OPINION
After a record-breaking tour of India, a very good English team hammered the Blackcaps in the first two home tests of the summer.
Is New Zealand’s inconsistency a lightning rod for a shift away from a traditionally conservative selection policy?
Yesterday, in conditions best described as “bracing” Ben Stokes’ band of merry men handed out the epitome of a thrashing- belting the beleaguered Blackcaps by 323 runs taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
Key performer Harry Brook, who must now be in the conversation when the world’s best player is debated, toyed with the New Zealand attack following up his (admittedly luck-filled) century in Christchurch by posting a first-innings ton followed up with 55 in the second dig.
While England were simply too good, the sight of Kane Williamson coming out onto the Basin to shake hands dressed in jandals perhaps reflected just how casually the Kiwis accepted the defeat as a fait accompli.
After initially having the upper hand in reducing the tourists to 43-4 on the opening morning, the New Zealand attack looked impotent with the lack of penetration from the pace quartet’s most experienced member of particular concern.
The form of the retiring Tim Southee has set social media alight this week with many suggesting sentimentality should not play a part in professional sport and the veteran should be dropped for the last test.
On sheer numbers, those observations are valid with the swing king returning 2-134 for the match coupled with two failures with the bat – one as part of Gus Atkinson’s hat trick.
Sadly Southee did nothing to convince couch-wallowing critics that he should be retained on reputation alone for the third test which doubles as his swansong from the red ball game.
Many opined that it was time to put the ACC-nicknamed “sexy camel” out to stud.
While doing his analysis of capitulation in the capital, the doyen of cricket broadcasting Ian Smith said on his Sport Nation radio show that with the Crowe-Thorpe trophy soon to be displayed in a cabinet at the Marylebone Cricket Club the time was right for the Blackcap’s selectors to show some gumption and promote youth in their selections for Hamilton.
“Changes should be made to this New Zealand side because the World Test Championship is gone. The Crowe-Thorpe trophy is gone,” Smith said.
“There has to be a change in the bowling department. I’m afraid the player taking the least wickets, being the least effective – and has been for quite some time – has been Tim Southee, and he should go, “he added.
However, it appears that captain Tom Latham and coach Gary Stead have pre-determined the selection of Southee after Latham all but confirmed to reporters the veteran’s inclusion for the dead rubber in the ironically-coined “City of the Future.”
Ian Smith also called for a batting shake-up, with a focus on the top order. An underperforming Devon Conway’s place is under threat from Central Districts’ Will Young who gained plaudits for his grittyness in India.
Dropping Conway would have seemed almost unthinkable three seasons ago when he spanked England around Lords to reach 200 on debut, but with a slipping average desperate times may require desperate measures.
Whether Young, who is yet to pass three figures in 20 tests is the panacea required to cure top-order ills remains to be seen. He now seems set to be given an opportunity by default after Conway removed himself from selection this morning to attend the birth of his child.
I wasn’t all doom and gloom however, one positive from the test was the hometown ton notched up by Tom Blundell.
The Wellington stumper’s form was also under forensic analysis but the knock should keep the wolves from the door – for the time being.
