*Official* New Zealand in Sri Lanka

[Polo23]

A good article on cricinfo on McCullum's non-performances in tests. Makes some good points, though misses a few more, some of which were added in the comments. Seems unsure of his role and how he's supposed to approach an innings. Lacks both the defensive technique and the temperament to bat through difficult periods. They point out that he's fallen 23 times between 20 and 49 and say that's after he has the measure of the bowling - I'd say he rarely has the measure of the bowling (defensively especially) and those 23 times are usually when he manages to muddle his way past 20 before reality hits. Only looks comfortable going for the slog, usually after the game is lost. Ironically often seems to get out with a defensive prod or going hard at a defensive shot.

Also disagree that it was lapses in concentration that had him dismissed in the 90s vs England. More than that I think it's an inability to handle pressure, especially from himself (there are numerous other examples - KKR captaincy, opening in ODIs, previous attempt at no. 5 in tests etc).

If McCullum didn't think about it, he'd be a far far better test batsman. The problem is he is using his brain, where he should be just hitting the ball. He's trying to be a normal batsman, when he isn't a normal batsman. As you said, he has neither the defensive technique or temperament to play in this fashion, he needs to just start hitting the ball again. Hell, if he gets out for bugger all going for a big dirty slog how is it any different to him getting out for bugger all defending?

 

[MC_Balaji]

If the rain can stay away for the last 2 days of the match, I doubt NZ will be able to bat out 150 overs if Sri Lanka are to declare at lunch tomorrow.

 

[Hurricane]

McCullum needs to pull his head in.

 

[NZ Guy]

McCullum needs to pull his head in.

Or out

 

[Zinzan]

Or out

Or both

 

[Lostman]

A great man once said:

"Only cowards pray for rain."

Come on you miserable Sri Lankans, give us your worst!!!

we're so ****ed

Yea, but remember both sides get trophies for playing so everyone wins

 

[Brett Dale]

What are the blackcaps going to do? Pray for rain all summer?????

 

[DingDong]

Yes make fun of the kiwi team. Very mature guys.

 

[Uncle]

Currrent weather loks dodgy - maybe NZ will escape

 

[trapol]

My question is more about expectations ( which is what i suspect DD is meaning) ?

But before this tour what did you seriously expect to be the series result? Ive heard that some consider, at present anyway, this to be the toughest tour you can go on and with our inexperienced line up and our inability to take 20 wickets against quality opposition, anything other than a 2-0 scoreline wouldve shocked me. Hell, the team in 2003 was far better and more experienced and they could only draw the series 0-0 so why are we surprised with the way this series is going?

 

[Craig]

Yes make fun of the kiwi team. Very mature guys.

HTFU.

 

[Craig]

Sangakkara is laying into Jeets.

 

[Hurricane]

Quote "Originally Posted by Boobidy
Bradman never had to face quicks like Sharma and Irfan Pathan. He wouldn't of lasted a ball against those 2, not to mention a spinner like Sehwag."

Craig - I want to comment about your signature here. At first this comment surprised me - but then I thought about it and it figures that somebody would say this. When I grew up Bradman was a big deal and when his name was said there was immediate respect. I personally modelled my batting grip after him and have read a little bit about him and his approach to batting.
But his memory is starting to fade now. And his name isn't mentioned as much by commentators as it used to be. I think this is a shame.

 

[Flem274*]

What are the blackcaps going to do? Pray for rain all summer?????

Nah, pray you piss off and stop moaning

Yes make fun of the kiwi team. Very mature guys.

Have a cup of cement

My question is more about expectations ( which is what i suspect DD is meaning) ?

But before this tour what did you seriously expect to be the series result? Ive heard that some consider, at present anyway, this to be the toughest tour you can go on and with our inexperienced line up and our inability to take 20 wickets against quality opposition, anything other than a 2-0 scoreline wouldve shocked me. Hell, the team in 2003 was far better and more experienced and they could only draw the series 0-0 so why are we surprised with the way this series is going?

Nah, I knew we were going to lose though tbh I hoped for better. Patel has disappointed, I expected the seamers to struggle and the spinners to get stuck in before a top order batting collapse resurrected by Ryder and Taylor with Vettori at the end.

So my main gripe has been Patel. Everything else has been as expected or in McIntosh's case, exceeded them.

 

[straw man]

Nah, I knew we were going to lose though tbh I hoped for better. Patel has disappointed, I expected the seamers to struggle and the spinners to get stuck in before a top order batting collapse resurrected by Ryder and Taylor with Vettori at the end.

So my main gripe has been Patel. Everything else has been as expected or in McIntosh's case, exceeded them.

Agree that we were always likely to lose this series.

But a few other fair gripes IMO are:
- We've lost so many wickets to seamers. It is understandable if Murali and another spinner dismiss our batsmen in Sri Lanka. But Sri Lanka's seamers, while decent (Thushura in particular) are nowhere near the same threat as Murali. Many of these wickets have been give-aways (I'm looking at you Guptill).
- McCullum and Oram, despite being close to our most experienced players, continue to look clueless with the bat, and don't seem sure what they're trying to achieve.
- Our bowlers haven't managed to get Sri Lanka 4 down for less than 200 even once. A hard ask against good batsmen, but certainly not unachievable.

Probably shouldn't forget the stomach bug that knocked out half the team for the first test - would have been nice if that hadn't happened. But we've performed almost identically this match so it's hard to say it made a big difference overall.

 

[straw man]

Anyway, someone wake me when NZ are batting Wouldn't surprise me if Sangakkara and Jayawardene are getting a little bored.

 

[Hurricane]

My question is more about expectations ( which is what i suspect DD is meaning) ?

But before this tour what did you seriously expect to be the series result? Ive heard that some consider, at present anyway, this to be the toughest tour you can go on and with our inexperienced line up and our inability to take 20 wickets against quality opposition, anything other than a 2-0 scoreline wouldve shocked me. Hell, the team in 2003 was far better and more experienced and they could only draw the series 0-0 so why are we surprised with the way this series is going?

I am not sure about what I expected. But I had no hope of a win at any stage and was HOPING for a draw at some stage.

On the upside we have avoided the follow on in both games. That would have demoralised me more to have lost by an inning.

I guess I was expecting more out of the batting. Even without Murali we would have failed. I wouldn't mind if they got out to the world's best ever spinner but instead we are getting out to their seamers as well. Are their seamers really that good?

From the players perspective and surprises:
Flynn hasn't surprised me.
McIntosh was a pleasant surprise with his 69 and has since fallen to what I was expecting.
I was expecting Guptil to have corrected his back foot play after the India series instead I learned that he has done nothing to work on it. Instead it looks like he wants to pull the ball rather than use his poor back foot defence.
Someone said that the experienced players had a point to prove on this tour - but McCullum has been underperforming. Possibly due to illness in the first test mind you.

Your point to not get too bent out of shape over this is well taken though.

 

[Craig]

Don't really so much use for batting on, unless it is for Jayawardene to get his 100.

 

[Hurricane]

I think Patel is bowling well this inning. And deserves another wicket. To be fair though the batsman are letting him bowl well and aren't going after him.

 

[Craig]

Huzzah!