*Official* New Zealand in Sri Lanka

[straw man]

And Sangakkara and Jayawardene...

Well yeah that'd be nice, but they're not likely to take the game away from us like Dilshan could.

And from cricinfo:

Last we heard three New Zealanders had fallen ill. Remains to be seen if Reece Young keeps for McCullum who along with Ryder has been hit by a stomach bug and returned to the hotel. But in all probability Young will don the gloves after Sangakkara made a concession when approached by New Zealand.

*insert jokes here*

 

[Athlai]

McCullum out sick, Young keeping thanks to Sangakkara being a good bloke.

 

[Athlai]

O'Brrrrrien.

 

[straw man]

O'Brien you ginger beauty!

 

[straw man]

Dilshan loves cover/ point - I wonder if we could stack that area a bit more.

 

[DIRK-NANNES]

Not looking good, we have 4 substitutes on the field.
At least 5 players have been affected by tummy bugs.

Will we even have an 11 to field in the second test?

 

[straw man]

Yes apparenty "Of the seven players hit by the bug, Ryder and McCullum are worst affected. The others to be affected by the bug were Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Daniel Flynn, McIntosh and Chris Martin. "

That's a disaster. Honestly how does this happen? Why couldn't they all have had the travel-sickness bug a couple of weeks ago when they first arrived instead.

Meanwhile, was afraid Dilshan would do this. SL could declare by tea tonight at this rate and only Guptill and Taylor of our top 6 are healthy. The rest will have to bat in nappies.......

 

[Athlai]

Fly Bond and Franklin there ASAP!

 

[DIRK-NANNES]

Apparently Bond had a tummy bug too , though he's probably ok now since he played the last game.

 

[Athlai]

If we don't get Dilshan soon SL will be able to declare by Tea.

 

[slugger]

because they're playing to win not draw...

 

[straw man]

because they're playing to win not draw...

Sri Lanka are playing to win because they can from here. NZ are playing to draw because that's the best possible result for us from here. I don't know what you're trying to say.

If Vettori came out tomorrow morning and said 'yeah we're 3 down but we're aiming to chase down 350 to win the match today' then I'd think that would be idiotic - it's clearly not going to happen.

 

[Athlai]

because they're playing to win not draw...

If Dilshan stays in they score their runs faster and can declare sooner making us bat longer. We want them to score their runs slower so they declare later so we only have to bat for less time. Easy enough to understand.

 

[Hurricane]

because they're playing to win not draw...

I hear you and I know it is frustrating watching us.

But until New Zealand can string together a few draws in a row. I think they should play for draws. If we had an additional batsman in our country who I thought could actually bat against Murali then I would have been in favour of us carrying an extra batsman and playing only 4 bowlers. Just so that we could post a decent total and get a draw.

Once we establish the ability to draw then I think we can set our sights higher.
I am tired of the embarrassment of losing ot the top teams with a draw at least I can look at the mirror in the morning. A draw is better than a loss.

When we bowl I think we do bowl in an attacking fashion.

If we batted in a more attacking fashion I think we would end up getting the same score like 250 we would just get it much faster.

I do think McCullum should go for it though. If Sehwag can attack why can't mcCullum just go for it. He looks a million dollars in the one day games.

 

[Langeveldt]

McCullum out sick, Young keeping thanks to Sangakkara being a good bloke.

Top gesture that

 

[DIRK-NANNES]

Funny dismissal

 

[Hurricane]

Patel strikes.

He is good at taking return catches.

 

[Athlai]

Patel strikes.

He is good at taking return catches.

Yeah one of the best

 

[Blakey]

Should drop the catching practise for some spin bowling.

 

[Hurricane]

I am astonished that Vettori always seems to manage to get the ball to land on the seam.

In slow motion replays you can see the seam perfectly still as it spins through the air.

I have tried in the nets to do this and I havn't managed to do it even once. I am just a part timer mind you.