The Silver Fern

@Sneakdefreak There was nothing riding on the warm up game so the result doesn't matter a toss

IMO number 2 in the test rankings means less than nothing . I am a big fan of the saying "to be the best you have to beat the best " and until we can play and actually win against India , Australia , South Africa and even England we are always going to be just an average team who gets put in our place every time we play one of the top teams .
As for all rounders , that table should be renamed Batting All Rounders , as the comparisons are so biased towards batsmen who bowled a bit .

All this inclusive , feel good crap really pisses me off . Appointing anyone to any position based on anything other than merit is utter bollocks . Personally I would hate the thought that the people I worked with thought I hadn't earned my place .

Be a shame to not do it but as TR says it is you that does the hard yards KP . Still , as long as Taranaki give everyone the spankings they deserve I will be too happy to notice I am not tipping .

I wish they would permanently rest De Grandhomme from the test squad at least . I can't for the life of me see what value he adds to that team . Zero penetration as a bowler combined with him showing bugger all inclination to bat for time or to build an innings when the team is in trouble . I am getting a bit tired of hearing the commentators say "well that is how he plays " as he walks off the ground having tried , and failed , to smash one of the first balls he faces over the ropes . He may be ok for limited overs but he is bollocks as a test player .

I find the NZ media funny talking up a game between the only two undefeated teams at the World Cup while failing to mention that all NZ have played are the gumboot teams to date and also that India absolutely handed NZ their arses this summer in our own conditions .