NZ under GrahamB (story)

[GrahamB]

Time to try out ICC2012!

WINDIES v NZ (1st 20/20 2012)

The first task facing NZ under their new selector/manager was a tour to the Windies.

Two 20/20 Internationals were scheduled first and our 15 man squad was selected mainly on their record in this form of the game.

With regular keeper/opener, Brendon MacCullum out injured, we took Lou Vincent as our main keeper.

The playing elevens for the first 20/20 were as follows:

WINDIES
C.Gayle
X.Marshall
S.Chanderpaul
Darren Bravo
N.Deonarine
Dwayne Bravo
D.Ramdin (wk)
A.Russell
D.Sammy
N.Miller
J.Taylor

NZ
M.Guptill
L.Vincent (wk)
R.Taylor
J.Franklin
C.Munro
S.Rhodes
G.Todd
M.Henry
N.Beard
B.Scott
D.Vettori (capt)

The big buzz amongst NZ fans was the selection of two promising bowlers, 20 year old RFM Matt Henry and 22 year old SLA Nick Beard.
Henry is seen as the hottest bowling prospect to have arrived on the NZ scene in a long time.
Amongst the batsmen were 25 year olds, Colin Munro and Stewart Rhodes.

The opening 20/20 proved to be a real thriller, with the home side just failing to get over the line.

[GrahamB]

WINDIES v NZ (2nd 20/20 2012)

Both sides kept the same playing eleven for the final 20/20 International.
Taylor and Munro almost singlehandedly got us through to a bigger score than we achieved in the first match, but the Windies batsmen came out swinging from the start and we eventually got "Chanderpauled".

So the 20/20 series finishes at 1-1.

[GrahamB]

WINDIES v NZ (1st ODI 2012)

WINDIES
C.Gayle
X.Marshall
S.Chanderpaul
Darren Bravo
N.Deonarine
Dwayne Bravo
D.Ramdin (wk)
A.Russell
D.Sammy
R.Rampaul
N.Miller

NZ
M.Guptill
R.Nicol
T.Latham
K.Williamson
K.Van Wyk (wk)
R.Taylor (capt)
B.Diamanti
J.Oram
C.Anderson
K.Mills
M.Henry

As Chris Childs says, the match engine has changed. I wonder if that's the reason that NZ found itself 40/5 after being put in to bat!
Ross Taylor played a good captain's knock, ably assisted by Diamanti, Oram and Anderson, but we were never going to put up a big score after that disastrous start.

The home side again came out blazing to quickly put the result beyond too much doubt, with both Gayle and Marshall in brutal form.

[GrahamB]

WINDIES v NZ (2nd ODI 2012)

Both sides retained the same playing eleven for the second match.
We got off to a more solid start this time, but just couldn't seem to raise the run rate past much more than 4 rpo, despite our best efforts.
After the Windies openers saw off the the new ball, they moved seamlessly into overdrive and steered their side to a ridiculously easy victory!

We're in trouble. 2-0 down with three to play.

[GrahamB]

WINDIES v NZ (3rd ODI 2012)

Both sides persisted with the same players for the third consecutive time.

Not much I can say this time except that we were pipped at the post, due to some big hitting from the last wicket pair of Russell and Miller.
A game that we needed to win and I felt strongly that the lads deserved to win.
Just pride to play for now.

[GrahamB]

WINDIES v NZ (4th ODI 2012)

The Windies made one change to their lineup, with Taylor replacing Rampaul.
I persisted with the same eleven players.

WINDIES
C.Gayle
X.Marshall
S.Chanderpaul
Darren Bravo
N.Deonarine
Dwayne Bravo
D.Ramdin (wk)
A.Russell
D.Sammy
N.Miller
J.Taylor

NZ
M.Guptill
R.Nicol
T.Latham
K.Williamson
R.Taylor (capt)
K.Van Wyk (wk)
B.Diamanti
J.Oram
C.Anderson
K.Mills
M.Henry

We'd come close to taking out the previous match and today we went one step better in completing a convincing victory.
We rolled the Windies cheaply, with all of our bowlers contributing.
Then Martin Guptill finally found some form to cement our run chase together, as we achieved our target with plenty of overs to spare.

[q felt]

love you work graham, keep it up

[GrahamB]

love you work graham, keep it up

Thanks. Just trying things as I go really.

[GrahamB]

WINDIES v NZ (5th ODI 2012)

Playing eleven unchanged for both sides.

Stung by criticism in the press following the last two ODIs, the Windies batsmen hit back in blistering fashion, putting our bowling attack to the sword in amassing 350/7!
Gayle led the way with a superlative knock of 142, and Deonarine was just as punishing to keep things going.

Our batsmen made a decent enough start, but the required run rate kept climbing despite our best efforts. It came to a point where it was go for broke at the risk of collapsing, and unfortunately it didn't pay dividends as the innings fell away.



And so the Windies take out the ODI series by 4-1 and we must try to save some face in the tests to come.

[cricfan1]

357/7 Oh my God What were your bowlers doing dude

Lost series 4-1 Don't worry me to Lost my first one day series 5-0

good luck in Test

[Chasjs]

Looks like you got blown away by some Gayle-force winds there. Not the best of starts but you might have some decent players there.

[GrahamB]

357/7 Oh my God What were your bowlers doing dude

Lost series 4-1 Don't worry me to Lost my first one day series 5-0

good luck in Test

Thanks.

[GrahamB]

Looks like you got blown away by some Gayle-force winds there. Not the best of starts but you might have some decent players there.

Fingers crossed. Still coming to grips with the new match engine.
Matt Henry will be very useful, but no other youngsters to write home about yet.

[GrahamB]

GUYANA v NZ (Three Day Match)

This match proved to be a useful prelude to the test series.
The bowlers who'd come over for the tests all had a good workout, while Sinclair, Brownlie and Williamson all put together good knocks when we batted.
Watch out for Matt Henry in the tests!

[GrahamB]

Both sides have announced their playing eleven for the 1st Test.

WINDIES
C.Gayle
X.Marshall
S.Chanderpaul
K.Edwards
Darren Bravo
R.Sarwan
D.Ramdin (wk)
D.Sammy
R.Rampaul
D.Bishoo
F.Edwards

NZ
M.Sinclair
S.Murdoch
D.Brownlie
K.Williamson
J.Ryder
R.Taylor (capt)
D.de Boorder (wk)
J.Franklin
D.Vettori
M.Henry
T.Boult

Our batting lineup pretty much selected itself.

It's our bowling attack that is the headache.
Although the pitch looks likely to favour pace more than spin, it looks as though it might deteriorate towards the end, so Vettori gets the nod ahead of a fourth seamer.
I resisted the urge to play either McSkimming or Mason, in favour of the younger and more dynamic Trent Boult.
Henry and Boult will share the new ball, with Franklin being a more than capable third seamer.
Ryder and Sinclair may need to bowl a few overs here and there.