Black Caps vs Bangles
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http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/story/1078051.html
AB DeVilliers is not bothering to play us in the test serries because he can't be arsed. He is alas available for the ODI's -
AB de Villiers has made himself unavailable for selection for the upcoming Test series in New Zealand in March though he has recovered from his elbow injury, but said that he was not retiring from Test cricket.
However, while squashing recent speculation that he was going to give up the longest format, AB de Villiers indicated that his priority was going to be limited-overs cricket in order to play the 2019 World Cup.
"That's a good question. Not yet. I'm not there yet," de Villiers said in Johannesburg on Tuesday, when asked when he would return to the Test side. "The reason being that I just need to settle things in my head. Over the last few years something has come to mind, which is the fact that we haven't won a World Cup yet. And for me to make it to the 2019 World Cup, I can't really be serious in every format.
"So I've made myself unavailable for the New Zealand Test series. I will be there for the ODIs, and I'm definitely not retiring from Test cricket because I have plans to come back at some stage. For me, for now the most important thing is the 2019 World Cup. I want to make sure we get there. I want to make sure we lift that trophy. Obviously there are other factors that play a role like family and time away from home, but the main reason for me is that World Cup and I feel that if I play all formats all the time, then mentally and physically I won't be at my best."
Haroon Lorgat, the CSA chief executive, said de Villiers' comments were not a surprise because he had been involved in discussions with the batsman. "We've given him the latitude of taking time off, of setting himself for the 2019 World Cup. It is very much part of our planning.
"We know it's challenging schedules that all of the players have. What I think is, he is not going to get another opportunity like he currently has with time off. To put it in this fashion - the most he must make of it now [sic], once he gets back on the treadmill it is all the way through to 2019."
Lorgat said he was confident de Villiers would be available for the Test series in England this summer. "What we're doing is taking it a series at a time. I am confident that by the time we get towards looking at England and the Champions Trophy, he'll be fully fit and raring to go. His appetite would have returned because then it would be a fair amount of time he has had. I'm confident England is kind of a series that he would want to be available for."
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@gollum said in Black Caps vs Bangles:
AB DeVilliers is not bothering to play us in the test serries because he can't be arsed. He is alas available for the ODI's -
Wow - they don't even sugar-coat it do they?
"Hmmm... tests against New Zealand? Nah, I'll pass." -
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@gollum said in Black Caps vs Bangles:
Even more so when they then go "He's fully fit, he just can't be arsed. Obviously he'll be playing the Pom tests"
Yeah - exactly. It was that final quote "...England is kind of a series that he would want to be available for." - which really rubbed it in.
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@No-Quarter said in Black Caps vs Bangles:
@MN5 said in Black Caps vs Bangles:
@No-Quarter said in Black Caps vs Bangles:
@gollum said in Black Caps vs Bangles:
@Snowy said in Black Caps vs Bangles:
Actually that is quite depressing as a Craps fan. She's going to fall apart the moment a decent team arrives and we all walk again. Fucking wagons.
It's the Black caps way, we pound the worst touring sides around, are now the best BCs team ever. YAY! a tour to SA / Australia / India! Now we'll show them!.. oh...
We've been a bit better then that in recent times thanks to Kane, Ross and Boult. But yeah, we tend to make pretty ordinary players look like world beaters at home against the Bangles etc. The recent tour to Aus should be enough to keep people's feet on the ground leading into Aus/SA in NZ next.
It's a stretch to put Boult in the same echelon at KW and Rossco lately too.
Injuries haven't helped lately but his numbers across all formats are outstanding. I'd mention him in the same echelon as Ross given he's playing in a batsmen's era. Kane is another level above for sure, but those three are head and shoulders above the rest when you look at tests, ODIs and T20s combined.
Yeah he'd still be third name down on the teamsheet to be fair but he's not in the same league as a bowler than they are as batsmen....
As for that ABDV stuff.....look the Black Caps are hardly 'minnows' even during their worst collapses. Hopefully the boys use that condescending bullshit to get fired up.
Still we're a bit hypocritical to be fair, it was always totally fine if Dan, Richie, Conrad or Ma'a needed a sabbatical in the winter code.
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It's hardly condescending, he's in the twilight of his career so is targeting what tests he wants to play. As you say @MN5 many AB greats have done exactly the same when nearing retirement. Increases our chances of winning so I'll take it.
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Yeah and I'm not crying that when we play SA we won't have that threat
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Quite like this article. The author is right, we are bloody lucky to have a horse in the race.
Steve Smith in Tests and Kohli in the shorter forms is obvious at this stage, but it will be interesting to see who finishes their career with the best stats.
Smith, Kohli and Kane all captains too so have that string to their bow. Root about to take over from Cook.
In the 80s it was the 4 great allrounders standing head and shoulders above the rest. Right now it's these 4 blokes doing the same.
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In fairness we can't leave ABDV out of this debate. His stats are fucking insane - averaging 53 in 206 ODIs striking at 100 which is better then Kohli. 50 test average with 21 tons nothing to be sneezed at.
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Pretty hard to split. I read an article the other day that Williamson is the most valuable to his team in terms of percentage of runs scored, and centuries for his team compared to every one else.
They're all fucking good, and can score runs anywhere, and regularly
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@Virgil said in Black Caps vs Bangles:
Smith also has the advantage of not having to face his own bowling attack( same can be said with Kohli)
Pains me to say it but you need to include Davy dumb dumb in the list of current best batsmen.
Without a doubt. He is quality and I like to watch him bat
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@Virgil said in Black Caps vs Bangles:
Smith also has the advantage of not having to face his own bowling attack( same can be said with Kohli)
Pains me to say it but you need to include Davy dumb dumb in the list of current best batsmen.
Why does it pain you to say it? The guy is an awesome player.
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@MN5 said in Black Caps vs Bangles:
@Virgil said in Black Caps vs Bangles:
Smith also has the advantage of not having to face his own bowling attack( same can be said with Kohli)
Pains me to say it but you need to include Davy dumb dumb in the list of current best batsmen.
Why does it pain you to say it? The guy is an awesome player.
He's no Chris Gayle though.
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I bet Chris Gayle looks amazing on his Oled TV
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@Donsteppa said in Black Caps vs Bangles:
@MN5 said in Black Caps vs Bangles:
@Virgil said in Black Caps vs Bangles:
Smith also has the advantage of not having to face his own bowling attack( same can be said with Kohli)
Pains me to say it but you need to include Davy dumb dumb in the list of current best batsmen.
Why does it pain you to say it? The guy is an awesome player.
He's no Chris Gayle though.
Chris Gayle is no Chris Gayle either these days
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Not much love for the Jaapies in that list. ABdV, Amla and even de Kock all averaging 50+. As are Mominal, Younis Khan and Voges (who's averaging more than anyone and is perhaps an indicator that Steve Smith's average might have been a bit inflated by opposition/flat wickets/etc).
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@Kruse said in Black Caps vs Bangles:
@gollum said in Black Caps vs Bangles:
AB DeVilliers is not bothering to play us in the test serries because he can't be arsed. He is alas available for the ODI's -
Wow - they don't even sugar-coat it do they?
"Hmmm... tests against New Zealand? Nah, I'll pass."Now that he's ruled himself out of the English tests too, you guys are looking a bit silly.
