Blackcaps vs India: Couple Them Squads
In awaiting news of the Blackcaps T20I squad to face India, there was a sense of anticipation to where the T20 pieces would fall from the ol' mate Mr Chief Selector. Remember that all of the rather excessive negative attention from the series sweep in Australia has been directed primarily at Kane Williamson and Gary Stead, while Niche Cache readers will know where most Blackcaps issues stem from.
Which is what makes squad selections so enticing, as we see what weird antics can be thrown our way. As tends to be the case, the squad named to face India is a complete non-event and although I would definitely like to see a few fringe T20I lads get a crack against India, re-upping with the same T20I group is how things have unfolded. I view this squad as reflecting the circumstance of this series - Game of Thrones' Crossroads Inn - where there is still a fair amount of cricket to be played prior to World T20 and this series will go a long way towards sorting various pieces.
This results in a squad that is about as meh as it gets from someone who is here to break squads down. The selection of Hamish Bennett is cool and all, but ultimately won't mean anything as Trent Boult and Lockie Ferguson are out, let alone a few fringe seamers to keep the heat on those in the mix. Bennett is thoroughly deserving of this opportunity and while I definitely lean towards building the younger depth, sprinkling high-performing veterans into squads is all good.
Having explored Super Smash under-performers in some depth, Scott Kuggeleijn for example can count himself rather lucky. Kuggeleijn reflects what this squad is all about as he was worse than fellow under-performers Colin Munro and Ish Sodhi, however Kuggeleijn is graced with a big old opportunity against a strong Indian outfit.
Otherwise, this is all fairly standard. Of the Test Blackcaps coming back into the set up, Mitchell Santner shapes as the most intriguing as he got caught up in a niggly Aussie predicament and now has a slither of pressure coming into the frame. I'll suss out those kinda ideas in the series preview as most of this squad has to do something, something crazy for certain folk, against a very good opposition.
That flows into Aotearoa A selection, even if the A crew are playing one-dayers while the Blackcaps dabble in T20I cricket. Given what I've said about the Blackcaps T20I squad, this A squad is crucial because there are numerous lads who are realistically on the cusp of causing a ruckus in the T20I squad. Everyone from the A squad could come into the equation and I'd narrow that down to exclude guys like Rachin Ravindra, Cole McConchie, Jacob Duffy and Mark Chapman; all worthy of A selection in one-day cricket, could command a Blackcaps gig, but they are down the pecking order.
Todd Astle, Kyle Jamison, Jimmy Neesham, Ajaz Patel and Glenn Phillips are especially intriguing from the A crew. Patel and Todd Astle are in this squad, yet I view this as an opportunity for Patel at a higher level with the white ball and how Patel takes this opportunity could have further ramifications in the wider Aoteaora spin situation. Note: no Will Somerville any where. This narrows the spin focus down to four lads in this specific context of white ball cricket. Santner and Sodhi in the Blackcaps T20I squad, Astle and Patel in the A one-day squad.
Neesham and Phillips feel like they should be in the Blackcaps squads, as though they are too goo to be playing A cricket. Neesham was excellent in the Super Smash before getting injured and wasn't overly dominant in the Ford Trophy, while Phillips sits 2nd in Ford Trophy runs with a century and a halfie in four games. Phillips has a Ford Trophy and Super Smash century this summer, he's got a 50+ knock in the Plunket Shield and earned a Blackcaps Test call up, now it's up to him where he puts himself in the mix for T20I selection.
All interested parties have arrived at the Crossroads Inn, ready to venture onwards. I suspect that this India series will shake things up a fair bit and for now we can dwell in the stillness.
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Peace and love 27.