Black Caps vs England Series
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@Cyclops said in Black Caps vs England Series:
Decision taken out of Stead's hands as Corway withdraws from the squad for the birth of his first child. So I guess Young slots straight in as an opener? Chapman the squad replacement, but short an injury will just be running drinks.
Oh no, that decision leaves them short of experience…..which will ensure Southee gets picked
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@Cyclops said in Black Caps vs England Series:
Decision taken out of Stead's hands as Corway withdraws from the squad for the birth of his first child. So I guess Young slots straight in as an opener? Chapman the squad replacement, but short an injury will just be running drinks.
this feels awfully Razor like, injury helps put the correct selection in
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@Cyclops said in Black Caps vs England Series:
Decision taken out of Stead's hands as Corway withdraws from the squad for the birth of his first child. So I guess Young slots straight in as an opener? Chapman the squad replacement, but short an injury will just be running drinks.
I hope he keeps a firmer two handed grip on his newborn than he does on his bat handle.
But, in seriousness. Congratulations to him.
He's come a long way when you consider about 7 years ago he was Vic Uni Cricket Club professional. Now he is an IPL millionaire.
I think he has now probably played his last test (assuming Stead doesn't pick the Zim tour squad before he trots off). I'm not against picking him again in the future if he returns to some amazing form in his free-lancing life. But I'm against 'playing him back into form' at test level. Other players are deserving of their own opportunity.
Tbh, I was assuming he would probably officially/or unofficially retire from test cricket anyway at the end of the summer. Just assuming players would prioritise the financial catching up/cashing in - to make up for his late start to cricketing riches.
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@Catogrande said in Black Caps vs England Series:
@Dodge said in Black Caps vs England Series:
Oh and Bethel, at three is a joke, don’t care what he’s shown in the nets, he hasn’t played enough FC cricket to prove he deserves a spot in this team. The Key, Mac and Stokes team have basically disappeared up their own arse
Some would say this has not aged well...
However and acknowledging that I've only seen the highlights, whilst he looked comfortable and also looked like he belonged at test level it has to be said that in both of his good innings he has come in at a time of no real pressure. Also he has been lucky in giving away a good few edges that in other times would have been out.
As someone else on here has pointed out, Steve Finn had a good article on the difference between county and test cricket although that was mainly aimed at the bowlers and suggested that a good record in FC cricket is not necessarily a requirement at test level. So far Bethel seems to bear this out but it is of course very early days.
I'll see if I can dig out the article.
Edit: And here it is:-
It’s a good article, I have less of an issue with picking bowlers with poor county records, Duncan Fletcher was the first to identify the need for faster, taller bowlers and pick them.
Bethell wise, yes I look a little silly at this stage but I stick by my guns that this lad has not shown anything in county cricket to deserve his place - having watched a fair bit of his second innings this time around he looks tidy and plays the on drive beautifully. Maybe he has the game, maybe he has the temperament, I just don’t believe we should be taking this much of a punt on a few minutes of a 20:20 competition. But hey, Bazball gonna bazball.
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Yeah mate, the aging comment was meant a little tongue in cheek given all the frothing on we’ve seen in the media.
It was certainly a punt picking him, let’s hope it plays out well. Originally I felt he was in the squad purely to let him get a feel of things and then with the injury to Cox it was a case of “well, why not”?
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@MN5 said in Black Caps vs England Series:
this is SO TRUE. The grounds are beautiful, really love seeing the crowds turn up and sit on the banks. I wish we had some similar grounds hosting test cricket instead of the increasingly unattractive grounds we have in England.
Old Trafford is one of the ugliest grounds i've ever seen, the Oval is getting uglier every time they add a new stand, the one next to the pavilion now (the Galadari Stand) is horrible and looks like a multi storey car park, and worse, it has replaced the Peter May, Laker and Lock stands - just because a rich bloke gave Surrey some money.
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@Dodge said in Black Caps vs England Series:
@MN5 said in Black Caps vs England Series:
this is SO TRUE. The grounds are beautiful, really love seeing the crowds turn up and sit on the banks. I wish we had some similar grounds hosting test cricket instead of the increasingly unattractive grounds we have in England.
Old Trafford is one of the ugliest grounds i've ever seen, the Oval is getting uglier every time they add a new stand, the one next to the pavilion now (the Galadari Stand) is horrible and looks like a multi storey car park, and worse, it has replaced the Peter May, Laker and Lock stands - just because a rich bloke gave Surrey some money.
The Basin is outstanding. Nothing but really good comments in the FB post I stole this from. The one that stood out was that you can stroll around and watch from so many different vantage points.
They should have ODIs there, 10k there looks so much better than 15k at the cake tin.
