***Official India in New Zealand***

[Xuhaib]

Just watched the highlights. Some piss poor play from India, and some terrific batting by NZ, in particular Ryder. Taylor obviously rode his luck, but hey, good luck to him.

How on Earth Doctrove didn't pick up the edge from Franklin off Sharma I have no idea. Yuvraj dropping him the next over just made it even more annoying.

Not the first its happened.

 

[Arjun]

Because he's a rubbish umpire...always has been...yet is still around, constantly making poor decisions with no one doing anything about it.

At one point of time, Doctrove gave the wrong decision even as a television umpire! So we get a hint.

 

[Arjun]

This is a flat pitch- too flat for four Indian bowlers to take 20 wickets. When the Indians come out to bat, they should look at no less than 600 runs- so the top six should aim to bat out at least two full sessions.

 

[Woodster]

The fact NZ find themselves in such a good position, means we are in for a much more interesting Test match than the first, far more competitive, hopefully.

Having lost three early wickets again, I was sat there thinking here comes another 4 day Test, but fair play to Taylor and Ryder, especially the latter. Taylor rode his luck yet despite not being at his best, still made a big score. Ryder looked much more secure and impressive.

Day 2 may be equally as absorbing.

 

[JBH001]

Yep, in fact I wont be spending most of it at uni as normal. Heading home in half an hour to get prepped for a day (or most of it) on the couch. Am hoping for a good 200+ by BFJ and about 250 runs scored in the next two sessions. Hoping to see India sent out to bat just before tea, and maybe some quick wickets with India 3 down at close of play (I dont want Sachin to get out though - want him to make another 100). Have mixed feelings about Franklin, want him to score some runs, but I am afraid that doing so might see the continuation of this nonsensical experiment of Franklin at 6 in tests, when he is more suited for number 8 at this stage, and taking the new ball.

 

[Woodster]

Yep, in fact I wont be spending most of it at uni as I normally. Heading home in half an hour to get prepped for a day (or most of it) on the couch. Am hoping for a good 200+ by BFJ and about 250 runs scored in the next two sessions. Hoping to see India sent out to bat just before tea, and maybe some quick wickets with India 3 down at close of play (I dont want Sachin to get out though - want him to make another 100). Have mixed feelings about Franklin, want him to score some runs, but I am afraid that doing so might see the continuation of this nonsensical experiment of Franklin at 6 in tests, when he is more suited for number 8 at this stage, and taking the new ball.

Fully agree with the current Franklin scenario, a decent number 8 batsman, and if he's in the side must take either the new ball or come on first change, otherwise that will seriously negate any swing he'll get and consequently his place in the side must be questioned, you would think.

 

[Nutter]

Fully agree with the current Franklin scenario, a decent number 8 batsman, and if he's in the side must take either the new ball or come on first change, otherwise that will seriously negate any swing he'll get and consequently his place in the side must be questioned, you would think.

He should this match, shouldn't he? No Kyle Mills and O'Brien is always up first change.

 

[Woodster]

He should this match, shouldn't he? No Kyle Mills and O'Brien is always up first change.

Yes he certainly should be given the new ball. He must be given the best chance to capitalise on any swing that may be around. Unfortunately once any movement with the new ball passes, it will be India's turn to feast on this track, and they may be even more clinical.

 

[Flem274*]

Depends how long we bat for and how long this pitch holds together. At the rate the game is going there'll be a result hopefully. Plus if the game needs a hurry along we'll happily collapse.

Really want Ryder to score 200 today. 150+ at worst. If he bats two sessions he'll make 200.

Will be interesting to see how McCullum bats with a run cushion for a change.

 

[Halfpast_Yellow]

Will be interesting to see how McCullum bats with a run cushion for a change.

Duck IMO :P

Ryder 300. Iain O'Brien 50*

 

[adharcric]

Laxman and Dravid are the best slip fielders in India, then there is Sehwag and then Sachin. When all four are available Sehwag fields in gully because Sachin prefers slips and he is no shoddy fielder himself so he, being senior, gets the slips.

Today Sehwag was at first slip (mostly) because being skipper, he would like to be in the best position to see what the bowler was doing.

Yuvraj's stiff hands as he grabbed at the ball were shocking. I am surprised that we dont have another player (besides the four mentioned) to stand in the slips if needed. We have earlier seen Kaif being put in the lips a year and a half ago and make a complete idiot of himself. Just goes to show that being the best fielder in the side doesn't mean anything in the slips. It does come very fast and so suddenly, one needs to work at it to specialise.

Gambhir and Yuvraj should bothe make sure they are good enough to be put in the slips because they deserve to be not when they are much older and have to be hidden away from the bursts of speed and diving of the outfield..

IIRC, Dravid was at first, Laxman at second, Yuvraj at third and Sehwag (and Gambhir when we had a 3-2 cordon) at gully. Yuvraj definitely needs to work on his slip catching but Gambhir occasionally does the job for Delhi so I'm surprised he wasn't the first option. Sehwag probably got fooled into thinking that "the best fielder in the team" can easily handle third slip.

 

[Nutter]

Will be interesting to see how McCullum bats with a run cushion for a change.

BB McCullum lbw Harbhajan 27

 

[Flem274*]

Duck IMO :P

Ryder 300. Iain O'Brien 50*

The ultimate insult would be....

Chris Martin 15*

 

[silentstriker]

Martin 50* IMO. The way our fielding is going, that's what will happen.

NZ to be 600+ and declare sometime after tea. The good news is our fielders will be fresh since they are too precious to run or bend down or dive for the ball.

 

[Woodster]

Fancy Ishant to pick Franklin up (again) early doors today, really hope for NZ's sake they don't then stumble to a total around 450. The platform is there for a score in excess of 500, which might be absolutely necessary to ensure they don't lose this game.

 

[Flem274*]

I wonder when bowlers will realise that bowling outside off stump to Ryder won't work. Whack him on the pads.

 

[luckyeddie]

I wonder when bowlers will realise that bowling outside off stump to Ryder won't work. Whack him on the pads.

Whack him in the nads more like

 

[Flem274*]

Ryder 150*. WAG.

 

[inbox24]

Ryder needs to turn this into a 250, otherwise can see the lineup falling around him for about 500ish. Really need about 700.

Where is Oram? Still injured?

 

[Flem274*]

Oram is in poor form for cD after injury.

Need 700? Wtf?