Australian tour of SA

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Currently I could understand replacing him with Phil Hughes. Consistently great FC record. I'd also say Marcus North is another one. Test experience, decent FC record but great FC record from the current season (providing he maintains it).

I tend to think that test players and high profile players techniques are scrutinised heavily, giving the impression that players with less exposure don't have flawed techniques. One would say with less impressive career returns, either they have issues with their technique also. And even if they don't, what the fuck does it matter if they can't convert superior technique into superior, or even equal results?

I certainly would have had Hughes in the team ahead of Marsh. Fortunately it turned out that Marsh batted very well and made a great contribution to the victory. He was bloody lucky to be there though. Hopefully he'll smash it for the rest of the series and his place will be beyond doubt. Doolan's selection was a bit easier for mine. He'd made runs against the Saffers before and had a better FC record over the last couple of seasons than Marsh. It seemed pretty clear that he was the next cab off the rank and I'm OK with that.

All of this suggests to me that any selection of Hughes would be grudging, because the hierarchy appear not to trust him.

 

[Train Without a Station]

Hopefully by the time the Pakistan series is over, this discussion becomes a moot point because these blokes have put together 5 tests matches showing consistent form.

Until that happens I'm very wary though. Because for it to happen they would need to dramatically improve their career form. Just about every batsman has had the odd good knock. Backing it up will be the challenge.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

BTW, anyone following the current NZ v IND test? The Kiwi's looked gone for all money, needing 250 (or thereabouts) to make India bat again. Then Brendan McCullum scores 281*, with a bit of help from others obviously, and they're now 325 in front. What a remarkable turnaround and it means that the Kiwi's are a chance to win the series. Well played and shades of that incredible game at Kolkata when Laxman and Dravid did the seemingly impossible to turn that game around against us in 2000.

 

[The Red Baron]

BTW, anyone following the current NZ v IND test? The Kiwi's looked gone for all money, needing 250 (or thereabouts) to make India bat again. Then Brendan McCullum scores 281*, with a bit of help from others obviously, and they're now 325 in front. What a remarkable turnaround and it means that the Kiwi's are a chance to win the series. Well played and shades of that incredible game at Kolkata when Laxman and Dravid did the seemingly impossible to turn that game around against us in 2000.

I was following the score on and off at work today. The partnership he had with Watling was amazing, something like the highest 6th wicket partnership in the history of test cricket. Great stuff from the Kiwis.

McCullum sure does like playing India too. He has scored 3 double hundreds in test cricket, all of them against India. It amazes me that India can rank number 2 in the world with powerhouses such as Zaheer and Ishant leading their bowling attack. I'm pretty sure that when Zaheer starts a new over, he hands his zimmer frame over to the umpire along with his cap.

 

[Pfitzy]

At one point India had Kohli bowling! FFS

 

[Lindommer]

It wasn't "something like" the highest 6th wicket partnership in the history of test cricket, it WAS the highest. Well done McCullum and Watling. If McCullum goes on tomorrow he could become the first Kiwi to reach 300, Martin Crowe's highest score is 299.

Tomorrow's going to be very interesting, when does McCullum declare?

 

[No4918]

Prob want another 50 runs or declare after an hour. Just enough carrot for India to have a go and enough time to bowl them out. They will likely be more cautious and would be wanting to go into the last test 1-0.

 

[The Red Baron]

At one point India had Kohli bowling! FFS

And Dhoni too. You know you are in deep shit when the wicky rolls his arm over.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

The Kiwis don't have to win the game, so there's no hurry but jeez you'd love to keep the Indians out there for a bit longer and then stick 'em back in wouldn't you? I'd love to see them win this test after looking so badly out of it. I get a special kind of satisfaction seeing it happen against India too.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

IIRC India are currently ranked #2 Test team. If they lose in NZ, then we must be looking good to bypass India and challenge the Saffers for the #1 slot.

 

[Pfitzy]

It wasn't "something like" the highest 6th wicket partnership in the history of test cricket, it WAS the highest. Well done McCullum and Watling. If McCullum goes on tomorrow he could become the first Kiwi to reach 300, Martin Crowe's highest score is 299.

