Black Caps v South Africa
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@MN5 Hard to say - he's certainly competent as is BJ and Tom Latham has generally been good behind the stumps in his short stint there.
For the role in which they're picking him, I reckon he's the best short term option i.e. through to the Champions Trophy. Even though he's not done much in the short forms of the game in recent times, he's definitely got more hitting power than BJ or Tom. And that's what's needed - someone who can come in and play several sorts of innings including capacity to bludgeon 30 off 12 balls. Not easy.
None of the young guys have the experience to be thrown into the role with any hope of success against world class bowlers, so I just discount them as options at this stage. n.b. I also watched Phillips in the T20 and Blundell in the final of the List A comp - whatever it's called and neither impressed me as being better than Ronchi. Small sample, but...
Dunno whether I'd optimally be using Luke at five - I don't see a rationale to bat him ahead of Neesham or even CdGh, except to give him time to actually play a big innings.
With Anderson unavailable, I reckon Neesham, de Grandhomme, Ronchi is the way to go at present. Colin as the fifth bowler, with Kane and Jimmy ready to bowl two or three if necessary.
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Call me reckless. But I'd be prepared to go balls out and play a young guy and hope he can average more than 12, and catch.
The Champions Trophy, while giving some good focus to aim for - is no where near important enough to be this scared to give a younger guy a chance and shuffle Ronchi on.
Shit happens, this tournament prep is now officially fucked up.
A tournament in England is a sensible thing to target, but .....,, while It's seemingly important enough to keep rolling out 'weekend at bernies' behind the stumps, yet not so important that we are producing anti-English decks for this series because Saffa seamers are thooooo thcary for poor widdle kiwi batsmen.
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Guptill to score a duck Ronchi a hard hitting 10 and Patel to get carted all over the park, Williamson to give a bowler who has just been hit for 14 in an over just one more all resulting in another comprehensive loss.
Hopefully they make me eat these words.
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@Rapido From the little I saw of Phillips, I'm not sure he can (average more than 12). Looked pretty limited in his brief T20 cameo. Keep the ball full and fast - no width and ask the question.
Blundell looked a bit better when I saw him, but he was overshadowed by Hamish Marshall and Peter Fulton, which isn't a great recommendation.
Small samples...
I'm pretty reactionary when it comes to selections, so I don't mind sticking with Ronchi. I thought his batting in India indicated that he's not completely gone in the "Geoff Howarth" sort of way. I think he's the most likely to succeed, so I'd pick him (with Latham clearly needing a break).
I also quite like targeting this Champions Trophy because it's one we could win "on our day". Basically you need to win four games out of five - one of which is vs Bangladesh and another of which is England.
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Ronchi was sound in India, but I'm not sure he has (or ever really had) the ability to hit from ball one. He's failed way more then he's succeeded in that role. In India his best innings were when he had time to get himself set before accelerating, which is probably why there's been talk of him at 5.
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@No-Quarter said in Black Caps v South Africa:
Ronchi was sound in India, but I'm not sure he has (or ever really had) the ability to hit from ball one. He's failed way more then he's succeeded in that role. In India his best innings were when he had time to get himself set before accelerating, which is probably why there's been talk of him at 5.
He certainly used to. In his first 18 months his ability to hit from ball one was what really impressed me about him. In particular he had a great knack of hitting over the bowlers head (regardless of length, and even line)
Now he can hit from ball one straight to fielders at a nice catchable height.
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@Chris-B. said in Black Caps v South Africa:
@Rapido From the little I saw of Phillips, I'm not sure he can (average more than 12). Looked pretty limited in his brief T20 cameo. Keep the ball full and fast - no width and ask the question.
Blundell looked a bit better when I saw him, but he was overshadowed by Hamish Marshall and Peter Fulton, which isn't a great recommendation.
Small samples...
I'm pretty reactionary when it comes to selections, so I don't mind sticking with Ronchi. I thought his batting in India indicated that he's not completely gone in the "Geoff Howarth" sort of way. I think he's the most likely to succeed, so I'd pick him (with Latham clearly needing a break).
I also quite like targeting this Champions Trophy because it's one we could win "on our day". Basically you need to win four games out of five - one of which is vs Bangladesh and another of which is England.
Phillips wouldn't be my choice.
Any of Blundell, Seiffert, Cleaver would actually be time well spent. An investment in either them as a player, or an investment in sorting out the post-Ronchi pecking order. Doing it now, rather than delaying the inevitable. Because Ronchi isn't going to help us win a tournament. This is just treading water with no tangible benefit.
So basically Blundell should have been retained in the squad. He and Latham sharing. Latham could have been rotated out with no panic, loss of face. Got in a Plunket Shield round ahead of the tests, and get time in middle.
With option of Latham returning during tri series in Ireland. To get that balance the selectors are looking for now they no longer trust Neesham's bowling.
Whether Blundell is the future or not, I dont know. But at least we'd be progressing to a future.
That's the sort of planned, consistent selecting I'd become accustomed to. I'm now getting the impression that the removal of just 2 figures from blackcaps leadership and selecting; McCullum and Edgar, is making Hesson look clueless.
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@Rapido said in Black Caps v South Africa:
@No-Quarter said in Black Caps v South Africa:
Ronchi was sound in India, but I'm not sure he has (or ever really had) the ability to hit from ball one. He's failed way more then he's succeeded in that role. In India his best innings were when he had time to get himself set before accelerating, which is probably why there's been talk of him at 5.
He certainly used to. In his first 18 months his ability to hit from ball one was what really impressed me about him. In particular he had a great knack of hitting over the bowlers head (regardless of length, and even line)
Now he can hit from ball one straight to fielders at a nice catchable height.
Fair enough, but that was when he was in top form. Seems nowadays he takes a bit longer to get his eye in, so a bit more time at the crease would be beneficial to him.
To @hydro11's point - I think that really shows how much we miss Elliot in that role. We really don't have anyone bar Kane that is adept at rotating the strike.
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Neil Broom is a bit of a funny one. Made runs against Bangladesh and played a good innings versus the Aussies. He was talked about as the next test #5. Now I think he will need injuries to play for the Black Caps again. Will probably get a go versus Ireland or Bangladesh, I suppose.
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Is Ronchi at 5 Hesson's plan or do we think Macca is getting in his ear overly much?
I do like Ronchi but he's been rough for a while now. Hope he takes some time to get in and settled rather than play like a pinch hitter floating down the order... irrespective of the state of the game when he gets in.
In any case I'm keen to see Blundell get a run and with Latham off the boil the time seems right. Agree with other posters that cycling between them lets us work Latham back into form and see what the newbie can do. SA are bloody good but it's much better to debut in your own conditions imo. Aside from the increased fan pressure of course!
