I must admit that I was one of the people that were in uproar back in December 2012 when News came out about Ross Taylor’s sacking as captain.
Now we’re in January 2015 and I have well and truly eaten my humble pie, and gosh it tastes good! In my defence, it was a messy episode that I’m sure we’re all happy to forget, so let’s pretend I didn’t mention it.
New Zealand cricket is in its best condition ever from my memory (I was four when the young guns made it to the World Cup semis, so excuse me if I ruffle any feathers Ian Smith).
On my walk in to work the overcast morning of the final day of the Test at the basin I’m smiling from ear to ear thinking of all of the positive things I can write, and by the time this was published there was a result in the last Test, but whatever happened in that game I’m happy we’ve fought back to be in the position we were in.
This is the best New Zealand team I’ve ever experienced.
We have an opening pair who learn from their mistakes. Hamish Rutherford is learning what his role is in the team, he’s only averaging 26 but has a century and a 50 to his name so the talent is there. At 25 years old, he is young so has plenty of time to get the average up.
Tom Latham is the brighter prospect of the two. Averaging 43 with two centuries and three 50’s already in his eight Test career he trusts his instincts and has one of the best leaves I’ve seen.
Next there’s the middle order of Williamson, Taylor and McCullum. This is where it looks really good, as all three are capable of making a big century any day of the week, and it only takes one to fire while the others stick around for the team to finish with an imposing total.
In the past they have been guilty of trying to do it alone but now they trust each other and know there are runs there if they’re patient.
All three are averaging over 40 (Bazz is on 39 but this’ll creep over the threshold in time) and have a double century to their name. Williamson is the captain in waiting and Taylor and McCullum have both had a go at the steering the ship. The team has three smart cricketers that can assess the match situation and play accordingly.
The all-rounders are just as strong with Neesham/Anderson and Watling. Neesham is the incumbent as he’s averaging 47 with the bat and has a couple of centuries. He’s also very handy with the ball and can pick up key wickets when others aren’t breaking through. Corey Anderson isn’t a bad backup though.
Watling is arguably one of the better wicket-keeping batsmen in world cricket at the moment. He had the most dismissals in 2014 (38 catches and two stumpings, two ahead of Dhoni on 37 and 1).
His batting average was 35 before his most recent 142 and he now has four centuries and eight 50’s. Another great stat to add to his resume is he has the two highest sixth wicket partnerships in Test cricket history (365 and 352 runs) and another big partnership in 2014 with Neesham (201 runs against West Indies).
Finally there are our bowlers. Mentioning Trent Boult, Tim Southee and ‘best new ball pair’ will get a rise out of an Australian/South African audience but they’re in the conversation for sure.
It’s a right-arm, left-arm combo that can swing the ball and is always going to be dangerous. Neil Wagner is a very gritty old ball bowler that always looks scary. His last ball of the day is just as energetic as his first and he can get a wicket or two from nowhere.
Doug Bracewell is not a bad bowler to have as back up as well and he can be as dangerous as the front-liners on his day. In the wings we have plenty of seamers who are waiting for a chance if there’s an injury.
That brings me to the spinners, Mark Craig and Ish Sodhi have improved immensely and can both add value with the bat. They’re not the best in the world but can spin the ball and both have picked up important wickets to ‘turn’ (mind the pun) a game.
That’s just the Test team, and we’ve got the opportunity to jump up the rankings with England, Australia and South African series’ on the horizon. Over the next month or two we’ll be able to see how this Test success trickles down to the ODI team in the World Cup but I’m confident we’re in with a real chance to at least make the Semi’s in the tournament.
I’ll write another post after the seven ODI Sri Lanka series, once I get a good look at the team’s form in the lead up. For now though, Boult has just picked up the night-watchman, so I had better go.
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