Tomorrow's going to be very interesting, when does McCullum declare?

1) Get McCullum to 300
2) Get the lead to minimum 360
3) Send them back in with about 10 overs before lunch
4) Unleash hell.

While we're on the topic: get fucked India. Go make some decent wickets at home to allow your fast bowlers to flourish. Cricket isn't all about batting

 

[light]

No sympathy for India. They are flat-track bullies and haven't produced a pitch for bowlers in the last decade.

I would love to see the Kiwi's beat them. Probably almost as much as I enjoyed watching Pup compile a double and triple ton against them last time in Australia.

I don't rate the Indian bowling attack in the slightest and their batsman aren't test players with the exception of that young opener. (I forget his name but he's been prolific over the last year in the test arena). That being said, I wouldn't put it past Dhoni and the IPL big hitters to chase down 300+ in two sessions.


On the Watson issue, I think he is unlucky and probably doesn't deserve to sit out next test. It's the right thing to remain consistent and stick with the same line up. IMO maybe only tinker if there are niggling injuries/soreness and even then I'd prefer a specialist in either Hughes or Pattinson.

Marsh showed real fight in the first innings under a ton of pressure and Doolan really looked like a potential answer to the dilemma we have at first drop.

Watson's runs in the last 6-8 months have all been in low pressure situations and despite his average he has been poor against the new ball. It's time we gave these other guys a shot.

I think we will see Watson in the test side again this year but for now he needs to ensure he's fit and ready to go when one of our top 6 slip up.

 

[Train Without a Station]

I'm kind of warming to both Doolan and Marsh playing the next test. I'd prefer it was a 5 test series, but at least let's give them a chance to both fail or succeed again. You can't base a long term selection on one match, you need to see a player show some consistency.

 

[Lindommer]

McCullum reached 302 and was caught two balls later without adding to his score. Well done, Brendon. Let's not forget Neesham at the other end scoring a ton on debut.

Surprisingly, the Kiwis didn't declare on McCullum's dismissal, they're 380 in front. Surely enough.

 

[Braveheart81]

Surprisingly, the Kiwis didn't declare on McCullum's dismissal, they're 380 in front. Surely enough.

It's a 2 test series and they're up one nil.

I think they want to remove all chances of losing the test and drawing the series rather than giving themselves more overs to win the game.

I imagine they'll declare pretty soon.

Given the position they've come from and the records they've broken along the way, a draw in this test will be better than most wins.

 

[The Red Baron]

McCullum reached 302 and was caught two balls later without adding to his score. Well done, Brendon. Let's not forget Neesham at the other end scoring a ton on debut.

Surprisingly, the Kiwis didn't declare on McCullum's dismissal, they're 380 in front. Surely enough.

It is quite strange that the Kiwis haven't declared yet. Although sometimes prone to making some tactical blunders, McCullum isn't really the type to let a game sit, he is much like Clarke in that respect.

Or maybe the Kiwis are actually going to let the game meander to a draw. Seeing as this is only a 2 test series and the Kiwis won the first, a draw would mean a Kiwi series win.

 

[The Red Baron]

It's a 2 test series and they're up one nil.

I think they want to remove all chances of losing the test and drawing the series rather than giving themselves more overs to win the game.

I imagine they'll declare pretty soon.

Given the position they've come from and the records they've broken along the way, a draw in this test will be better than most wins.

Beat me to it BH!

 

[No4918]

I thought there was another test. If this is it then I would not blame them for batting as long as they can. Declare with one session left and hope to embarass a few of the top order with no danger of a loss. Well done NZ.

 

[Pfitzy]

Suck a streaming bag of dicks, India

 

[light]

So the pitch for Port Elizabeth looks far slower and shouldn't offer anywhere near as much bounce as Centurion. It has a green cover right now that will encourage the bowlers but it's likely to be removed depending South Africa's instructions in the next 24 hours.


Interesting that the world's best side with apparently the 'best pace bowling attack' would encourage a wicket that doesn't suit fast bowling. Particularly when their spinning options aren't fantastic.

Johnson is in their heads.

Considering pitch conditions I think we could see Watson back to offer another option with the ball.