New Zealand Domestic Season

[Ari]

Someone like Diamanti might be back by then but that still doesn't help the spinner problem.

 

[CG123]

Yeah, they probably would of been thinking Diamanti in for N-B, but he got his first ever good score, so idk.

They also lack a good keeper, b/c ATM Griggs is batting at like nine, pretty much a specialist keeper.

Don't really see much need for Weston, he had one good game, but he is batting at like 7/8 as a specialist batsman.

 

[Ari]

Weston use to be a keeper if he could take the gloves that would help.

 

[drainpipe32]

Taylor 'stand-by captain' for remainder of summer

 

[nz0003]

Taylor 'stand-by captain' for remainder of summer

Old news champ.

Gun win by Centrals.

 

[irottev]

Well done Central. I picked them as winners at the start and i'm not surprised at all. Taylor just smashed it. The commentators called him a bully. Exactly. Small ground, yes, but those hits went into people's backyards and miles up the banks. Was a great pitch.

Auckland just didn't turn up. Bopara has been rubbish for them all season and has really let them down. I actually think he made a good effort on that catch, but really at the end of the day he still dropped it and it cost Auckland really badly. Did anyone else think that the rain had possibly caused the pitch to liven up? The opening spell by Central was strange because the pitch looked so lively. Auckland played some poor shots, but at the end of the day 200 isn't easy to chase. They had to take risks and the bowling was just too good. All-round CD are just a very good team. G Napier is probably the smallest overseas signing name wise but he performed the best by miles. He should be playing for England in T20's at least. He's really handy.

 

[Howsie]

Yeah I think it's safe to assume the light rain helped give the pitch that extra bit of juice, although Napier was bowling pretty quickly. I would not have been surprised had he been well over 140K tbh. I have no idea why he hasn't played for England yet though, he's taken the most wickets in 20/20 history. Joke that they haven't even given him a game yet.

Howsie added 7 Minutes and 17 Seconds later...

Predictions from the start:

Winner: Central Districts (Best side all-round IMO)
Runner-Up: Canterbury (BIASED!, but look at the latest OD game. Lots of big hitters. Bowling is the issue. Underdogs perhaps so will surprise)
Most Runs: Taylor
Most Wickets: Arnel (changed, got the wrong guy)
Worst team: Wellington (Sorry haha) Woulda said Northern but they have Vettori.
Flop: Arafat.

ND = Good bowling, crap batting. Auckland are Auckland and will end up third. Otago despite having big names will be the big disappointment. Hope they don't win again.

Most Runs: Taylor
Most Wickets: Vettori
Worst team: Otago
Flop: Dilshan

Can't pick a winner honestly I don't think it will be Otago or Auckland though. Otago have been out of form and I just don't feel Auckland have much depth to their side they need Guptill and Tuffey to work some miracles, Mills will be missed.

Winner: Central Districts
Runner-Up: Northern Districts
Most Runs: Probably Ross Taylor, but I'm going to guess at Ravi Bopara or Shannon Stewart
Most Wickets: Ewen Thompson
Worst team: Wellington
Flop: Owais Shah

Picking CD to do very well with the likes of Taylor, Ingram, Sinclair, Oram, Thompson, Napier and Diamanti in the XI. They'll have plenty of bowling options.

I'm hoping and really think ND will do well this year, we have one of the better bowling line-ups and quite possibly the best 20/20 bowler in the world with Vettori. If we can do well for the first 5-6 games until Dilshan get's here I could see us getting pretty far.

Picking the worst team is pretty harsh, but I just don't really like their bowling attack and can see them giving up 180+ totals quite a lot.

Winner: Central Districts
Runner-Up: Otago (not sure, a little biasedness)
Most Runs: Ross Taylor
Most Wickets: Neil Wagner (keeping the faith)
Worst team: Wellington
Flop: Owais Shah/Yasir Arafat

The teams all have their strengths, and I wont be suprised if my predictions are completely wrong.

 

[Ari]

Ha! Wellington wasn't last!!!

Looking at the picks overall DSB was the closest.

 

[-D-S-B-]

Yeah, I wasn't bad
Arafat bowled quite well tbf, but Shah done nothing special.
Anyone know what overseas players are staying for the OD stuff, any of them?

 

[Ari]

Bopara is going to be around for the whole season to the best of my knowledge. Shah and Napier might be staying for some of the OD stuff and i'm unsure about anyone else.

 

[Howsie]

I think everyone bar Dilshan is staying for some one day stuff.

 

[OKP]

Otago would have put up a better fight stupid runrates lol we beat Auckland twice.

 

[-D-S-B-]

And we were washed out twice against an average Wellington team, not too disappointed though, we were horrible at the CL last year and I guess someone else deserves a go. I'm sure we would've been stronger this year, but CD have a strong side and I hope they represent NZ well.
CDs main weakness is no spinner. Most successful T20 teams have a good spinner, keeping the RR in check and picking up wickets in the middle overs and CD don't have one. Also if Essex make the CL Napier wont be playing for CD which will be a big loss.

 

[Howsie]

He plays for the Mumbai Indians as well, although I'm not sure they'd want him as I don't think he played too much last season.

 

[-D-S-B-]

Howsie = Staff Member Good on ya!