West Indies vs. New Zealand (2 T20Is, 5 ODIs, 2 Tests)

Lethal44

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#26
4th ODI-

Great start the Kiwi's, had Windies reeling at 3/20, before Marlon Samuels lead a strong resilience, which allowed them to bat out the innings and score a competitive total, Pollard also batted well, as did young keeper Devon Thomas and Sammy and Russell chipped in at the end with some lusty hitting.

Didn't watch New Zealand bat, but Tino Best and Sunil Narine's figures were impressive, despite a Taylor ton.

Hopefully the Windies make a few changes for the dead rubber, love to see Sammy rested, his workload is enormous and see young Holder get a run, Simmons should return as the Charles experiment has failed and I'd like to see Carter or Bonner get a run instead of Dwayne Bravo who's been average.

Simmons
Gayle
Smith
Samuels
Pollard
Bonner/Carter
Thomas
Russell
Sammy
Narine
Best
 

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DrVanNostrand

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Thread starter #28
Was glad to see Narine get MOTM. His only going for 20 in his 10 overs was the difference in the end. Tino is an average bowler at at very best with zero lateral movement and thinks speed is all you need bowling at international batsmen. How Taylor didn't smash that full toss out of the ground instead of getting out I'll never know.

I fear Southee may have bowled himself into the Test side last night (who knows how selectors' minds work), getting the wickets of Gayle and Smith in quick succession with the new ball.
 

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Thread starter #29
West Indies wrap it up 4-1. Narine with another MOTM performance, 5-27 from 10. He bowled the majority of his overs around-the-wicket which I haven't seen him do before. NZ needed 36 off 30 with 4 wickets in hand and Narine sunk them very quickly. His series: 5 matches, 13 wickets @ 11, economy 2.9. Windies will be a white ball force at home as long as the WICB can tie him up with a central contract.

Andre Russell's batting at the end was the initial turning point. NZ would have only been chasing 210 if he didn't finish off strong. Good knock from Kane Williamson through the middle, and Brendon McC made a very entertaining 30 but the rest were ordinary. Southee was NZ's best bowler again by a distance, wouldn't be suprised to see him in the XI for the Tests now. Boult injured a thigh while bowling.

Guptill
McCullum
Flynn
Taylor*
Williamson
Watling+
Vettori
Bracewell
Southee/Boult/Wagner (whoever impresses in the warm-up match)
Nethula
Martin

Barath
Gayle
Darren Bravo (fit? / K. Edwards)
Samuels
Chanderpaul
Sammy*
Ramdin+
Rampaul
Roach
Narine
Shillingford

I know I'm dreaming with that Windies line-up. But they would be crazy not to play two spinners (both in form) and this is the only way I can see it happen. No way would they play Sammy as the sole back-up seamer to Roach. Massive tail as well. But Sammy does have a Test ton now, home conditions, plenty of others have had a crack at no.6 and failed, time he gave it a go IMO.

If we're being honest about NZ's third seamer, then Wagner is the best bowler of the three. Boult is the relative incumbant having played against South Africa and did swing the ball nicely in the ODIs just played. Southee troubled Gayle and Samuels in the ODIs and might have leapfrogged both.
 

DrVanNostrand

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Thread starter #31
Some interesting scores in the WICB President's XI vs. NZ match. After two days, NZ 149, WICBP XI 7/299.

Williamson made a half-century for NZ, rest of the top order failed miserably. From the amount of bowling spinners have done in the match, I'm assuming it's a similar pitch to the ones in the Australia/Windies Test series a few months back - low, slow, raging turners.

Nethula and Vettori have each bowled 20 overs. Nethula 1-101 and Vettori 4-48. Nethula might have bowled himself out of the Test debut, and NZ might just go with an extra batsman instead of the second spinner. Can't wait to see Vettori bowl on a helpful pitch for the first time in a while. His recent Test form has not been penetrative to say the least, three wickets in three Tests against South Africa. Wagner took 2-50 from 20 in his first First Class match in NZ colours. Not sure what Bracewell and Southee being rested means. Bracewell should play the Test, not sure about Southee (being a late inclusion).

Deonarine ton for WICB. Chanderpaul 51.
 

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Thread starter #32
Tour match finished in a draw, but not before NZ could embarass themselves with the bat again. Finished 8/181 in the second dig. McCullum made 51, and van Wyk 38no to go with his first innings 34 - might have put himself into the XI come the first Test.

