*Official* New Zealand in India 2010

[Hurricane]

I'm not writing him off - he could well improve, but as of now he's ****. He had one half decent First Class season after failing to cut it in domestic cricket for two or three before that and suddenly found himself in the team. One of the 'chosen ones'. I'd have more patience with him if he'd actually racked any sort of consistent runs against the piechuckers that play Plunkett Shield cricket but he shouldn't be playing Test cricket now and it's going to do nothing other than shatter his confidence to play at this level.

This is his last series in my mind before they start examining his spot. But IF we had a good coaching system for the blackcaps I don't see why they couldn't fix his deficiencies. I guess the comeback to that is that he should be learning his game at the FC level and not at the test match level. After this series he may well be forced into the situation.

I have a suspicion that he got selected on the back of his A team performances.

Also Guptil would have gotten out to that ball as well. Except Guptil might have nicked it on to his stumps rather than being beaten.

You had better be rooting for Williamson PEWS or there will be consequences.

 

[Athlai]

India v New Zealand: Self-belief pays off for Patel | Cricket News | India v New Zealand | Cricinfo.com

 

[Woodster]

I was pleased to see a much better day for NZ and a much more even contest. Fair play to the visitors who could have let their heads drop having lost one of their two seamers before play started, leaving them looking woefully short in the bowling department. But up stepped, as usual, skipper Vettori to deliver a number of overs right on the money with his excellently subtle change-ups that made it very difficult for the Indians to get on top of him.

Patel was much improved too, as was Martin. The four-balls Patel was pulling down on day one disappeared, despite the Indians trying to apply some pressure on him by being positive. Martin found decent areas and persevered. The specialist men stepped up and were rewarded for some disciplined bowling in the opening session with some big wickets, admittedly ones that the Raina and Tendulkar especially will be disappointed with.

Tendulkar and Laxman were a little too watchful it seemed, they were building for a big partnership but could not wrestle any initiative from NZ, credit to the bowlers.

'm sure NZ would have taken this after day one, but had they removed Harbhajan early aswell, it could have been even better.

Thought McCullum batted sensibly, was positive early but just settled down when they lost a couple of wickets. I'm not necessarily a fan of him at the top for a few reasons, but it may not be the worse place for him to bat in India. He likes pace on the ball, so opening up is the best time when the ball comes on to the bat, then he can adapt when he's in and set. Taylor kept him decent company too in what may be a crucial partnership.

Looking forward to see how they go tomorrow, with Ryder and Williamson to come.

 

[Hurricane]

Hmmm supports my earlier point that Patel is a confidence bowler.

Patel would do better if he sat down with Vettori and had a discussion with him about field settings. Patel does not strike me as a particularly canny bowler though so he might not have any thoughts on this matter (this sounds harsh but he has been bowling around the wicket to batsman who have been going after him for years and it never does any good and he never learns). I think if he had better field settings he would do even better. I also think his consistency needs to be improved by about 10%. 10% less bad balls from him would make him a much better bowler.

Lastly I think he and the entire NZ bowling attack need to come up with plans for Sehwag. he can't be scoring a century for every innings of this series.

His dismissal of Ohja was excellent bowling. Vettori was never going to get that wicket.

 

[Woodster]

Lastly I think he and the entire NZ bowling attack need to come up with plans for Sehwag. he can't be scoring a century for every innings of this series.

I think it's more to do with the execution of their plans. If the plan was to bowl a very tight line to Sehwag, which is how it appeared they were trying to frustrate him, they just couldn't consistently put enough balls in the right place, although it is difficult against a player as good as Sehwag who does not give you any margin for error.

Martin may have only offered a hint of width, but against the best that's enough. Sehwag stays so legside of the ball, that at times even deliveries on off stump he is able to manipulate through the point region.

Perhaps an alternative plan is needed, or a flexible plan B, but for me they need to execute them better.

 

[NUFAN]

The NZ bowlers should be trying to execute similar tactics to those that the Australian quicks produced towards Sehwag (it's one of the few good things we've done lately).

