**Official** New Zealand in West Indies

[NasserFan207]

Vettori will be useful because he doesn't spin it much, and the straight ball will be the wicket taker. Against Dilshan Gayle was having trouble particularly with the slider and was cleaned up by an off break later. I think Dilshan knows better about bowling than Williamson though. even for a part timer Dilshan is quite attacking spinner.

Wasn't that in t20s and ODIs though? In tests you usually need to actually spin the ball. And from what I recall Gayle has done pretty well against SL in tests

 

[Migara]

Wasn't that in t20s and ODIs though? In tests you usually need to actually spin the ball. And from what I recall Gayle has done pretty well against SL in tests

Gayle's heavy scoring in last tour was due to absence one factor. And it is called "VAAS". Vaas made Gayle his bitch, what ever the format played. Vaas will still turn up today and will clean up Gayle what ever the form he is in.

Getting back to Dilshan, I think he cleaned up Gayle in 2nd innings of 2nd test IIRC. He bowled a series of arm balls and then one that gripped and turned.

 

[NasserFan207]

What relevance does Vaas have to spinning the ball or NZ's bowling attack? Unless you think Wagner is Vaas reincarnated or something

You are way overestimating the ability of Dilshan and bowlers like him

 

[Migara]

What relevance does Vaas have to spinning the ball or NZ's bowling attack? Unless you think Wagner is Vaas reincarnated or something

You are way overestimating the ability of Dilshan and bowlers like him

Possibly you don't see the relevence. Every team with decent spinners open the bowling against Gayle with them. If India or Pakistan plays WI, we could see Ashwin and Ajmal opening against him. He got into trouble multiple times against part timer like Dilshan, and can expect better bowlers to give far more trouble and SLA tag has no relevence if the bowker is good enough.

 

[Beamer]

Possibly you don't see the relevence. Every team with decent spinners open the bowling against Gayle with them. If India or Pakistan plays WI, we could see Ashwin and Ajmal opening against him. He got into trouble multiple times against part timer like Dilshan, and can expect better bowlers to give far more trouble and SLA tag has no relevence if the bowker is good enough.

I have seen Gayle get out to Dilshan once when he opened the bowling, and I have also seen him be dismissed by Botha, both to sliders, so you have a point.

But I do think you're over-egging it slightly because I can count the times Gayle has been dismissed by a spinner opening the bowling on one hand and he has scored thousands upon thousands of runs, is the Worlds best T20 batsman, one of the best ever ODI openers and a very decent test match opener.

As for Vaas, well Gayle was definitely his bunny. These things happen in cricket. Ricky Ponting was a walking wicket whenever he faced Jerome Taylor, no matter what form he was in, and was dismissed in just about eevry classical way (lbw, clean bowled, caught behind, caught at slip, dragged on etc). Thats cricket.

 

[Pup Clarke]

dilshan's better than vettori though

 

[Arachnodouche]

About two years ago, one would say NZ fans were being overly pessimistic about their chances, this being the WI and all. It says a lot about the relative sense of solidity this Windies side is building up around them that you can no longer be so optimistic. If Rampaul stays more fit, Narine keeps developing, and Roach stays on the warpath, this would have the makings of a very well rounded, young bowling attack.

Love the kiwis too though, wouldn't mind them pulling one back. Still could happen, mind, but Narine in the WI seems to be the big shaved knuckle in the hole.

 

[SteveNZ]

Rampaul out of second Test - Cricket - Sportal New Zealand

Don't see this helping us too much. And how about Brownlie's run of scores? Horrendous.

 

[SteveNZ]

And Vettori out, too. No doubt that will hearten a few.

 

[Days of Grace]

Wonderful news.

If would say a lot if once again we win without Mr. Mediocrity.

Love(d) Vettori but in the last three years he personified the heroic loser for me. This team needs to move past that.

 

[straw man]

Not good news but not necessarily all bad either.

Four pacemen plus Williamson or does anyone want to see Nethula given a chance? Suspect they're leaning towards Nethula. I've read that Watling is fit but not sure about Boult for next test.

 

[Days of Grace]

Tough choice. Dougeh will be coming in at 8 at any rate so more responsibility for him.

Between Southee and Nethula for mine.

 

[SteveNZ]

Sabina Park has historically been a quickie's domain so possibly Southee. Nethula would be a bit of a 'picking a spinner for the sake of a spinner' anyway, given he didn't go that flash in the President's XI match.

If we win this one, Dan's not going to look so flash after Hobart..

 

[Hurricane]

Vettori's absence means a likely test debut for leg-spinner Tarun Nethula.

From the NZ Herald

 

[Scaly piscine]

Would have thought a leg-spinner who averages nigh on 40 in NZ's domestic cricket would get utterly murdered in particular by a left-hand dominated batting line-up. I find it amazing that New Zealand don't have a full-time off-spin option in their Test squad.

Maybe the selectors are gambling on the hope that he'll produce the game of his life.

 

[Flem274*]

Would have thought a leg-spinner who averages nigh on 40 in NZ's domestic cricket would get utterly murdered in particular by a left-hand dominated batting line-up. I find it amazing that New Zealand don't have a full-time off-spin option in their Test squad.

Maybe the selectors are gambling on the hope that he'll produce the game of his life.

Because he averaged better the season he was picked?

With the exception of Todd Astle, no one is really doing better. Vettori tells you all you need to know about how much faith we have in our spin stocks as a whole.

 

[SteveNZ]

From the NZ Herald

Guess work. Pure and simple.

Flem's right, career averages don't mean a tremendous amount as I've tried to explain previously. We picked him averaging a fair bit less. And we've gone down the off-spin route, his name is Jeetan Patel and he didn't produce enough to demand re-selection. Interestingly he's fifth on the CC Div 1 wicket taking list, and is scoring a weight of runs as well.

Two NZ discards at 1 and 5 in the Div 1 list. View that how you will.

 

[_Ed_]

Just for what it's worth, Jeetan Patel's County Championship season: 36 wickets @ 23.50 in 10 matches, with a best of 7/75. True, he never looked quite up to it in Tests, but that's a fair bit better than our current bunch.

 

[straw man]

Jeets did this last season in CC div 1 too though - took a 10-fer and bowled his way back into the test side for Zimbabwe, only to get pasted.

I for one, just don't get it.

 

[Hurricane]

I have watched the highlights of one of his wicket hauls - and most people in that highlight were gifting him their wickets. That said they were jsut highlights and he may have been building pressure on them for some time and making them crack.