The Blackcaps Battlers journey of Adam Milne entered another verse with news that Milne had suffered yet another injury and would be scratched for the West Indies limited overs series. Milne's replacement is his Central Districts Stags homie Seth Rance and there's a splash of funk it that as well, although as we wait to see what Milne actually is in terms of an international speedster, this verse complicates matters further.

I was intrigued enough to focus on Milne when he took 3w in his first Ford Trophy game of the summer and I've always had half of one eye on Milne's fortunes, mainly because Milne has enjoyed a path lined by roses into the Blackcaps by the selectors. Milne has stuff - he bowls fast and gets the bowl moving into right-handers like Lockie Ferguson - and Milne was Aotearoa's best bowler in their terrible Champions Trophy campaign, only adding more spice into my intrigue regarding Milne. 

Compared to Ferguson, Milne hasn't had to do much to earn Blackcaps selection though and perhaps you could suggest that this is why Milne hasn't enjoyed consistent Blackcaps Battler time. While Milne only had to prove his fitness to earn Blackcaps selection, Ferguson had to stack up multiple seasons as a Plunket Shield and Ford Trophy beast. While there was buzz about Milne as a Blackcaps bowler because he bowled fast, Ferguson had to bowl fast and showcase control and funky stuff (massive in-swingers); up to you if you think that's all good, it's what makes Milne so weird for me.

It's Ferguson who averages under 30 in First-Class and List-A cricket, while Milne averages over 30 in both formats. Yet it's Milne who was selected for the Champions Trophy after playing five Plunket Shield games without taking a wicket.

And now it's Ferguson who has at least the rest of the West Indies limited overs series to flex as the premier speedster in Aotearoa. Milne will be an automatic selection when he's fit, that's what history suggests and such are the shenanigans of Lesson; Milne might be selected ahead of Ferguson even after Ferguson has put together a decent West Indies series. 

I'm not fussed about who is the best Aotearoa speedster and I definitely don't think that a speedster should be selected just because they bowl fast, not when the Blackcaps Battlers are building towards a World Cup in England. For now at least, it's Ferguson's opportunity to state his case for the title of Aotearoa's numero tahi speedster (he already is on the glorious domestic circuit) and it's Ferguson's opportunity to state his case that he is not just a speedster; that he's a top-four 50-over kiwi seamer.

Rance is also worthy of a note; he's a fantastic domestic bowler but there's little to suggest that he is someone who will play more than 10 ODIs and feature in the World Cup.

Everyone knows Rance is a domestic beast and based on his domestic work in any format, Rance deserves his Blackcaps Battlers opportunities. I'm just making the prediction that Rance won't emerge as a consistent ODI bowler, which I believe will play out over the summer and beyond. 

Rance could enjoy success in Aotearoa this summer, I refuse to get hyped about cricketers (or the Blackcaps) dominating in Aotearoa as they need to do so overseas; this year Rance has played four 50-over games overseas and taken 2w. Rance managed just 1w in two ODIs vs Bangladesh and Ireland earlier this year @ 6.28rpo and then in completely different conditions for Aotearoa 'A' in India, Rance took 1w in 13ov @ 5.69rpo.

Nothing that Rance has done with his opportunities suggests he is a certified ODI bowler and he's going to get a few more chances to rectify that this summer. Even then, Rance has got to do something against better opposition abroad before he genuinely levels up.

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Peace and love 27.