Where are the best New Zealand players?

 

There's been a couple of Twenty20s going on in the States in the last 48 hours as West Indies took on New Zealand.   Not everyone was bothered - Michael Holding was asked if he'd watched his country playing cricket yesterday replied "Is that cricket?" reiterating his distaste for the shortest form of the game.

Surely though someone in New Zealand was bothered, or otherwise what's the point of agreeing to play the match?   The World Twenty20 is less than three months away and presumably all Twenty20 matches between now and then are practice for that tournament.   So why New Zealand are playing without Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori (who has said he'll be coming out of retirement for the World Twenty20) and James Franklin is a question I can't answer.

The two huge losses suffered by New Zealand won't have helped them - perhaps they might play their proper side next time?

A world first - 5 wickets in an over

Well OK, I'm sure it's been done before outside of first class cricket, but this was the first time in first class cricket. Soon to be New Zealander, Neil Wagner, was the lucky man who took 4 wickets in a row before a bad ball wrecked his over(!), and then he bounced back with another wicket. With a first class average of 22 with the ball, South African-born Wagner looks like he might be taking the field for New Zealand when he qualifies for them next year.

Martin Crowe needs to learn to split work and play

Apparently, it's all become too much and Martin Crowe has resigned from the Cricket Committee in New Zealand because of a conflict of interests. He wants Ross Taylor to be named captain now but others aren't so sure. That's not a conflict of interest, that's a disagreement on policy. He's resigned in a huff because he hasn't got his way. If Taylor really is his mate, then Crowe might want to consider whether he's helping his mate by being so open about his stance on the captaincy, or if he just fancies a few headlines for himself.

Sri Lanka must be feeling the pressure

As you know I think the best two teams who should contest the final are India and Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka are no doubt favourites tomorrow. But I can't agree with the headline "Mismatch unless NZ can raise game"! New Zealand just beat South Africa pretty easily so I don't think they need to raise their game that much....they just need a bit of luck to go their way, as any short format game can go either way.

Sri Lanka may be worrying about Murali's fitness, but equally if he isn't fit they're likely to being in Kulasekera who is the 5th rated ODI bowler in the world - not a bad replacement.

But whatever team Sri Lanka pick, if New Zealand play as they did against South Africa it certainly won't be a mismatch - it'll make interesting viewing. I'm sure that given the media assertions of their superiority, including here at Cricket Burble, Sri Lanka will be sleeping a little uneasily tonight....

NZ score 14 an over for last 10

Pretty explosive stuff....I wonder if the Pakistan innings will follow the same pattern with the likes of Afridi and Razzaq down the order....

Well batted Ross Taylor....

New Zealand's batting

I've got to say that watching the New Zealand v Pakistan Test, Tim McIntosh looked all at sea as New Zealand's opener. He has had some success, with two Test hundreds, but he makes Marcus North look like a confident starter. Gut feel having not watched much of him, is that he's going to struggle to be successful (i.e. average over 40) in Test cricket. But I'm equally concerned about the proposed change if he is dropped to bring in James Franklin in the middle order. Franklin is a Test match number 8 - he has talent but a Test average of 21 from 36 innings just isn't good enough to automatically bat above Vettori who averages 30 despite a recent run of poor form. Wherever he bats, is he really the answer to strengthening the batting line up?

New Zealand's batting looks to have a few holes in it, and until John Wright can find a way of patching them up, they will be prone to collapses and occasional quick losses.

New Zealand's batting struggles again

It was tortuous watching New Zealand batting against Pakistan on day 3 - after the first couple of wickets fell it really was a procession. There is some talent there with the likes of Guptill, Ryder and Williamson but the side's ability to compete still comes down to the big 3 of McCullum, Taylor and Vettori. In the 2nd innings McCullum was given out caught off thigh pad (evening up another wrong decision in the first innings when he was given not out having gloved one), Taylor was run out by his partner Williamson, and Vettori went cheaply having looked in poor health in the field on day 2. New Zealand need to find a way to prosper even when the big 3 fail.

