series here versus Sri Lanka in Dec/Jan) That's it for international cricket for our team until England Tour next year.  So an opportunity in UAE to finalise the squad for the CWC.

At first glance there seems to be a lot of players to choose from for all forms but on closer inspection the last year sees most places in both teams nailed in place for a good long time to come.  I have one surprise in both teams, the rest pretty much pick themselves these days.

Starting with the test team.

Cementing his place in the top is young Tom Latham.

Rudderless by and large since his debut, I'd still keep him in the team as I feel his partnership with Fulton wasn't working and this gives he and Latham time to build a relationship on and off the wicket and results will come.

Nuff said - Locked in bigtime for a long time.

Superb selection I must say.

Captain Courageous, hopefully he has had a good break to refresh the body.

Thought this could be a tough call for 6, but Anderson is missing with the bat and The Neesh has been frankly quite good with it.  I don't expect him to bowl much but could be useful for a few resting overs for the quicks.

Woohoo!! He's Back (well in my team anyway)  It seems his season in England has seen a change of behaviour and the results are showing on the field, with bat and ball and in all forms.  I've slotted him into the allrounders slot as it seems Jesse can bowl for long periods AND take wickets.  Asset - you bet.

Writes himself a long stay ticket as all facets of his game in all forms improves.

Yup!!

Craig gets in the team as The Spinner ahead of any pretenders. Will play all games in UAE unless seamer track so misses out to Wagner (with Kano's straight arm offering part time spin).

Yup again.  Bowling twinship with Southee world class.







Batting Reserve

Interesting call this.  The reason I have him there is so he covers Jesse or  Neesh's role as a batsman in the batting order and if any of the top five falter, bring Anderson in for Jesse and move Jesse to any of those top five positions.  I think it could work well.








Bowling Resereve
Covered by Anderson too, but Ish gets the nod also if two spinners required (Neesham goes, Jesse moves to 6, Watling to 7, Craig to 9 and Ish to 11.

The ODI squad is a bit more trickier but this series might be an experiment to get the team balance right for CWC 2015.  These are my thoughts.

Latham

Anton Devcich gets in as a pinch hitting opener.  Also provides a left hander right hander combination to kickstart the innings.

Big call but for me captain this series.  Mainly because I think McCullum's performances in ODI's is slipping away and we can't carry deadwood into a world cup.

Taylor again.

Jesse slots in Brendons slot, adds an extra bowling option.  Could also be utilised as a pinch hitter anywhere up the order if needed and in form.

What about it!!  They're my picks.  Ok why Colin Munro?  Well Neesh is gone and Munro is an ODI specialist.  And continues that lefty lineup.

Anderson slots into his favoured all rounder slot.  Hope he fires again (if he gets the chance?)

Sorry Luke (Ronchi) but I'm rocking the boat and saying BJ stays in both forms.  Down to his superior glovework and his ability to score runs at run a ball and not give up his wicket too easily ergo holding the lower order together.

Nathan calls this one simply - I'm the better at this form.

Inswinging yorkers - gotta just love the man.

Not expecting too much out of the big lefty too early and on sub continent decks he won't find any help, but needs to be match fit on the seaming wickets of home come CWC.









There you have it.  How about your selections?  Do you agree or disagree with mine?