2019 Rose Bowl: Aotearoa's White Ferns Are Kinda Depressing
Despite what many would have you think, there doesn't appear to be a bigger issue in kiwi sport than the demise of Aotearoa's White Ferns.
Despite what many would have you think, there doesn't appear to be a bigger issue in kiwi sport than the demise of Aotearoa's White Ferns.
Prior to the return of Plunket Shield cricket, I threw up a bunch of stats to suggest that Wellington Firebirds batsman Devon Conway is the best in Aotearoa right now.
On Thursday we welcome Test cricket back into the mix like an old homie who ventured off into the wilderness to find themselves as the Blackcaps start their Test series vs Bangladesh.
On the back of Todd Astle's Blackcaps Test selection for the Bangladesh series, there is an obvious kiwi spinner angle to take for this Domestic Cricket Daily Plunket Shield wrap.
On the back of a few weird Blackcaps ODI selection moves, the type of weird selections that make you wonder if anything has actually changed from the Lesson regime, Gavin Larsen came out the gate in selecting Todd Astle as the lone spinner in the Blackcaps Test squad to face Bangladesh.
Tomorrow, in Perth, the weird ol' phase of Aotearoa's White Ferns playing without coach Haidee Tiffen at the helm gets underway with the first Rose Bowl ODI vs Australia.
Of course Tim Southee was going to slide into the final ODI of the kiwi summer and take 6 wickets vs Bangladesh to wrap up a series sweep for Aotearoa's Blackcaps. Of course Ross Taylor was going to offer big hugs among Blackcaps confusion.
Thursday marks the return of Plunket Shield cricket and after the plodding Super Smash, some Plunket Shield rhythm couldn't come soon enough.
Boasting teams stacked to the brim with kiwi cricketing talent, Central Districts Stags and Northern Districts Knights went to battle in the Super Smash final over the weekend.
Another ODI vs Bangladesh in Aotearoa, another win, another strong bowling display, another Guppy century and another half-century in support.
Aotearoa White Ferns coach Haidee Tiffen won't be at the helm come Rose Bowl time as the coach of the kiwi women's cricket team takes some time off to ponder an apparently rough review via NZC.
We've been here before right? A touring Asian team comes to Aotearoa with limited preparation and the Blackcaps win, with enough blokes finding runs/wickets to leave everyone's puku full.
Today Aotearoa's Blackcaps take another step towards the World Cup, sparking up their ODI series vs Bangladesh like a buckie.
Let the good vibes of some International T20 buzz wash over you, diluting the shenanigans of the ODI series vs India and filling you with hope of positive progress for Aotearoa's Blackcaps.
Fresh off a horrible ODI series vs India, we've got a Blackcaps ODI squad named to take on Bangladesh.
Join me on this journey as I try to waltz down a treacherous path, dabbling in thoughts about a distant World T20 while the ODI World Cup offers a map that I don't fully trust.
The similarities between Aotearoa's Blackcaps and White Ferns is extremely weird at the moment and while they were both torched by India to lose the series, the kiwis then went on to win their next games with the series already wrapped up.
The final ODI of the series between Aotearoa and India, reflected the difference between the two teams not only in terms of what they are currently capable of on the field but also where they sit on their journeys towards the World Cup.
As Kane Williamson and Trent Boult assessed conditions ahead of the fourth ODI, on their quasi home pitch, they were without their third Northern Districts Knights amigo Tim Southee.
For a joker like me, the Blackcaps winning the fourth ODI vs India via Trent Boult's magic and doing so by such a hefty margin doesn't offer a whole lot of funk.