Mid-Tournament Review: New Zealand

Hey fam - because I am a cricket tragic with nothing to do at the moment, I thought I would do a quick review of how things are shaping up for the Black Caps midway through the tournament and with our playoff spot almost sealed.

 

Current standing: 11 points, 5 wins and 1 no result

 

Our games so far -

Sri Lanka: SL 136 all out (Ferguson 3-22, Henry 3-29); NZ 137/0 (Guptill 73* off 51, Munro 58* off 47)

Bangladesh: BD 244 all out (Henry 4-47, Boult 2-44); NZ 248/8 (Taylor 82 off 91, Williamson 40 off 72)

India Match abandoned without a ball bowled due to rain.

Afghanistan: AFG 172 all out (Neesham 5-31, Ferguson 4-37); NZ 173/3 (Willamson 79* off 99, Taylor 48 off 52)

South Africa: SA 241/6 (Ferguson 3-59, de Grandhomme 1-33); NZ 245/6 (Williamson 106* off 138, de Grandhomme 60 off 47)

West Indies: NZ 291/8 (Williamson 148 off 154, Taylor 69 off 95); WI 286 all out (Boult 4-30, Ferguson 3-59)

 

Batting Stats -

Player	Innings Batted	Runs scored	Batting Average	Strike Rate	High Score	100s	50s
MJ Guptill	5	133	33.25	105.55	73*	0	1
C Munro	5	113	28.25	101.80	58*	0	1
KS Williamson	4	373	186.50	80.56	148	2	1
LRPL Taylor	4	200	50.00	83.33	82	0	2
TWM Latham	4	26	8.66	61.90	13*	0	0
JDS Neesham	3	76	25.33	84.44	28	0	0
C de Grandhomme	3	91	30.33	137.87	60	0	1
MJ Santner	3	29	29.00	145.00	17*	0	0
MJ Henry	2	6	6.00	75.00	6	0	0
LH Ferguson	1	4	-	133.33	4*	0	0
TA Boult	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Bowling Stats

Player	Innings Bowled	Wickets Taken	Bowling Average	Strike Rate	Economy	Best Haul	Maidens
TA Boult	5	8	26.87	36.7	4.38	4-30	1
MJ Henry	5	8	29.50	32.5	5.44	4-47	2
LH Ferguson	5	14	15.50	19.5	4.76	4-37	3
C de Grandhomme	5	5	24.40	33.6	4.35	1-14	1
MJ Santner	4	3	50.66	62.0	4.90	1-5	2
JDS Neesham	4	7	15.85	18.0	5.28	5-31	1

 

Positives

• 11 points! Unbeaten after 6 games shows we are finding ways to win (although we could also thank the rain-assisted escape from India).

• Lockie Ferguson is having a ripper of a tournament - 14 wickets at an average of 15.50, strike rate of 19.5, and all at under 5 RPO is a world-class return. His pace and accuracy in the middle overs has added a much-needed weapon to our typically new-ball reliant attack.

• Boult and Henry have both been miserly wicket-takers with the new ball - Boult started inauspiciously but has shown his class in more recent matches.

• Our bowling seems to be adapting very well to different conditions - Williamson has used his resources well. Our ground fielding has also been good.

• Williamson is returning to his world-class best - his 148 today saved us from 7 for 2, and his 106* against South Africa was simply a masterclass in acing a tricky run chase. We will need him to continue as we get deeper into the tournament.

• Ross Taylor has also shown some glimpses of his best and played some important knocks (e.g. 82 vs Bangldesh) - long may it continue.

• We have players who have been delivering in pressure situations - Santner against Bangladesh, Williamson against South Africa, and Neesham against the West Indies. This is all much needed experience for the playoffs.

 

Concerns

• Munro has to go. u/Karjalan predicted that Munro would make a 40+ score against Sri Lanka, it would secure his place in the team, and would then do fuck all for the rest of the tournament. This prediciton has come true, and Munro has looked woefully out of place at the top of the order. Nicholls has to come into provide some stability at the top, as well as effective strike rotation.

• Guptill has shown glimpses of his best, but has also had two golden ducks, and oh so gracefully fallen on his own stumps. He looks in the form to provide more for us, but we need him to deliver to go further this tournament.

• Our batting is too reliant on our big fellas at the moment. I would feel much more comfortable if Latham could hit some runs before we hit the pointy end of the tournament. I would also feel more comfortable if Neesham and de Grandhomme were delivering more consistently.

• While it is great that we are winning pressure situations, we seem to get into those situations through our own dumb actions. There have been a variety of unforced errors, including some poor shots (e.g. Latham vs Bangladesh), and some uncharacteristically poor catching (Boult, Henry etc.). There has also been a touch of bad luck (e.g. Taylor being snaffled down leg twice); however, we need to tighten up these areas and ensure clear thinking to put ourselves into better positions.

• The win vs the West Indies was only a few inches from being an stunning defeat, and that came about due to probably the weakest area of our game - our death bowling. Brathwaite intelligently waited out Boult and Ferguson's spells to target Neesham and Henry. While Brathaite's assault was spectacular, the way in which Henry lost his head was worrying, and it is not the first time it has happened. Neesham saved us a with a very good over, but I will not feel confident if our death overs are left to Henry or Neesham. I don't think Southee should come in for Henry yet for various reasons (only one bad game, Henry's wickets up front often make up for death issues, also unsure whether Southee would have performed any better given his recent history), but maybe Henry needs to be used in a different way? Any one have any ideas?

• The only other thing I can think of at the moment is a lack of game time for Sodhi. He may be needed on a dry ptich, but it would good for him to get a game before the playoffs. There is also the issue of who we would drop for him, but that's another conversation.

 

Conclusion

We are doing pretty good, scrapping away to some good wins, but definite room for improvement, and I don't think have found 100% yet. Thoughts?

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