It seems the label of “chokers” is being applied to the Black Caps after their sixth semi final loss at World Cup. On the surface it does look like the big occasion gets to our lads, but for me last night and this tournament have been different. And while the players did the work on the field, a big chunk of that difference has been John Wright and Alan Donald.
The Black Caps had a plan (take note John Key/Bill English. 
) Nathan Astle thinks that the plan was not flexible enough. I was just happy there was one. Batting, the plan was keeping wickets in hand, rotating the strike, hitting the bad ball and launching an assault in the last 10 overs. Last night, it almost, almost worked. If Styris and Williamson could have got two more overs the result might have been different.
With Alan Donald, Tim Southee and Jacob Oram looked like different bowlers, and reverse swing is now the norm. The spinners all contributed. Vettori rotated the bowlers expertly. He also rotated his facial hair with style. I would love to see him stay as Captain in all forms of the game.
We did lose, but Sri Lanka are a great team, playing at home. It took a while to get John Wright, but I really think he can be part of a great period for the Black Caps. Great effort guys.
Robbed by a dodgy wicket…
…and a dodgy bowler or two, dodgy batting by B.McCullum, R.Taylor et al (jonathan Millmow’s ratings are about as fair as it gets).
On another wee note, I hope NZC protests the treatment meted out to the two kiwi journalists there. You can bet your house had it been the English, Australian or Indian media the ICC would have a run a millions miles from any such action.
Anyone who is labelling them chokers are pretty harsh. I am not sure what planet such critics are on, but player for player Srilanka are significantly better then NZ, they have easily the most consistent top order in the tournament, they were playing at home in conditions most conducive to their superior bowling attack plus they didnt have to travel across a continent like NZ had to after its quarter final as they smashed England at home. I wouldnt label Wright as the messiah, the top order was erratic and their best performance was when South Africa blew apart in the quarter final.
Look on the bright side. At least we don’t get a snap election in April, after the Black Caps’ World Cup victory parade (“Quick, where’s my replica shirt?” – JK).
So it’s still November 26, after the next semi-final defeat.
I think the boys did well and only really lost it in the last 10 overs of the first innings. We certainly did better than the last world cup semifinal.
I’m really looking forward to the next world cup in NZ/Aus and think we have a good chance to win (with home advantage etc). Alot of the top order (Guptil, McCullum, Ryder, Taylor & Williamson) will be pretty experienced by then and we should retain a good bowling line up with Southee and people like Neil Wagner coming through.
We failed where we always fail, with consistent high rtuns from our batsmen. I heard reports blaming the collapse and failure of the lower order to “fire”> I’m sorry when the top scorer amongst batsmen is 57, then the batsmen have failed.
Williamson’s developments was heartening for a man not favoured at the outset of the tournament. How many tons were scored by our batsmen throughout the tournament and how many 50′s? We were ranked about 7 so finishing 3rd equal is punching above our weight. Let our progress be a timely reminder to the All Blacks of what minnows and lowly ranked can do we it gets down to sudden death.
Speaking of chokers, how are the South Africans dealing with their exit?
Easily your best post ever Grant.
Yes, there was finally evidence of a plan. You could practically see the top and middle order straining themselves to actually strucure an innings rather than just blast away with no thought beyond the next couple of overs.
Think it’s good that Vettori is moving on from the captaincy though. The strains of the past few years have had an impact on him as a player and we’re better letting him get on with his game – particularly as a bowler.