The Silver Fern

The mean batting average post WW2 is 30.50

Every year of the 2000s had an overall average north of that.

https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;groupby=year;orderby=batting_average;orderbyad=reverse;size=100;spanmin1=01+Jan+1946;spanval1=span;template=results;type=battingScreenshot

@antipodean said in Other Cricket:

Re Punter and Smith, I'd be swayed by Smith having a cumulative average over 60 during the period 2016-2022. That's astonishing, even if every other country suddenly forgot how to bowl and wickets were practice nets for batsmen.

Since 2018 it has actually been historically difficult for batting.

2000 through to about 2017 was a relatively easy batting era. In particular, the 00s.

(judging by batting overall averages)

Conway hasn't played an ODI since Nov 2023.

So, we (or Stead) are taking it on faith that he his still good at that format. While his test record has plunged, his ODI record has stayed good, but is that just because we haven't played that format while his form gas plunged?

I agree his setup , being legside of the ball is better suited to white ball, so maybe he'll still be able to perform.

But it's a risk, plus he probably misses the warmup tri series. I wouldn't have picked him.

Yeah. I think Duffy should be in our ODI first 11, let alone the squad.

TBH, I expect all our seamers to leak runs like crazy in Pakistan.

Our second and third spinners will be the difference, eg not quality enough, in conditions where spin attacks need to be top.

Jeez. These guys can't catch.

Although, it is only fair that ex-buckethands, now-butterfingers, Mitchell cops a drop off his bowling.

@No-Quarter said in NZ Cricket:

Just wanted to have another bitch about our schedule this summer. Our last game against Sri Lanka is the 3rd ODI on 11th January, then there is zero Black Caps game until 8th February, when we play Pakistan in fucking Pakistan?! Then that is followed by the Champions Trophy between 19th February and 9th March. Then finally, on 16th March, we get some international cricket in NZ with Pakistan touring.

So between 11th January and 16th March, I.E. the NZ summer, we have zero international cricket being played in NZ.

Fucking absurd.

Is the ICC Champions Trophy in Feb.

Don't usually have an ICC tournament in our summer, unless we are actually co-hosting it.

Having an ICC tournament every year is what makes the ICC so much money. And constitutes more than 50% of NZC revenue.

And NZC is quite rich. Comparatively.

My pre-match prediction of an Indian crumble is well wide of the mark.

Been pretty gutsy.

Still expecting a fairly comfortable Aus win now with no or reduced Bumrah. But the bounce in this pitch is off the scale.

Expecting India to collapse in a heap this test, reckon they'll be spent, broken, divided.

But, we'll see. Have surprised lately in these Aus tours. But, I'll be surprised.

Oh, Webster is 31 years old. I thought we were going to see two sub-30 year olds in the Aussie 11.

Colour me 0% surprised to hear that commentators observed the current blackcaps coaching / warm-ups to be lackadaisical.

@KiwiMurph said in Black Caps vs Sri Lanka:

So the young fulla Jacobs doesn't get a go in any of the T20s?

Reminds me of the ABs....

It's the perfect method to protect old players positions in the team. Get in blackcaps squad, don't play, but also can't play for your province, so no pressure goes on your place.

It stopped Matt Henry replacing Southee when he surpassed him about 5 or more years ago, but it took Boult's retirement to actually finally get in the team.

Anyway. On the Jaiswal decision and no snicko spike. Pretty easily explained by it not being a 'snick'. It was a 'catch-up and help it on it's way' edge.

@booboo said in Australia v India:

@KiwiMurph said in Australia v India:

@Dan54 said in Australia v India:

Snicko isn't perfect, looked like ball deflected. Shows perhaps that Snicko shouldn't be used??

It was used perfectly there. It's part of the process not the be all and end all. Doesn't mean you should get rid of it

You can see small spikes from the ambient noise throughout the replay, one of which could easily have been the ball on bat. Mind you, those small spikes could have come from anywhere... (yes, I've still got the shits about the Llong-Lyon debacle and the over reliance on snicko ... that was proof snicko is unreliable in and of itself.)

IIRC the Llong 3rd umpiring debacle decision was a hot spot one, not snicko.

Edit. Actually. I guess that means there was no snick, but was a Hotspot. So yes, actually you're point is correct.

Yeah. If ihere and now mattered. Then , with this group available , Mitchell would be the obvious choice to open.

A Mitchell opening, Jacobs at 5 would probably be the better bang for your 'build depth' buck, assuming truckloads of openers will become available next time T20WC rolls around anyway.

@Canes4life said in Black Caps vs Sri Lanka:

@Bovidae said in Black Caps vs Sri Lanka:

@Canes4life said in Black Caps vs Sri Lanka:

Ravindra fails again opening. Why is he opening?

I can only assume they want a L-R combination. Jacobs must play in Nelson.

Does Jacob’s open?

He hasn't at provincial level. Was used as a finisher by Canterbury. Partly why he is so 'unknown '. Get very few opportunities down the order in t20.

He did open in the Brisbane club t20 comp, though. which has basically got him an ipl contract.

He also opened for Auckland youth teams (i19s etc) in the national 50 over tournaments, IIRC.

Thing is, he can hit it so fucking far, that using him when there are 5 men on the ropes is quite a good use of resources. He clears them more than most. As long as you have a good top 3 made from other players, usually you do, it is the easier and most popular batting positions in T20 cricket. NZ just suffering a temporary deficit in those positions due to freelancing taking out about 5 options.

@NTA said in Australia v India:

@KiwiMurph said in Australia v India:

Jaiswal lucky. That looked out to the naked eye

Joel Wilson is the biggest lollygagger in world cricket. When he made decisions they were awful, and DRS means he doesn't have to any more. Might as well let me have the job

Heard on podcast this morning that the umpires were currently 100% this test match so far after 4 days. That is good going.

Is that 10-fer for Bumrah? Would be his first ever.

Wow. That is thick by Pant.

Shouldn't judge just on outcome, but jeesh. If he got it right he had 2 men on the leg boundary anyway

Southee-esque. Is about the most damning way I can describe it.

Interesting (but long) data analysis article on cricinfo. Author ranking the 32 test match 300s from best to worst.

Ends up ranking McCullum's 300 as the best ever.

I would guess, if the author does the same exercise with 10-fers then Ajaz's may rank ... actually, I don't know. Would rank last for match impact but best for lack of support .. depends hiw things are weighted.

no-league

Which were the most valuable 300s in Tests? And which ones meant nothing?

Analysing the impact and value of all the triple-centuries scored in Tests