*Official* Match 24 - New Zealand v Pakistan

[Spark]

Geez. It's not as if he's just stonewalling either, he looks properly dreadful.

 

[_Ed_]

Guptill-just-reached-30 alert.

Hopefully he's too busy trying to keep How off strike to notice that.

 

[TT Boy]

But then Pakistan bring in the worlds best ODI first change bowler.

Umar Gul's bowling...

 

[Hurricane]

Meh, How's 3 off 21 isn't bothering me greatly at this stage. Big picture = NZ 45/1 in 10 after losing McCullum in the first over. Akhtar taking the pressure off How's need to take risks.

How about 4(27)

 

[M0rphin3]

**** that missed the stump

 

[Howe_zat]

So much How-hate going around. Not entirely unjustified I admit. Favourite:

Even when How is on strike he should be called the non-striker

 

[Athlai]

Umar Gul's bowling...

...and there isn't a better first change bowler out there.

 

[salman85]

Umar Gul's bowling...

And the best ODI first change bowler is...?

 

[Zinzan]

But then Pakistan bring in the worlds best ODI first change bowler.

Depends what Gul turns up today. Certainly looked ominous from a NZ POV in that over.

 

[TT Boy]

Also Riaz > Shoaib. Akhtar looked just about done after 1 over.

Pie chucker Razzaq into the attack.

 

[_Ed_]

Meanwhile, Guptill moves through to 35* (39). Hate to think what our run rate could be if it hadn't been for him.

 

[BeeGee]

Honestly wouldn't be all that surprised if How was playing like a God in the nets.

If batsmen are being picked on their net form then the NZ cricket team is ****ed.

 

[Spark]

@Howe_zat: haha, brilliant.

Great shot from Guptill.

Haha, then pinches the strike. Class.

 

[TT Boy]

And the best ODI first change bowler is...?

Statistically there are a fair few better than Gul. Mitchell Johnson and Morne Morkel are two names which immediately spring to mind.

 

[salman85]

Also Riaz > Shoaib. Akhtar looked just about done after 1 over.

Pie chucker Razzaq into the attack.

Eh,No.

 

[Athlai]

And the best ODI first change bowler is...?

Broad could be potentially but yeah I'd say Gul and Broad are pretty far ahead of the rest of the pack.

 

[Howe_zat]

I'd rather have Morkel than Gul at first change, but I'd definately rather have Gul at the death.

 

[Athlai]

Statistically there are a fair few better than Gul. Mitchell Johnson and Morne Morkel are two names which immediately spring to mind.

Do you really reckon they are though?

 

[TT Boy]

If batsmen are being picked on their net form then the NZ cricket team is ****ed.

England use to do that. Ian Bell and Michael Vaughan were million $ net batsman when at the time they were lousy on in the case of Vaughan, finished international cricketers.

 

[Zinzan]

Pie chucker Razzaq into the attack.

He well & truly sauced the NZ'der's in the recent NZ/Pak series. Struck almost every time in his first spell IIRC