From the manager
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- Posts: 56
- Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2020 1:41 pm
From the manager
A thread to discuss matches, tours, team selection, squad announcement; anything and everything related to the New Zealand senior team.
New Zealand Nat Manager 

-
- Posts: 56
- Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2020 1:41 pm
Re: From the manager
New Zealand ODI Squad Announcement
Tour: 5-match Home Series
Dates: 26–30 October 2025
Pitch Types: Crumbling • Dry • Flat
Venue: NZC Headquarters
[Harsha Bhogle opens]
“Good morning from the land of the long white cloud. The air is crisp, the anticipation real, and the squad? Carefully curated for five days of fascinating one-day cricket. New Zealand have always been cricket’s quiet achievers — they don’t boast, they believe. And the team selected for this home series reflects that very character: calm, well-prepared, and deadly when underestimated.”
[Sunil Gavaskar nods, adds]
“And they’ve picked a side that can play on all surfaces. There’s experience, variety in bowling, depth in batting, and fielders who won’t give you a second chance. But what will matter — especially in a 5-match series packed into five days — is fitness, discipline, and decision-making under pressure.”
[Ravi Shastri grins, steps in]
“And make no mistake — this squad? It’s ready to go BOOM. You’ve got firepower, finesse, and fearless players across the board. The Blackcaps are bringing the HEAT, and I wouldn’t want to be on the other side of that white Kookaburra when Wagner or Ripia are steaming in!”
THE 20-MAN SQUAD – BROKEN DOWN BY ROLE
Ravi Shastri – The BATTERS
"Alright, ladies and gentlemen — let’s get straight into it. You want firepower? You’ve got it. You want flair, finesse, fight? This batting unit’s got it ALL. These guys don’t just bat — they make statements. And they’re going to be making some LOUD ones on home soil!"
Ma’a Byrne (RH)
Calm, composed, and classy. Leads with the bat and the brain. He’s your anchor and your engine room.
Laurence Curtis (LH)
Silky smooth. Has all the shots, and makes it look easy. Left-handers like this? Gold dust.
Stephen Fleming (RH)
The professor. Reads the game like a book, plays it like a master. Old-school grit, modern-day cool.
Filo Rosser (RH)
Bang! That’s what you get with Rosser. One of the cleanest strikers going around. Short ball? Goodbye.
Mighty Trekka (RH)
Attacks from ball one. Loves the new ball, loves the battle. You give him width, you’re in the stands.
Haydn Larsen (RH)
Young gun. Full of promise. Hits gaps, rotates strike, and doesn’t shy away from responsibility.
Iosia Neyland (RH)
Proper cricket brain. Stays calm under pressure. You want someone to rebuild or explode? That’s your man.
Sonny-Bill Woodfull (RH)
Elegant. Very easy on the eyes. If he gets going, the opposition's in trouble.
“This batting line-up? It’s got BITE. And if these boys get in, the scoreboard is going to light up like a Diwali night.”
Sunil Gavaskar – WICKETKEEPERS & ALL-ROUNDERS
“Thank you, Ravi. Now, as we all know, in modern ODI cricket, versatility is everything. You need keepers who can contribute with the bat, and all-rounders who can give you ten overs or a 60-run cameo — or both. This squad has been selected with that exact balance in mind.”
Wicketkeepers:
Clarry Reppion (RH) – Wicketkeeper
A very competent gloveman. Quick hands, good footwork, and he bats with a positive mindset. Can bat anywhere from 4 to 7.
Trevor Rhodes (RH) – Wicketkeeper
Very assured behind the stumps. What I like is his temperament — nothing flashy, just gets the job done. And he bats smartly under pressure.
All-rounders:
Jason Hoppe (LH bat, LFM)
A genuine all-rounder. Hits hard, bowls a heavy ball. Plays with intensity. Very useful on flat tracks.
Jacob Faraday (RH bat, LWS)
A rare skill set — left-arm wrist spin with top-six batting ability. Will enjoy bowling on crumbling tracks.