They're unlikely to challenge India for the number 1 slot but New Zealand really can (and need to) improve the consistency of their batting given the decent players at their disposal, and no doubt is one of John Wright's top priorities....

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Difficult for New Zealand to compete when the first four scores on their scorecard are 0,0,0 and 0. And only one score in double figures....

New Zealand still won the Twenty20 series v Pakistan 2-1 though.

New Zealand moving in the right direction

New Zealand Cricket Chief Exec Justin Vaughan seems to have made some sensible decisions to move New Zealand cricket forwards. Many will say it's a bit late, but perhaps better late than never! They have a proper coach now in John Wright, and Daniel Vettori's responsibilities have been reduced a little.

Interesting to see that Wright has talked about youngsters/surprises in his first squad. The Kiwis desperately need to stick with the young players they identify and allow them to grow into international cricket. Getting that right will be a huge step in the right direction.

Umpiring error hurts India

Jesse Ryder and Kane Williamson batted for the afternoon and evening sessions against India today to help New Zealand fight against India (Ryder was out for 103 from the final ball of the day). But India will be ruing the fact they haven't got the UDRS - Williamson was blatantly caught behind in the 50s and not given.

The more that happens to India while the BCCI refuse to implement the UDRS the better, as far as I'm concerned....

NZ cricket at crossroads

It feels like New Zealand cricket could be heading for a tricky period. As their Chief Exec Justin Vaughan has pointed out, those that want money will soon find it too tempting to play abroad and turn down a national contract. And New Zealand cricketers will be more tempted than most given the relatively low salary offered within national contracts.

Of course, when you want the national team to have some team spirit and togetherness, I imagine that your coach suggesting that you "played like dicks" isn't going to help much either. Way to go Mark Greatbatch. Let's remind ourselves of your international record - an average of 30 in Test cricket and even less in ODIs.

New Zealand move to 2nd in ODI rankings

New Zealand's thrashing of India yesterday moved them up to an incredible second in the ICC rankings ahead of India. I say incredible not because it isn't deserved, but because when you look at their side they appear to be reliant on a very limited pool of players and and an even more limited number of players who strike fear into international oppositions - a position made more fragile still by Shane Bond's premature retirement.

Given that's the case, it was definitely the wrong call to consider jettisoning someone with the experience and quality of Scott Styris, so I'm glad they've brought him back and that he can look forward to playing a key role at the 2011 World Cup. Now if they can get the wayward Jesse Ryder to focus, and the rest of their stars are fit and on form, they could be a real challenger to win the tournament.

Tests still best, by a distance

After a truly brilliant Test match in New Zealand last week, Sambit Bal has talked up Test cricket. The only thing I'd question is whether cricket really can make room for all 3 forms long-term....I wonder if ultimately the 50 over format needs to go. Time will tell....

Moles under pressure in NZ

Andy Moles is under a lot of pressure in New Zealand, despite the fact that they surprisingly made it through to the final of the recent Champions Trophy. It would seem that senior players think that Vettori is having to take on too much and isn't properly supported. I wonder what Shane Warne would think of that, given that he has always seemed to see coaches as bag carriers!

For me, it looks like a classic business mistake - don't set out roles/responsibilities and expectations in advance and hope that it all works out. It never does. That's why using ex-players has a limited advantage - the ideal would be to have someone who understands playing at the highest level, and has the business skills to make it work.

Given what's in the press now, surely it's only a matter of time before Moles has to resign....

Learn to bat like Chris Martin!

Since you all failed to see the genius of Tuffers' Ashes song, here's another video for you, courtesy of YouTube. It features an advert for a 'Learn To Bat Like Chris Martin' DVD, in homage to New Zealand's hapless tailender.

"Because - like Chris - it's out now!"

Franklin at least 2 positions too high for NZ

We've burbled about New Zealand's batting order many times because to outside observers it seems so absurd that Vettori should bat at 8. And I'm afraid it's even more absurd that James Franklin should bat at 6. Why is it everyone other than the New Zealand coach and skipper who can see that, if they want Taylor and Ryder to bat 4 and 5, then the following players should be McCullum, Vettori and then Franklin, in that order?

