Interim Rankings
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Two tests out of three done, and there has been a lot to digest.
Hot
Jacob Duffy. Coming into the series as a one test veteran he led the attack in both tests with an extraordinary workload. He was understandably below his best in the first test, but the way he bounced back there showed he has made it.
His batting is hilarious too.
Seriously, who thought Chris Martin V2.0 Michael Rae would be playing test cricket a month ago? Amid the NZ20 spat he would be the poster boy for how the current model works as a development program.
A terrible first over in test cricket had people wondering if the gap was too big. The next couple of days proved otherwise.
Mitch Hay. The drums have been beating for a while. The 61 was really goo, although he developing a reputation of getting around that score. The assist in the run out was probably the bigger tick in the column.
Above average
Tom Latham. That second innings in Chch was one of his better test centuries given the match situation. Captained well in trying conditions throughout. Kept well in Blundell’s absence.
Devon Conway came into the series under scrutiny. Out in the first over of the series followed by a couple of dropped catches and things were not looking good. Looked assured after that and he is back to being a lock in.
Slightly harder to judge with Zak Foulkes. Really impressive in the first innings at Hagley before the workload demands kicked in. Unlike Duffy he’s not really built for that, but it was encouraging how he came back in the second innings at the Basin. He has a rare skill; the challenge is how to get the most out of it.
Standard
Kane Williamson. Quiet tests? He still top scored in the first innings in Christchurch, averages 38 and was dismissed by probably the best ball of the series on Thursday.
Daryll Mitchell. If only he could have relieved some of the bowling workload at Hagley as he charged around the field.
Rachin Ravindra. Classic Chin Diesel. A dominating century last week, followed by some typically soft dismissals over the last couple of days. Interesting that he’s copped 95% of the Windies sledging.
Not so good
Fate is a funny thing. Tom Blundell was going OK until he bulled his hamstring, and suddenly he is no longer the incumbent. There will be speculation as to whether he has played his last test, but would not be a bad option as general cover for that tour to Australia next year.
Will Young. It’s been a frustrating few months for the Player of the Series in the whitewash spanking of India just over a year ago. Another opportunity missed.
Matt Henry. He’ll be back though.
Nathan Smith. He’ll be back though; but it’s a cluttered field now.
Micheal Bracewell. He was the second highest first innings scorer at Hagley, but his failure to make inroads on the last day leaves questions as to his worth as a test spinning option.
Glenn Phillips continues to frustrate. He’s not really a test spinner, and a specialist slogger at 7 needs to be employed better.
Worse
Mitch Santner is in the leadership group. There is no way you can spin this as anything other than a terrible reading of the room.
Impossible to Rate
Blair Tickner was a huge factor in New Zealand’s second test win before a seemingly innocuous accident saw the green pencil come out. Recovery times will be hard to assess, but at least he got a limo trip out of it.