CWC Game #3 Black Caps vs Afghanistan
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The Afghans tonight as the Black Caps juggernaut rolls on.
Only possible change to the team is Sodhi for CdG if we want more spin options. Southee not yet fit so that pushes that decision out another match.
Afghanistan are strong in the spin department which makes me nervous given our historical weakness there. Might need Kane and Tommy to step up. With any luck Boult and Henry will rip the head off the Afghan top order and make it a done deal nice and early.
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@No-Quarter said in CWC Game #3 Black Caps vs Afghanistan:
The Afghans tonight as the Black Caps juggernaut rolls on.
Only possible change to the team is Sodhi for CdG if we want more spin options. Southee not yet fit so that pushes that decision out another match.
Afghanistan are strong in the spin department which makes me nervous given our historical weakness there. Might need Kane and Tommy to step up. With any luck Boult and Henry will rip the head off the Afghan top order and make it a done deal nice and early.
Incumbent opening batsman returning from injury to replace stand in flat track bully?
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@booboo said in CWC Game #3 Black Caps vs Afghanistan:
@No-Quarter said in CWC Game #3 Black Caps vs Afghanistan:
The Afghans tonight as the Black Caps juggernaut rolls on.
Only possible change to the team is Sodhi for CdG if we want more spin options. Southee not yet fit so that pushes that decision out another match.
Afghanistan are strong in the spin department which makes me nervous given our historical weakness there. Might need Kane and Tommy to step up. With any luck Boult and Henry will rip the head off the Afghan top order and make it a done deal nice and early.
Incumbent opening batsman returning from injury to replace stand in flat track bully?
Ah yes overlooked Nicholls. Would far prefer he get some time/form against the Afghans. I guess if Munro gets the start here they've decided he's our man.
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Can we fit Nicholls in the middle order? I believe he is a really good bet at 5 or 6.
I am still a little optimistic that maybe Munro can do the job as an opener. I think he's still worth a punt. If we can score big in the first 10 overs that sets us up brilliantly.
On the other hand, perhaps we are good enough not to have to take a "punt" with an opener. I am genuinely puzzled as to what our best strategy is.
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Williamson & Taylor batting together.
Umpires and TMO train eyes and cameras on popping creases...
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We were obviously all super engrossed in this game ...
... my phone tells me good guys ticked this one off by 7 wickets.
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@booboo said in CWC Game #3 Black Caps vs Afghanistan:
We were obviously all super engrossed in this game ...
... my phone tells me good guys ticked this one off by 7 wickets.
I fell asleep and missed the whole thing. Too many late nights, this WC is going to be the death of me...
Dream start to the tournament, we've made the most of our draw and importantly haven't had any wash-outs against the lesser sides. We go into our next match against India full of confidence.
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@No-Quarter said in CWC Game #3 Black Caps vs Afghanistan:
@booboo said in CWC Game #3 Black Caps vs Afghanistan:
We were obviously all super engrossed in this game ...
... my phone tells me good guys ticked this one off by 7 wickets.
I fell asleep and missed the whole thing. Too many late nights, this WC is going to be the death of me...
Dream start to the tournament, we've made the most of our draw and importantly haven't had any wash-outs against the lesser sides. We go into our next match against India full of confidence.
Yep job done well and truly overall and three potential banana skins avoided there.
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@Damo said in CWC Game #3 Black Caps vs Afghanistan:
Can we fit Nicholls in the middle order? I believe he is a really good bet at 5 or 6.
I am still a little optimistic that maybe Munro can do the job as an opener. I think he's still worth a punt. If we can score big in the first 10 overs that sets us up brilliantly.
On the other hand, perhaps we are good enough not to have to take a "punt" with an opener. I am genuinely puzzled as to what our best strategy is.
They've hitched their wagon to the Colin train - used up the three easiest games helping him find some form, whereas Nicholls has barely had a bat in the middle for three months.
Colin will need to see it through, now - because it will be tough for Nicholls to come in cold against the top teams , in a pretty unfamiliar role and be a blazing success. (I'm even more firmly in the give the gloves to Blundell and open with Latham camp if we need to make a change from here). Colin's a pretty low probability option, but maybe if we get a run of flat tracks then he'll have some success - and also be the correct choice. Get into it, Colin!
In any case, good to see that we've banked the full quota of points from these first three games. I only briefly checked the score in this one and Afghanistan were four down, but off the field for rain. If we can win 3/6 from here it should be enough to qualify and getting a no result (from the current perspective) isn't a disaster (it becomes one if we lose our next three).
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@Chris-B said in CWC Game #3 Black Caps vs Afghanistan:
@Damo said in CWC Game #3 Black Caps vs Afghanistan:
Can we fit Nicholls in the middle order? I believe he is a really good bet at 5 or 6.
I am still a little optimistic that maybe Munro can do the job as an opener. I think he's still worth a punt. If we can score big in the first 10 overs that sets us up brilliantly.
On the other hand, perhaps we are good enough not to have to take a "punt" with an opener. I am genuinely puzzled as to what our best strategy is.
They've hitched their wagon to the Colin train - used up the three easiest games helping him find some form, whereas Nicholls has barely had a bat in the middle for three months.
Colin will need to see it through, now - because it will be tough for Nicholls to come in cold against the top teams , in a pretty unfamiliar role and be a blazing success. (I'm even more firmly in the give the gloves to Blundell and open with Latham camp if we need to make a change from here). Colin's a pretty low probability option, but maybe if we get a run of flat tracks then he'll have some success - and also be the correct choice. Get into it, Colin!
In any case, good to see that we've banked the full quota of points from these first three games. I only briefly checked the score in this one and Afghanistan were four down, but off the field for rain. If we can win 3/6 from here it should be enough to qualify and getting a no result (from the current perspective) isn't a disaster (it becomes one if we lose our next three).
How has Lathams keeping been ?
Asking cos I only saw the first game vs SL and there was a fair bit of Whisky involved.
I'm definitely in the "shoehorn Nicholls in somehow" camp but can they drop Munro who has done enough ?
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@MN5 from what I've seen, it's been excellent, very tidy and energetic and the fielding in general has been impressive. These things are linked
As for the shuffling the order, time to lay pre-tournament impressions to rest. We're into it now, have to play the cards as they are. Munro, and the top order, are doing well
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@Siam said in CWC Game #3 Black Caps vs Afghanistan:
@MN5 from what I've seen, it's been excellent, very tidy and energetic and the fielding in general has been impressive. These things are linked
Hmmmm so the selectors see a problem with him opening and keeping despite others have done it successfully in the past then.
but hten again I guess this is the old cliche "good problem to have"
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@MN5 I'm sure his keeping has been fine, but Latham was going OK as our ODI opener until he got asked to keep as well (and even captain if I recall rightly) and his form fell off a cliff. So I don't think he should be asked to do both jobs.
You'd expect Tom will get some time in the middle in the next three games and it will be about at that point they'll potentially decide again that a change is needed at the top.
