The Mystery Doctor's Domestic Cricket All Stars From Aotearoa
Domestic cricket, it's a beautiful thing and it's something that the Mystery Doctor loves dearly. So imagine his joy when he was invited to select and coach a group of lads who have spent much of their summer battling it out in domestic cricket. The Mystery Doctor's Domestic Cricket All Stars From Aotearoa will embark on a tour of Dingo-land, playing a few Test's (yeah we've got international Test status, what's up!?), a few ODI's and a few Twenty20 games.
Budget constraints mean that the same 11 lads must lace up, fix up and look sharp for all of the games. There won't be any injuries so don't buzz about that, but we're lucky enough to pick three lucky lads from the current 'A' tournament for experience and good vibes. Here goes...
Jeet Raval - We need someone to anchor the innings and provide some elegant stroke play which is right up Raval's alley. He's had a slightly quiet season, but he's earned the right to be a favourite of the good Doctor with sustained, reasonable performances having averaged 40+ for 3 seasons up to this one. He's a nice guy as well, a humble team man.
Michael Bracewell - Going straight lefties at the top and Bracewell goes good. A hard hitting lad with strokes all around the park and the record to back it up, Bracewell will open as there's not much room for him elsewhere. He's gotta be here though averaging 50+ so far this season as well as last season and he'll be the first choice wicket keeper.
Will Young - A young lad who is one of the most talented up and coming batsmen in domestic cricket with the Central Districts Stags. Young has been amongst the runs in all formats despite not going on for a biggun' and he deserves a chance to establish himself in the prestigious number 3 position for the All Stars.
Craig Cachopa - If there's one batsman you should be keeping tabs on as the most likeliest to go on to be a fine international batsman, Cachopa is your man. It's pretty slick being able to have Young and Cachopa who can play well in all formats and are just good batsmen. Cachopa hasn't logged a score in all formats below 30 since November 29 with three fiddy's and a hundy. Not to mention averaging 49 for Sussex in 5 games and he's the back up keeper.
Daryl Mitchell - Capable of many runs and a few wickets, Mitchell is the perfect lad to have in the middle order. He can come in and add the icing on the cake with some powerfull hitting or come in and work it around to re-build and innings. He's averaging 65 in the Ford Trophy, 40 in the Super Smash which puts his Plunket Shield average to shame, but he's giving us options so he's a staple.
Grant Elliot - We need a veteran to hold us down and Elliot is not only an experienced head but he's definitely a domestic All Star across all formats. We all know what he's able to do as he can bat in all formats and all situations, doing whatever is asked of him even though he hasn't played any Plunket Shield cricket, that's how awesome he is. His bowling averages this season are both lower than his batting averages, always a good sign.
Andrew Ellis - You simply can't ignore this lad and with a strong focus on the young guns, we need strong veterans who can spread the wisdom. Ellis offers a bit more bowling with Elliot offering more runs and Ellis can be relied on to do a job as a 4th seamer.
Ish Sodhi - With Mark Craig being preferred to Sodhi against Sri Lanka, Sodhi has spent a fair amount of time playing domestic cricket and has taken wickets in every game since the Super Smash ended (18 wickets). That's all we're after here - wickets.
Doug Bracewell - He ventured down the 'public enemy number 2' path for a while there which meant he had to put the numbers on the board in domestic cricket to earn a spot in that other side, which he did. In three Plunket Shield games, Doug took 23 wickets. Meow.
Matt Quinn - Any young bowler who takes 19 wickets at 14.21 in the Plunket Shield deserves a spot.
Jacob Duffy - It was a slow start to the season for Duffy, but in his past 4 Ford Trophy games hes taken 13 wickets and bowled nicely in two Plunket Shield games before that. Duffy and Quinn are very similar and were both members of the same Under 19 side, they're the future of the Kiwi seam/swing niche and I like em both.
Righty, the 'A' lads. I've gone with a few guys who have a genuine chance of becoming international cricketers down the track, guys with potential to become Test players if the stars align. We'll start with two lads who have played First Class cricket but are yet to secure a spot, meaning they are currently playing 'A' cricket - Joe Carter and Henry Walsh who are both batsmen who have the ability to stockpile some First Class runs and kick on. The other is a pace bowler who featured heavily for the Under 19's at the most recent World Cup and has been on the brink of cracking the Auckland Aces - Brett Randell.
Honestly, we'll be hard to beat. Any format, any conditions, fuck with us.