Vettori 21.2-6-48-6 :thumbsu: Claimed four of the top five as well.


Windies Test squad has been named:
Chris Gayle, Adrian Barath, Kieran Powell, Assad Fudadin, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Marlon Samuels, Narsingh Deonarine, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Darren Sammy (capt), Tino Best, Kemar Roach, Ravi Rampaul, Sunil Narine.

I'd be leaving out Powell and Best from that 13. I think it's crazy they're not playing a second specialist spinner after what Vettori and Shillingford have just done on the same ground as the first Test.
 

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DrVanNostrand

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What a bizarre day of cricket. Firstly, Taylor actually wins a toss, does the right thing and bats. Rampaul and Roach were darting the ball all over the place and NZ came out of the first session unscaved with a respectable 0-71 considering the slowness of the wicket. Sammy then bowled himself for far too long before turning to Narine.

What the hell was Narine doing for his first few spells? He went around the wicket to the right-handers almost immediately for no reason. He was woefully inneffective from around the wicket and was milked around for runs quite easily. Flynn (lefty) gets the first ball that misbehaves but still leads to his own downfall and had done a good job for a 97-run first wicket stand. Typical McCullum innings at 3, gets a few boundaries away, tries his best to curb his instincts, goes full pelt at a ball that's not there and doesn't come on, slaps it to mid-off.

I was suprised, yet pleased, how Guptill approach his innings, until he reached the mid-80s. From then on, it was like watching Strauss and Cook attempt to chase 140 in the UAE a few months back. Just so ridiculously negative. Finally the penny drops from Sammy/Narine and he's back over the wicket to the right-handers actually bowling into some helpful patches. Taylor gets worked over by Narine, gets out to a poor ball but the seeds had been sewn. Guptill?? Wtf?? 97 from something like 270...Narine, now finally giving the ball some air, lobs one full and outside off, normall off-break, massive mow to the leg side, up in the air, Deonarine takes a good catch. Guptill's reaction will tell you just how silly and just unexpected this rush of blood was. 3rd last over of the day as well with a nightwatcman at the other end.

Wagner is a pretty small bloke, I thought Tom Latham had snuck out to the middle when I saw him walk out. It could all end quickly if Narine keeps giving it air and stays over the wicket. Very obvious they should have played a second spinner in Shillingford.
 

DrVanNostrand

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Thread starter #38
Williamson oddly makes little attempt to hit a ball that takes out his off-stump, then van Wyk gets caught down the legside first ball but given not out. I thought Vettori would have batted ahead of van Wyk.
 

DrVanNostrand

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Thread starter #40
Bracewell picked up by the cameras scratching at the leather on the ball in just the 4th over. Dumbass. Might hear more about that one.

Great start by Gayle, but don't know what Martin was thinking going the four wide half-volleys in succession. When he pitches middle and swings away from Gayle, he's in the game.
 

DrVanNostrand

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Thread starter #44
Yeah Watling is injured. He was first choice and would have played. But even then, geez Roach and Narine made van Wyk look like someone impersonating an international cricketer.
 
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#45
Do you think Ronchi is in with a shot at the NZ keeping job or as the backup anytime soon? He's quite a good gloveman and whilst I think Watling is a better test prospect because his batting is more stable, Ronchi should be second in line for tests and seriously considered for the shorter forms of the game as McCullum isn't that keen on having to keep anymore.
 

DrVanNostrand

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Thread starter #46
Do you think Ronchi is in with a shot at the NZ keeping job or as the backup anytime soon? He's quite a good gloveman and whilst I think Watling is a better test prospect because his batting is more stable, Ronchi should be second in line for tests and seriously considered for the shorter forms of the game as McCullum isn't that keen on having to keep anymore.
Ronchi was awarded a contract by the Wellington first class side last week for the upcoming season. Difficult to say where he is in the pecking order. He did make a ton in his NZ first class debut last season and is devestating when in form. Personally, I think someone who has previously represented Australia playing for NZ out of sheer convenience would be an utter joke. But if his form, with the bat especially, warrants selection I don't think the NZ selectors would hesistate to pick him in the shorter forms at least.

Like you, I hope Watling becomes the next long-term Test keeper for NZ.
 

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Thread starter #50
Anyone see the presentation? Curtley Ambrose was the sole MOTM adjudicator and still hadn't made up his mind by the time it was about to be announced. Jumped from Roach to Narine pretty quicky. Gayle robbed.

Great spell from Roach last night. If he could just sort out all this no-ball crap.
 
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