In all honesty though I don't think Bennett and Martin are probably capable enough, Southee needs to be selected IMO.

Southeh..

 

[Flem274*]

Southee isn't accurate or quick enough. He's most likely to get Sehwag out with swing.

Arnel is by far the most accurate seamer on tour, and gets more seam than most, but won't have the speed to bounce Sehwag.

Bennett and to a lesser extent McKay are the guys who can bounce Sehwag, but neither has the accuracy to do it consistently. McKay might be a decent punt for the second test if Bennett is goneburgers for it. He can swing the ball both ways and iirc got a little bit of reverse swing when Bangladesh toured NZ. He's a left armer too, which offers a new angle of attack.

Martin should be dropped, but won't. Same with Jeets (sorry Athlai). I'd go in with Southee, McKay/Bennett, Arnel personally.

 

[Woodster]

The NZ bowlers should be trying to execute similar tactics to those that the Australian quicks produced towards Sehwag (it's one of the few good things we've done lately).

In all honesty though I don't think Bennett and Martin are probably capable enough, Southee needs to be selected IMO.

Southeh..

Absolutely. That is the thing, as to whether their bowlers have the quality and consistency to carry out their plans. I'm inclined to agree, from what I've seen so far, that they're probably not, although that may be a little early to say on Bennett.

Should Southee be selected, he's going to have to be very disciplined with his lines, if he used the new ball, his natural delivery will be away from Sehwag, and he cannot give him the width that he usually feasts on.

 

[Hurricane]

How much of MArtin bowling at 133kms instead of is usual 138kms can you blame on the pitch?

 

[Flem274*]

Ball measured out of the hand, so not much.

Was thinking last night how accurate and economical Bennett was, and how weird that is. Is he holding back for accuracy? I hope not, because unlike most other **** **** NZ quicks he's actually a proper expensive strike bowler, rather than just an expensive bowler who happens to be fast.

 

[Hurricane]

YEah if Martins pace goes I think this will be the reason for him to be dropped. Based on past decisions that have been made.

Why are the Indian bowlers getting more out of this pitch. Sreesanth beat McCullum with an awesome leg cutter. Apart from Ryder's delivery to get rid of Gambhir I hardly remember us ever seaming the ball.

Also unlike PEWS was sad for the loss of our two wickets. It is not like we have anyone waiting in the wings - so we really need Mcintosh and Watling to develop into test match standard cricketers.

I think for Bennet to be a Strike bowler at this level he needs to completely rethink his game. He would probably take 8 wickets in an inning every time in a club game. But he needs to have a think to himself much like a young richard hadlee did - I don't think 140kms pace by itself is going to take wickets. Bond from what I saw of him used to be very intelligent.

I personally think Southee > Bennet and Southee should be playing every game as he is our future. I am worried by Woodsters post that Southees swing would play into the hands of Sehwag - but perhaps he could come wide on the crease and angle into the stumps.

 

[Hurricane]

Same with Jeets (sorry Athlai). I'd go in with Southee, McKay/Bennett, Arnel personally.

Jeets in the selectors minds would have done enough. Don't forget that Vettori rates Jeetan.

 

[Woodster]

YEah if Martins pace goes I think this will be the reason for him to be dropped. Based on past decisions that have been made.

Why are the Indian bowlers getting more out of this pitch. Sreesanth beat McCullum with an awesome leg cutter. Apart from Ryder's delivery to get rid of Gambhir I hardly remember us ever seaming the ball.

Also unlike PEWS was sad for the loss of our two wickets. It is not like we have anyone waiting in the wings - so we really need Mcintosh and Watling to develop into test match standard cricketers.

I think for Bennet to be a Strike bowler at this level he needs to completely rethink his game. He would probably take 8 wickets in an inning every time in a club game. But he needs to have a think to himself much like a young richard hadlee did - I don't think 140kms pace by itself is going to take wickets. Bond from what I saw of him used to be very intelligent.

