New Zealand Tour of West Indies May-July 2014

[Chewie]

Thu May 29 - Fri May 30 
TBC v New Zealanders
Trelawny Stadium, Jamaica	
	
Mon Jun 2 - Wed Jun 4 
TBC v New Zealanders
Trelawny Stadium, Jamaica	
	
Sun Jun 8 - Thu Jun 12 
1st Test - West Indies v New Zealand
Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica	
	
Mon Jun 16 - Fri Jun 20 
2nd Test - West Indies v New Zealand
Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad		

Thu Jun 26 - Mon Jun 30 
3rd Test - West Indies v New Zealand
Providence Stadium, Guyana		

Sat Jul 5 (20 ovs) 
1st T20I - West Indies v New Zealand
Windsor Park, Roseau, Dominica	
	
Sun Jul 6 (20 ovs) 
2nd T20I - West Indies v New Zealand
Windsor Park, Roseau, Dominica

New Zealand test squad just announced

Brendon McCullum (c) - Otago Volts
Corey Anderson - Northern Knights
Trent Boult - Northern Knights
Mark Craig - Otago Volts
Peter Fulton - Canterbury Wizards
Tom Latham - Canterbury Wizards
James Neesham - Otago Volts
Luke Ronchi ? Wellington Firebirds
Hamish Rutherford - Otago Volts
Ish Sodhi - Northern Knights
Tim Southee - Northern Knights
Ross Taylor - Central Stags
Neil Wagner - Otago Volts
BJ Watling - Northern Knights
Kane Williamson - Northern Knights

New Zealand Cricket - Ronchi and Craig in line for BLACKCAPS Test debut

Mark Craig???

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Mark Craig | New Zealand Cricket | Cricket Players and Officials | ESPN Cricinfo

43 wickets at 42.88, 627 runs at 22.39

Current season: 22 wickets at 39.72, 244 runs at 20.33

I guess that is a better record that Sodhi but still, Sodhi had been talked about heaps before he even made his FC debut, I've barely even heard of this guy

 

[dwaynemarley]

NZ will struggle in West Indian conditions, especially with their threadbare spin attack- I can see Shillingford (if hes allowed to play) and Narine taking a lot of wickets for the Windies. Sodhi has talent but is very raw, NZ should persist with him because he could eventually be as good as Vettori

 

[Chewie]

Jeets withdrew from the tour because his wife just had a child I believe

 

[War]

NZ selectors really think N McCullum is just a limited overs bowler then, since i reckon he might be worth a try in tests - especially with Vettori future still uncertain.

What is the kiwi fans position currently on Adam Milne & Matt Henry as potential test bowlers?

 

[NoLeName]

What is the kiwi fans position currently on Adam Milne & Matt Henry as potential test bowlers?

I guess they have the luxury of allowing them to mature in first class cricket because the NZ pace bowlers are alright as is.

With Patel and Vettori out of the picture, who else could they have gone with other than Craig? I guess they had to find some back-up spinner, but he still seems like a rather rubbish selection

 

[Haynes123]

it will be trial by spin, the leg spinner Bishoo is also in good form, so I think it would be like touring in the subcontinent, against 3 quality spin bowlers

 

[SpitfiresKent]

Jeets withdrew from the tour because his wife just had a child I believe

Isn't he currently playing for Warwickshire?

 

[ferg512]

Isn't he currently playing for Warwickshire?

Yeah, his family is over there with him so he apparently wanted to stay with them. I wouldn't say I'm surprised at all with the Craig selection as he is an Otago boy, but then so is N. McCullum..

 

[SpitfiresKent]

Whatever happened to Bruce Martin?

 

[ferg512]

Whatever happened to Bruce Martin?

Not sure, but he was never very good. The last tour of Bangladesh he was so bad you couldn't really bowl him.

 

[Chewie]

I reckon Williamson would be just fine if they wanted a second spinner

 

[ferg512]

I reckon Williamson would be just fine if they wanted a second spinner

Yep, you could almost make a case hes the best spinner we've got as I'm not really sure how reliable Sodhi will be.

 

[CG123]

Todd Astle had a great FC summer - 37 wickets at 30 with an ER of under 3. I'm not sure why some players get countless opportunities, while others get put on the scrap heap after just one Test (which was a win overseas against a top eight team).

Sure they don't want to take two leggies, but at the same time if they're picking someone on domestic form then Astle was head and shoulders above any spinner this FC season, and is actually an accomplished FC player unlike Sodhi and Craig.

 

[Chewie]

Astle is on the A tour squad. I'd imagine they didn't want to take both Sodhi and Astle because they're both leg spinners and want to persevere with Sodhi because they see a lot of potential in him

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So Sodhi was locked in for the tour and it was the second spinner they were looking for, and Craig fits that better than Astle

 

[CG123]

Astle is on the A tour squad. I'd imagine they didn't want to take both Sodhi and Astle because they're both leg spinners and want to persevere with Sodhi because they see a lot of potential in him

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So Sodhi was locked in for the tour and it was the second spinner they were looking for, and Craig fits that better than Astle

Is Test cricket for development though? Surely that's what the A tour is for so Sodhi should go on that. Astle's been the form FC spinner of our summer, has the best record, and has the most experience, hence everything points towards him having the most chance of success over there.