I was bored this morning so I decided to come up with hypothetical test, odi and t20 squads for nz if there were no shared players amongst the teams. I’ve seen some other countries on here before but not NZ, (apologies if it has been done already).
I tried to place players in their best formats where possible, and also included some back up players for each squad for a possible touring team situation.
Here’s what I came up with:
Test:
Latham Blundell Williamson - captain Young Nicholls Watling - keeper Degrandhomme Jamieson Southee Somerville/A.Patel Wagner
Back up batsman - Henry Cooper Back up seam bowler - Ben Sears Back up spin bowler - Somerville/Patel
This is a very similar team to NZs usual test team, with just Boult and Taylor not there who are usual mainstays. I’ve put Young in Taylor’s place as he was the next cab off the rank last time we needed a new test batsman and looks the goods. Jamieson has done well in both odis and tests in his brief career but I think he offers the most value here.
Spinner is debateable depending on what you are looking for, in the sub continent both would play.
The back ups - I haven’t seen much of Cooper batting but his record is good and he seems like he can score tons which is always nice. Sears looks quick and has done well in a very short career so far. Picked on potential really.
Odis:
Guptill R.Ravindra Conway - keeper Taylor - captain Chapman Neesham D.Mitchell Santner Henry Ferguson Boult
Back up batsman - George Worker Back up seam bowler - Jacob Duffy Back up spinner - Todd Astle
Again a pretty solid team, with only the top order batting being strongly different from NZs usual team. I went with Ravindra over Worker mainly on potential as I think he looks set for international honours eventually based on what I’ve seen of him. Could definitely understand picking worker in the main XI for now though.
Conway slots in here as keeper with Taylor captaining in his best format. Chapman may be controversial as he’s done poorly for NZ in the odis he has played but I really think there’s a class player there. Otherwise it’s just Mitchell in for degrandhomme from the World Cup bowling unit as a sort of like for like replacement. Boults best format is odis in my opinion which is why he plays here rather than tests (opposite with Southee).
Jacob Duffy looks a very solid one day bowler from what I’ve seen, and Todd Astle slots in here as back up (would have probably been my starting test spinner if he hadn’t quit first class cricket but alas...). He’d play alongside Santner on a spinning track ideally.
T20is:
G.Phillips Seifert - keeper Munro - captain N.Kelly T.Bruce D.Foxcroft D.Bracewell M.Rippon Sodhi S.Rance H.Bennett
Back up batsman - Hamish Rutherford Back up seam bowlers - Tickner/Kuggeleijn Back up spinner - Ronnie Hira
Harder to pick this team as so many proven players out of contention. I think the top three is pretty solid. Phillips hasn’t done much for NZ in t20s so far but his record in the CPL over three seasons suggests he’s much better than what he’s shown so far. Kelly and Foxcroft are sort of left field suggestions as there’s not too many stand out proven middle order players to choose from. Both of these two show a lot of promise and performed well for Otago in the past season though which is why I went with them. Bruce I think is someone that could potentially be the middle over t20 player Nz needs (hasn’t quite shown it yet internationally though).
I’d be interested to see how Rippon goes as he looks a great prospect in all formats. I know Rance didn’t have a great last season but I think he’s quite handy in t20s and has been for lots of seasons for CD.
I put bracewell over kuggels as kuggels bowling has been smashed recently internationally. Tickner also not a bad shout but I think Bennett does a similar job slightly better. Hira’s a blast from the past but didn’t do too badly last season.
Another way to structure this team could be to have Rutherford open and drop seifert down to number 5/6 in place of Kelly/foxcroft as well.
I’ve put Munro as captain because I want to see him angrily gesticulate for 20 overs at all the fielders/umpires/batsman/spectators (and he’s a class t20 bat with heaps of experience).
Not selected due to injury/form/etc
Corey Anderson - would slot into the t20 team in the middle order if fit and firing, but he has seemed short of a gallop in recent outings. Adam Milne - not sighted for a while due to injury but if fit and playing well would also slot into the t20 team. Mitchell mcclenaghen - more of an overseas pro now, would probably make this t20 team also if committed to NZ.
So overall some pretty decent sides (particularly test and odis, with the t20 team at least being fun to watch). Obviously NZ would never need to do this as they only play about 4 games a year, but still fun to think about nonetheless.
What do you guys think? Anyone I’ve missed?
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