James Franklin has some talent with the bat, no doubt - he has a test hundred to his name and Andy Moles clearly has high hopes of turning him into an all-rounder. But a Test average of 20 and a first-class average of 31.5 mean that shoving him at number six in international cricket is asking for trouble. Franklin is not out overnight against India with NZ needing to bat out the last day, and even if he scores a match-saving hundred, he still shouldn't bat above 8 I'm afraid.

England and NZ ODI batting stats

Interesting analysis of how England, apart from Pietersen, can't get the ball off the square during the middle overs of an ODI innings. And equally interesting, the article goes on to show how New Zealand's opening partnership is their 8th worst on average - not a good reflection on their openers. It also helps to back up Dave Marshall's view that Vettori should be batting much higher as their middle order fares a lot better.

Basic skill will always be the most important thing(!), but it's interesting how the weight tactics carry seems to be every-increasing. Even in victory in the second Twenty20, this reports suggests that there is much for South Africa to improve on as they allowed Australia to bowl 50 dot balls. That's over 41% of balls they faced without a run. They have proved they can make the big hits - if they can continue to do that while also rotating the strike and reducing the number of dot balls, they will be even tougher to beat.

O'Brien admits stupidity

You no doubt read about how Ian O'Brien got himself out stumped when Jesse Ryder was on 98 and closing in on a century. I always think it's interesting the way these things are reported - it's always with a huge focus on the guy who is looking to make a hundred. What about his team mates? After all, they're in the middle of a Test match and looking to get over the 300 mark - the last thing they want is their number 10 wandering down the pitch and getting stumped, whoever he is batting with for the 9th wicket and whatever score they're on. And that still stands even though everyone other than Vettori and Ryder failed themselves!

Anyway, these days some players have blogs themselves and Ian O'Brien has been the first to admit to his mistake on his blog. He describes it as "the dumbest thing I've done on a cricket field". Fortunately, Martin hung around for Ryder to get his hundred so all's well that ends well. Although for New Zealand, with India poised to go well past their first innings score, it may still end in a loss. And that has to be more important than a personal milestone - even if it is a first Test century.

Where next for New Zealand cricket?

Martin Crowe is obviously very concerned about the way New Zealand cricket is heading and it's easy to see why when stories of players filling out forms at the end of a day's play emerge. I'm all for analysis but at the end of a day's play? Post match might be more suitable....

The problem for New Zealand is that their players have to learn in Test cricket so they need longer than some other countries to become accustomed to playing at the higher level. What they must avoid at all costs is inconsistent selection of the sort that got England into problems in the late 80s and early 90s. I think it would be fair to say that domestic cricket in New Zealand is not going to compete even with County cricket, let alone Australian state cricket. So there will always be a mismatch between the likes of Mike Hussey and Daniel Flynn.

Hussey of course had the luxury of learning his trade against the best players in the world, despite not breaking into the Test side for many years. By the time he came in, he looked like a man who had been there and done that, for whom the step up was entirely manageable. In fact, he took to Test cricket so easily that many assume that the selectors took too long to select him. Flynn on the other hand showed a little bit of skill as the captain of New Zealand Under 19s and then got a couple of big scores for Northern Districts which catapulted him into international cricket. He was always going to need a lot of games to start to maximise his potential, and that's if he can overcome the morale issues that come with learning in public in international matches.

The likes of Flynn and the others in the New Zealand side that are learning on the job, should consider the Mark Boucher example. He was a fish completely out of water when he first played for South Africa but the persevered with him and he's come good. So my route for New Zealand would be to try to expose the top players who are on the verge of selection to international standard opposition as much as possible. Send them off to play in First Class cricket in other countries in the same way as Monty Panesar was going to play for Bloomfields in Sri Lanka. And having selected them, stick with them as they continue to learn until such time as there is someone who is undoubtedly better (amongst many other things of course!).

It will be interesting to see how Andy Moles goes.

A special over from Vettori

OK, so it is only Bangladesh, but it looks like Daniel Vettori bowled a pretty special over at the end of the 4th day (but the 1st one where they've been able to play due to the weather) of the 2nd Test. Here's the scorecard.