I personally think Southee > Bennet and Southee should be playing every game as he is our future. I am worried by Woodsters post that Southees swing would play into the hands of Sehwag - but perhaps he could come wide on the crease and angle into the stumps.

On the Southee dilemma, I just think he will need to be disciplined. Just like Hilfenhaus had to be and he shapes it in a similar way. If he sets it off on off stump, with the swing, Sehwag will be throwing his hands through it, so he'll need to come straighter, and frustratingly for a bowler when you try that it doesn't swing and he'll clip him off his legs, an improved area for Sehwag.

Alternatively he can cross seamed against him and throw in the odd away swinging tempter,as you say using the width of the crease is another alternative.

I agree with what you say about Bennett, in so much as bowling 140 kph's is not going to be enough at this level. I'm sure with the right guidance he will develop.

 

[Prince EWS]

This is his last series in my mind before they start examining his spot. But IF we had a good coaching system for the blackcaps I don't see why they couldn't fix his deficiencies. I guess the comeback to that is that he should be learning his game at the FC level and not at the test match level. After this series he may well be forced into the situation.

I have a suspicion that he got selected on the back of his A team performances.

Also Guptil would have gotten out to that ball as well. Except Guptil might have nicked it on to his stumps rather than being beaten.

You had better be rooting for Williamson PEWS or there will be consequences.

Yeah, I'm right behind Williamson. He's earned his spot with consistently good domestic performances. He may or may not be ready for Tests now or even ever, but he's one of the best players in the country and deserves his spot. Watling, however, is only playing because the players in country for his position were proven not to be consistently up to the mark for Test level. The selectors just started shuffling through players once that happened, although I personally think it's unlikely that the 8th best #3 in the country is going to what the best seven could not. That a player with only one decent season and a First Class average of 30 is selected as a specialist batsman just shows how far down the queue they've got. Sinclar's Test average is better than Watling's First Class average FFS - it'd be like picking Sinclair in a World XI.

One thing though - please don't mistake my anti-McIntosh/Watling sentiment for being a Guptill fan. Guptill extremely similar to Watling for mine and I'd definitely rather have McIntosh than both (not that this means McIntosh is any way good, mind).

 

[masterblaster]

Damn Fox Sports. How does Queensland vs Tasmania have more importance than the third days play of India vs New Zealand?

If you've got the rights to show a test series, show all the days! What is the point of showing Day 1 and Day 2 live and then bumping Day 3 off because of a domestic one day fixture?

Pretty angry about it as I was looking forward to watching the cricket on a nice, warm saturday afternoon.

 

[Hurricane]

That was a bit confusing. Didn't mean to imply you were a Guptil fan. I think my train of logic was a partial excuse for Watling in saying that his nearest competitor would have gotten out to that ball as well.

I think other players in the NZ cricket team would have kept that one out however. It was not an amazing delivery.

If only Myburgh had not abandoned us for love of a good woman we would have someone in the wings to replace Watling. Who needs him anyway if that was all it took to take him away from NZ.

 

[Flem274*]

Sinclair>Watling.

 

[masterblaster]

Just checked out Fox Sports again and I just realised that they've got Viewers Choice cricket on today. Just click on the red button and you can alternate between two screens showing Queensland vs Tasmania and India vs New Zealand.

I take my words back. That's pretty cool of Fox Sports to do that. I remember that they do Viewers Choice with English Premier League matches but I don't remember them ever doing it with cricket. Saturday afternoon watching the cricket is still on then.

 

[Prince EWS]

Sinclair>Watling.

Sinclair as a Test batsman > Watling as a First Class batsman. The gulf is that large.

Hell I'd even rather have Ingram in the team, and that's saying something.

 

[Prince EWS]

Sinclair>Watling.

Sinclair as a Test batsman > Watling as a First Class batsman. The gulf is that large.

Hell I'd even rather have Ingram in the team, and that's saying something.