Bertram Packer (RH bat, RFM)
Utility player. Can bowl in the powerplay or at the death. Chips in with valuable runs down the order.
Mervyn Towers (RH bat, RFS)
Off-spinner who keeps things tight, and can clear the ropes late in the innings. Very much a team-first cricketer.
“So, with these selections, New Zealand have ensured that they’re never short of options. These are thinking cricketers — and in a tight series, that’s what makes the difference.”
Harsha Bhogle – BOWLERS
“And now to the specialists. The men who don’t need loud entrances — because their spells do all the talking. This New Zealand attack? It’s a mosaic of spin and seam, of old-school discipline and new-age mystery. Let’s take a closer look.”
Spinners:
Lindsay Charlton (RFS)
A right-arm finger spinner with wonderful control. Bowls tight lines and brings variation through subtlety, not gimmicks.
Garnet Inu (LFS)
Very smart operator. Uses the crease, changes pace, and is effective particularly against right-handers.
Gregor Iro (LWS)
The most exciting of the lot. Left-arm wrist spin is always a mystery — and mystery is exactly what makes batters uncomfortable.
Dave Murnane (RWS)
Gives it flight, gives it loop. There’s an old-world charm to his bowling — and when it clicks, it’s a joy to watch.
Seamers:
Mark Ripia (LF)
Brings genuine pace. Left-armer, so offers a different angle. Can strike early or reverse it late. Watch out for him.
Neil Wagner (LFM)
The workhorse. He’ll give you everything — short balls, aggression, energy. He’s a captain’s dream on flat pitches.
FINAL WORD
Harsha:
“Five matches. Five chances to impress. For some, it will be about consolidating their place. For others, a ticket to the next level. But for all of them, it's a chance to wear the silver fern with pride, and to show that New Zealand cricket — calm, quiet, and ever-evolving — is ready to climb again.”
Gavaskar:
“Five ODIs in five days — it’s going to test everything: skill, stamina, smarts. But that’s where good teams become great. And When New Zealand play at home, you can be sure of two things: the settings will be scenic, and the cricket — simply superb.”
Shastri (grinning):
“Come October 26, it’s not just a series — it’s a cricketing war, and the Kiwis are bringing all the ammo. This team isn’t just selected — it’s designed. It’s got batting depth, bowling variety, and fielders that pounce like panthers. It’s showtime, folks. Buckle up. Because the Blackcaps are locked, loaded, and ready to rock!”
Tour: 5-match Home Series
Dates: 26–30 October 2025
Pitch Types: Crumbling • Dry • Flat
Venue: NZC Headquarters
“Good morning from the land of the long white cloud. The air is crisp, the anticipation real, and the squad? Carefully curated for five days of fascinating one-day cricket. New Zealand have always been cricket’s quiet achievers — they don’t boast, they believe. And the team selected for this home series reflects that very character: calm, well-prepared, and deadly when underestimated.”
“And they’ve picked a side that can play on all surfaces. There’s experience, variety in bowling, depth in batting, and fielders who won’t give you a second chance. But what will matter — especially in a 5-match series packed into five days — is fitness, discipline, and decision-making under pressure.”
“And make no mistake — this squad? It’s ready to go BOOM. You’ve got firepower, finesse, and fearless players across the board. The Blackcaps are bringing the HEAT, and I wouldn’t want to be on the other side of that white Kookaburra when Wagner or Ripia are steaming in!”
"Alright, ladies and gentlemen — let’s get straight into it. You want firepower? You’ve got it. You want flair, finesse, fight? This batting unit’s got it ALL. These guys don’t just bat — they make statements. And they’re going to be making some LOUD ones on home soil!"
Ma’a Byrne (RH)
Calm, composed, and classy. Leads with the bat and the brain. He’s your anchor and your engine room.
Laurence Curtis (LH)
Silky smooth. Has all the shots, and makes it look easy. Left-handers like this? Gold dust.
Stephen Fleming (RH)
The professor. Reads the game like a book, plays it like a master. Old-school grit, modern-day cool.
