Its Summer! - the Fever Cricket Thread.

Hesson - "2015 World cup is the primary focus".  Why?  You don't gain crediblitily in international cricket by doing well in World Cups - we've done that, probably made more semi finals than any other team in the last 20 years, it's meaningless.  We aren't going to get more than 2 test series even if we win the world cup but remain 8th in tests.  I honestly couldn't even tell you who won the last WC, I remember it was a farce with the dark and lights, but don't even really remember who was playing.  We haven't given a shit about test cricket since Bracewell took over when we were in the top 3 in the world, and our cricket has inarguably been dropping steadily since that point with one disaster (on and off field) after another.

Kind of proves your point, India won it in 2011 at home. The one in the dark was the WC before.

It's hard to believe we were 3rd in the world within the last 10 years. I couldn't even dream of us being top 3 at the moment.

The only good thing about losing within three days is the huge amount of net training we get, maybe it's a terrible NZC master-plan 

While I'm here, on the Warne/Samuels soap opera - I thought it was a joke that Warne denied throwing the ball at Samuels intentionally but CA then found him NOT GUILTY of that act. And Warne in typical fashion then says he is disappointed with the harshness of the penalty and was considering an appeal. He's lucky he didn't get four games and a bigger fine!!

Had been enjoying watching 'The Warne Show' in the BBL but now I remember why I hated him so much when he was playing real cricket.

I have a question which someone who's played higher-level cricket than me might be able to answer - What is the point of throwdowns? Surely it doesn't help the batsman to prepare for test pacemen.

Pretty much what aitkenmike said. Muscle memory and building shot selection as an instinct. You can also work hard on ironing out technical flaws with repitition. A coach can throw the ball more accurately at the batsman to ensure he's working on the targeted shot/technique flaw. The bowlers will put it in all sorts of areas so it might be awhile before you can test the shot and focus on correcting it.

You might have read the stuff article this morning about "soup ladels" being used in the nets. These things (originally used by older/weaker people to throw a ball for their dog) are able to generate more speed and bounce (as it comes from a higher release position) and also saves the coaches arm from injury or fatigue. A coach can start to lose power and precision over a training and get injured from repeatedly hammering the arm over the season. It's become quite popular, with only a few staunch coaches who prefer to keep it 'old school'. They are custom made for cricket now and some coaches say they can bowl a variation of deliveries with them.

Thanks topleft, I was wondering what they were going on about!

I'm sure there's a perfectly reasonable argument against the next point I'm going to raise too - Why doesn't anyone have a net session before they go out to bat? Surely it'd help, you'd get your eye in etc, the only problems could be risk of injury or logistical problems (if the nets are too far away). 

Slightly radical but I'm surprised I haven't heard of anyone doing something like that.

I never liked it, as I guess it's more to save confidence. Get bowled in the nets could translate to getting bowled in the game. Throw downs gets bat on ball etc as mentioned above. But then I've never really played a very high level of cricket either. 

Some batsmen I've seen at the basin do have a net session before they bat, but if they're due in next I guess they tend to sit in the pavilion and mentally prepare. A few mates of mine in teams over the years have gone straight from the nets and out to bat, but it isn't very popular. 

Yep it happens more often than you think. Some guys even have a few indoor quickly just to feel the ball come out of the middle a few times.

Grant Elliott..... Really selectors???? That has to be the worst call-up in a while, and that is saying something. 

Just went back to last year's Ford Trophy to see whether I was being too harsh - nope, he averaged 30.

So our solution to getting pumped by the Yarpies is to be Yarpies? Might as well put some recruitment officers over there to bring some talent to NZ.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/8166440/Munro-Wagner-get-call-up-for-second-test

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/8165160/Grant-Elliott-still-keen-to-get-the-job-done

Add Watling to that mix too, we are over a quarter of the way there! Might have to bring back Kruger...

That's a bit of an annoyance - apparently Fulton is playing for Canty tonight instead of flying back over a few days ago, I know nobody wants him to play but it doesn't make sense having a squad guy not even over there, reeks of cheapness. As did the Munro/McClenaghan/Wagner (short form) call-ups.

Why am I watching this?

THIS IS HONKING.

I wouldn't expect them to win a test in South Africa, or maybe not even to be able to sneak a draw, but is it too much to ask to expect them to show a bit of fight? 

Hey, at least we are 'aggressive'! :P 

Screw 'aggressive'.  SHOW SOME F'N HEART! :@

HESSON OUT

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/opinion/8171347/Boock-Time-for-return-of-incredible-sulk 

Richard Boock is an idiot, who agitated for McCullum to be captain right through the initial battle, and continued to agitate for McCullum to replace Taylor from the moment it was awarded to Taylor.

Wow, I posted that before I read most of the article, but I just can't get over the sort of vitriol this guy seems to have for Taylor, and blame shifting from McCullum and Hesson.  This is near the most ridiculous thing I have read about this whole debacle

Hesson with the comedy gold

"We are going to have a lot of work to do over the next few days"

Mike: You team will not see out today.

another 3 day test, everyone must look forward to playing golf on day 4 and 5 when they play us, even Bagladesh would be looking forward to an extra day off.