***Official India in New Zealand***

[Precambrian]

Is that what he'd have said if an Indian batsman had been on the receiving end?

Why are you trying to incite an incident out of nowhere?

 

[Precambrian]

Nah, missing the plot.

In New Zealand he has played just THREE matches and that too on those skewed bowling friendly wickets pre World Cup 2003.

In Asia he averages 48, same as his over all average. In England where conditions swing the most he averages 46. Don't see what Laxman has to prove to say he can play swing bowling because he has shown right through his career that he is a class act.

He is a class act. No doubt. But his play against swing in NZ has been circumspect, despite the small sample size available. I do hope he comes good. I really do.

 

[JimmyGS]

Wish he showed half of it when offered a simpler chance by Vettori afterwards.

Shows what you know about cricket. The catch off Vettori was much, much more difficult than the chance he took.

 

[Pratters]

He is a class act. No doubt. But his play against swing in NZ has been circumspect, despite the small sample size available. I do hope he comes good. I really do.

Those were the most bowler friendly wickets I have seen in my nearly 18 years of cricket watching. Judging he can't play in swinging conditions aptly based on that plus just those THREE matches when the entire sample size of his career is available is a huge stretch and utter stupidity.

 

[Precambrian]

Shows what you know about cricket. The catch off Vettori was much, much more difficult than the chance he took.

Cut down on the "cricket knowledge" thing. If you have to disagree you can do it without sounding rude.

 

[Precambrian]

Those were the most bowler friendly wickets I have seen in my nearly 18 years of cricket watching. Judging he can't play in swinging conditions aptly based on that plus just those THREE matches when the entire sample size of his career is available is a huge stretch and utter stupidity.

Why not? I said swinging conditions and NZ. And so far he has done nothing to make that claim redundant.

 

[Zinzan]

But I cannot deem any dismissal as unlucky as long as it is a valid one and a correct one. That includes even the "run out at bowlers end" of the non striker. Dismissals can be forced or unforced, but they have nothing to do with luck.

Utterly ridiculous Last I'm saying on the matter, waste of time arguing against this sort of illogical nonsense

 

[Evermind]

From Cricinfo - Wish you were here

Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma showed just why they are considered the best new-ball pair in the world

Really starting to get annoying.

Ntini + Steyn
Johnson + Siddle

Maybe a distant third?

 

[Pratters]

Why not? I said swinging conditions and NZ. And so far he has done nothing to make that claim redundant.

WHAT YOU SAID:

Because his quality has not yet translated into valuable knocks in swinging conditions, particularly in NZ, where his average is ****.

The first part of the sentence questions Laxman in swinging conditions. Arjun said L axman is suspect. I don't see how Laxman is suspect given how he has played his entire career despite 3 poor tests in bowler friendly minefield wickets. Why even bring his average in NZ into the picture given the series which had occured in 2002-03.

 

[TT Boy]

From Cricinfo - Wish you were here





Really starting to get annoying.

Ntini + Steyn
Johnson + Siddle

Maybe a distant third?

Sharma bowled beautifully but Khan after his initial spell did his familiar routine of disappearing when the ball stops swinging. People find it hard to believe that his average is so ‘bad’ but it’s not too hard to understand why for he relies so heavily on favorable bowling conditions. I remember when he toured the Republic, made mincemeat of Smith with the new ball but after ten overs he was finished until the second new ball.

But in saying that I'll take both him and Sharma over Ntini and Steyn. Whilst House is the Australian opening bowler and his been pretty rancid so far.

 

[JimmyGS]

Cut down on the "cricket knowledge" thing. If you have to disagree you can do it without sounding rude.

Fair call. Point still stands though.

 

[Pratters]

Sharma bowled beautifully but Khan after his initial spell did his familiar routine of disappearing when the ball stops swinging. People find it hard to believe that his average is so ‘bad’ but it’s not too hard to understand why for he relies so heavily on favorable bowling conditions. I remember when he toured the Republic, made mincemeat of Smith with the new ball but after ten overs he was finished until the second new ball.

But in saying that I'll take both him and Sharma over Ntini and Steyn. Whilst House is the Australian opening bowler and his been pretty rancid so far.

Khan's average post his return is not bad AFAIK. Some one can do a quick check up. I can't be bothered.

 

[Evermind]

Span Mat Inns Overs Mdns Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 5 10
unfiltered 2000-2009 63 115 2060.5 419 6777 199 5/29 9/134 34.05 3.28 62.1
filtered 2006-2009 23 43 828.4 169 2753 88 5/34 9/134 31.28 3.32 56.5

Meh.

 

[Evermind]

But in saying that I'll take both him and Sharma over Ntini and Steyn.

You'd take Khan and Sharma over the best bowler in the world and someone who averages way better than both Khan and Sharma?

Sure Ntini's not as effective as he used to be, but he's still about as good as Khan. And Steyn is in a completely different league.

 

[99*]

Anyone else read O'Brien's blog?

Even though I feel sorry for him I couldn't help but laugh.

 

[social]

Just watched a few seconds of the highlights and saw Vettori get to his hundred

Who was it that let the ball bounce from the skied sweep shot?

Looked as if it could've been caught

 

[Pratters]

Span Mat Inns Overs Mdns Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 5 10
unfiltered 2000-2009 63 115 2060.5 419 6777 199 5/29 9/134 34.05 3.28 62.1
filtered 2006-2009 23 43 828.4 169 2753 88 5/34 9/134 31.28 3.32 56.5

Meh.

Thanks. Looks like I was wrong. A few of those series have been high scoring but still 31 is not that great.

 

[Precambrian]

From Cricinfo - Wish you were here





Really starting to get annoying.

Ntini + Steyn
Johnson + Siddle

Maybe a distant third?

Steyn and Ntini definitely.

But Johnners and Siddle better than Sharma - Khan? Don't think so.

They are second best opening pair of bowlers in the world today.

 

[andyc]

Steyn and Ntini definitely.

But Johnners and Siddle better than Sharma - Khan? Don't think so.

They are second best opening pair of bowlers in the world today.

As TT Boy pointed out, Johnson and Siddle don't actually exist as a new ball pair, but if they did, I'd definitely have Ntini and Steyn at third. Not sure who'd be first out of Australia and India though, probably the Indians, if all we're talking about is actually bowling with the new ball rather than over the whole game.

 

[Athlai]

Best new ball Test bowlers in the world:

Steyn
Johnson (Lee)
Sharma
Edwards
Anderson
Khan
Ntini

I'd say a fully fit on form Lee would give Australia the best opening pair (possibly inc. Clark too)
Then I'd say SA and Ind are about equal.

We should get O'Brien to open the bowling, would do better than Martin.