Filo Rosser (RH)
Bang! That’s what you get with Rosser. One of the cleanest strikers going around. Short ball? Goodbye.
Mighty Trekka (RH)
Attacks from ball one. Loves the new ball, loves the battle. You give him width, you’re in the stands.
Haydn Larsen (RH)
Young gun. Full of promise. Hits gaps, rotates strike, and doesn’t shy away from responsibility.
Iosia Neyland (RH)
Proper cricket brain. Stays calm under pressure. You want someone to rebuild or explode? That’s your man.
Sonny-Bill Woodfull (RH)
Elegant. Very easy on the eyes. If he gets going, the opposition's in trouble.
“This batting line-up? It’s got BITE. And if these boys get in, the scoreboard is going to light up like a Diwali night.”
“Thank you, Ravi. Now, as we all know, in modern ODI cricket, versatility is everything. You need keepers who can contribute with the bat, and all-rounders who can give you ten overs or a 60-run cameo — or both. This squad has been selected with that exact balance in mind.”
Clarry Reppion (RH) – Wicketkeeper
A very competent gloveman. Quick hands, good footwork, and he bats with a positive mindset. Can bat anywhere from 4 to 7.
Trevor Rhodes (RH) – Wicketkeeper
Very assured behind the stumps. What I like is his temperament — nothing flashy, just gets the job done. And he bats smartly under pressure.
Jason Hoppe (LH bat, LFM)
A genuine all-rounder. Hits hard, bowls a heavy ball. Plays with intensity. Very useful on flat tracks.
Jacob Faraday (RH bat, LWS)
A rare skill set — left-arm wrist spin with top-six batting ability. Will enjoy bowling on crumbling tracks.
Bertram Packer (RH bat, RFM)
Utility player. Can bowl in the powerplay or at the death. Chips in with valuable runs down the order.
Mervyn Towers (RH bat, RFS)
Off-spinner who keeps things tight, and can clear the ropes late in the innings. Very much a team-first cricketer.
“So, with these selections, New Zealand have ensured that they’re never short of options. These are thinking cricketers — and in a tight series, that’s what makes the difference.”
“And now to the specialists. The men who don’t need loud entrances — because their spells do all the talking. This New Zealand attack? It’s a mosaic of spin and seam, of old-school discipline and new-age mystery. Let’s take a closer look.”
Lindsay Charlton (RFS)
A right-arm finger spinner with wonderful control. Bowls tight lines and brings variation through subtlety, not gimmicks.
Garnet Inu (LFS)
Very smart operator. Uses the crease, changes pace, and is effective particularly against right-handers.
Gregor Iro (LWS)
The most exciting of the lot. Left-arm wrist spin is always a mystery — and mystery is exactly what makes batters uncomfortable.
Dave Murnane (RWS)
Gives it flight, gives it loop. There’s an old-world charm to his bowling — and when it clicks, it’s a joy to watch.
Mark Ripia (LF)
Brings genuine pace. Left-armer, so offers a different angle. Can strike early or reverse it late. Watch out for him.
Neil Wagner (LFM)
The workhorse. He’ll give you everything — short balls, aggression, energy. He’s a captain’s dream on flat pitches.
“Five matches. Five chances to impress. For some, it will be about consolidating their place. For others, a ticket to the next level. But for all of them, it's a chance to wear the silver fern with pride, and to show that New Zealand cricket — calm, quiet, and ever-evolving — is ready to climb again.”
“Five ODIs in five days — it’s going to test everything: skill, stamina, smarts. But that’s where good teams become great. And When New Zealand play at home, you can be sure of two things: the settings will be scenic, and the cricket — simply superb.”
“Come October 26, it’s not just a series — it’s a cricketing war, and the Kiwis are bringing all the ammo. This team isn’t just selected — it’s designed. It’s got batting depth, bowling variety, and fielders that pounce like panthers. It’s showtime, folks. Buckle up. Because the Blackcaps are locked, loaded, and ready to rock!”
New Zealand Nat Manager 
