Cricket Summer 2020-2021

Guarantees NZ a spot in the WTC Final (co-incidentally a two-match series v England has just been confirmed for June), other spot still up for grabs but India would need to lose big-time at home to England to miss out.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/...r-australia-south-africa-postponement-1249849

Australia would already be qualified if not for being docked points for the slow over rate in the Boxing Day Test.

Lots of machinations over JL staying. Players supposedly very much dislike him but he’s just been given the ‘vote of confidence’ by the board, although that could be the kiss of death. His hands on style is very different to what you normally see from a cricket coach. It’s actually more like a football coach where he is a real presence around the team and constantly in the media. You never saw that much of Bayliss when he was coaching England nor is Stead in your face a lot for the Blackcaps. His my way or the highway approach seems to have been pretty unsettling.

I think it's been exacerbated by the bubble. The worst thing would be perpetually on tour (in effect) with someone who has an intense personality. I used to work with JL some time ago, he's an absolutely top bloke. I wasn't coached by him though.

Selections should be made on form and coaches and selectors should be judged on results. JL has not set the world of cricket alight on either count so it's not surprising if there are questions about his position.

Australia T20 squad in New Zealand: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Josh Philippe, Kane Richardson, Daniel Sams, Tanveer Sangha, D'Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa.

I really only recognise seven of those names, possibly 'cos I don't watch BBL.



22/03 is the tenth anniversary of the Canterbury earthquake, presumably the teams & NZCricket will mark it in some way(s).

Not exactly the same situation but SA cricket are getting stuck right up CA for pulling out of their tour despite conditions being far worse than those deemed unsuitable by SA rugby.

Re: the upcoming NZ v Aus T20's, they'll proceed with spectators if the venue is at Level 1; proceed without spectators if at Level 2; and be abandoned if at Levels 3 or 4. As of today Auckland is at L3 & the rfirst st of NZ at L2 with Levels to be reviewed by cabinet tomorrow & the results announced at 4:30. Consensus is that current Levels will be maintained until midnight Friday - first T20 is Monday night - & the circus doesn't roll into Auckland until March 5: NZC have stated they won't be relocating any matches but if Auckland isn't out of L3 by then a cancelled T20 will be the least of NZ's problems.