*Official* New Zealand in Sri Lanka

[Craig]

Has Daniel Flynn decided that if pushing and prodding isn't going to get him anywhere, being aggressive will?

 

[Meridio]

I think it's better to put a caveat in their national contracts : Perform well or forget the IPL. I think that should buckle them up.

Thing is though that if they don't perform for NZ they won't get a look in at an IPL contract anyway.

 

[Bahnz]

if NZL get to 200-2.


match on?

No.

 

[Craig]

if NZL get to 200-2.


match on?

I will believe it when I see it. ATM I'm refusing to say anything in the fortunes of Flynn and Taylor on the basis that I'm a jinx.

 

[Meridio]

It stems back to the attitude problem in NZ cricket - a problem which appears to be massive. I was watching Deaker On Sport this week (no, not for Deaker's less than insightful thoughts on, well, anything) and they showed a clip from the Black Caps On Tour programme, taken from the dressing room immediately after they were knocked out of the World Twenty20.

Vettori was laying it on the table saying some guys, quite simply, don't seem to be acting like they want to be there. It must rip Vettori's undies from the front to the back when he watches players with talent (Guptill, Taylor, Ryder, Oram and McCullum - ****ing McCullum) just lack any mental application whatsoever, producing stupid shots at just the wrong time. Meanwhile Vettori, he of what could be described as a minimal, unorthodox technique, comes in and attempts to clean up their mess by grinding away - more often than not, succeeding.

Gilbert Enoka is not the answer - these guys just need more rockets up them, and need to be given more responsibility in their cricketing lives. If they get out in a test nowadays, what do they care? That's not going to affect their Twenty20 contracts. Make these blokes do their own washing on a tour, organise their own luggage, play full roles in net sessions - playing test cricket for your nation is a privilege, not a right.

*Waits for DingDong "they're trying there best out there" post

 

[straw man]

I am a bit confused since this will be Pakistan's home series to be played in NZl so what will happen to Pakistan's away tour to NZL which is suppose to take place late next year, will Pakistan be doing two trips to NZL in consecutive years.

I would like to know what's happening with this too. Not many details seem to have come out yet. Are the tests later this year in any way different from a normal visit from a touring side? Seeing as Pakistan are meant to be hosts - ideally they'd get some say in pitch preparation and all, but can't see that working in reality.

 

[Meridio]

Oh no.

 

[Bahnz]

That was pathetically tame.

 

[Craig]

*Waits for DingDong "they're trying there best out there" post

 

[straw man]

Thing is though that if they don't perform for NZ they won't get a look in at an IPL contract anyway.

Exactly, or at least they won't get games in the IPL. Like Styris for example - quits tests, doesn't get picked all the time any more in ODIs (rightly or wrongly), loses his international exposure and now doesn't get a game for his IPL side.

 

[straw man]

Taylor's average back down to 39.5.

Reckon we'll lose at least 2 more tonight and start tomorrow with McCullum and someone in. There'll be some talk in the morning of batting out time and surviving two sessions, but then we'll lose another 2 wickets at the start and McCullum will bash an average boosting but pointless 50.

 

[Craig]

What do people think about the idea of dropping Guptill down the order?

 

[straw man]

What do people think about the idea of dropping Guptill down the order?

Don't like it at all TBH. I don't see the point in moving him to 3, and he has as good a chance as anyone in turning into a decent opener, which is what we need.

 

[Bahnz]

Taylor seems to be limited against spinners, in that he never uses his feet. I can't recall him once coming down the wicket, either to defend or to attack. Not only does it leave him overly reliant on that horrible slog sweep shot to break the shackles, but it can also allow a spinner like Herath to settle onto a fullish length, without fear of reprisals. Compare Taylor's footwork to the spinners in this series against Sangakkara's, and you'd think they were playing under different rules.

 

[Bravo]

Thing is though that if they don't perform for NZ they won't get a look in at an IPL contract anyway.

The key is to include test performance in that. Not just the LoIs.

 

[Bahnz]

Flynn again looking very vulnerable against a left armer getting it to swing back into him.

 

[Meridio]

Taylor seems to be limited against spinners, in that he never uses his feet. I can't recall him once coming down the wicket, either to defend or to attack. Not only does it leave him overly reliant on that horrible slog sweep shot to break the shackles, but it can also allow a spinner like Herath to settle onto a fullish length, without fear of reprisals. Compare Taylor's footwork to the spinners in this series against Sangakkara's, and you'd think they were playing under different rules.

Yes, but that's true of not just Taylor. All our batsmen are utterly creasebound against the spinners.

 

[straw man]

Herath to Flynn, 3 runs, lands outside off, holds its line , stabbed off the outer edge and it runs past Mahela at first slip

Flynn utilising his main scoring shot well.

 

[Craig]

Maybe Flynn should bat like this more often.

 

[Bahnz]

Flynn's nearing his 50, real danger here.

Edit: Out of harm's way. Well fought so far.