The Dark Knight wrote:I watched the start and then the end of the innings, the Aussie bowlers started really well but have left NZ off the hook. At 3/19 getting their best two players cheaply and with no Ross Taylor ajd Colin Munro I thought we were a good chance to roll through them but I think we let NZ off the hook as they finish at 5/184. Sams started very well but went at 10 an over in the end FFS as did Richardson and Agar. While I've seen every other of tonight's bowling options bowl economically in T20I's and/or the BBL everytime I watch Sams bowl he's expensive.
Conway batted brilliantly and had important partnerships with Phillips and Neesham but had had some luck, dropped by Stoinis and he almost gets a maiden T20I hundred.
Sams is somewhere between state and international level, he's just not quite up to it, I'm not sure why the love for Kane Richardson at this level, I like the guy and he bobs up now and again with a solid performance but I think there's better getting around.
Wade (sort of deserved his spot, would sooner have Carey in there but he got burnt enough to be given this farewell tour).
Finch (had a horrid BBL, it obviously holds zero weight when you're the captain of a nation that has a population of 25.4 million, I guess he deserves one last series at the helm to see if he has anything left to offer).
Philippe Had to be given a shot, he opens in the BBL so I couldn't see why he batted at 3, I would've had him as keeper too.
Marsh Despite all of our criticism over the years, he had to given a shot, would've been better if we had a rare moment of fitness so he could've bowled the marathon 4 overs in as day.
Maxwell Probably doesn't suit coming in at 3/16 unfortunately, coming in at 3/46 in the 6th and then he's off scoring 50+ in 20 balls.
Stoinis The golden boy of the T20 selectors, gets to have more failures than anyone to hold his spot.
Agar Got a MOTM a couple of years ago so I guess we'll keep rolling with him despite having limited ability, I can't believe he got picked on the back of not even playing in the BBL.
Sams Yeah nah.
Jhye Much love, chuck in Cummis and Behrendorff and there's a tough 60% of the overs for the opposition to face.
Kane Handy back up, getting a little stale.
Zampa Does well, has an impressive record, I'd take Swepson over him though.
Looking at that 11 it seems that we really are stuck in the mud, for a younger person type game we've got some years in there.
If CA agrees with Jim I wish they'd come out and say it, I don't care if they have no interest in us being successful on the T20 circuit, just let us know so we can stop being disappointed with poor team selections and sub-standard performances. Like it or not, the BBL was OK this year and there's enough young talent about to work on and open the door in this format to.