***Official*** New Zealand in India 2012

[Bahnz]

Well, aim high instead of accepting mediocrity, I think.

I think our batsmen should average 40 and our allrounder(s) should average near 30. Perfectly reasonable.

Well...if you're prepared to ignore virtually the entire history of New Zealand Cricket, then sure!

 

[Hurricane]

Reece Young. He got one average series and was dropped. Van Wyk had an okay one, a very average one, then another bad Test and still kept his place. Reece is a better keeper and is a very similar batsman - without being 'gritty'.

He took one stunning catch against Zimbos that turned the game - but was dreadful at other times. Not even attempting to catch edges that flew past him. Maybe it was nerves. So far Van Wyk has outkept him which is a shock because Vanwyk looked god awful in the HRV cup games I saw.

Edit dreadful is harsh - he missed a few (3-4) catches that McCullum would have made.

 

[straw man]

Yeah that seems much more realistic. I mean, you see how tough it is for our batsmen to average 30 in test cricket. Bracewell seems like a competent enough batsmen, pretty similar in many ways to Kyle Mills.

Could go either way but definitely has some ability - looks like a proper batsman, if not a particularly good or experienced one. Vettori and McCullum had years of guaranteed selection down the order and managed to improve their batting significantly because of it, and Bracewell doesn't seem to have any less ability.

But yeah, Mills is a counter-example to that. So is Zaheer Khan actually - looked a promising lower order batsman about ten years ago, and now....

 

[Shri]

Van Wyk look pissed we had to come off for bad light just from lip reading him. But they don't really offer the light to the batsman any more or we would have stayed out there.

Terrific knock by bracewell - wonderful supporting role - very glad they stuck with van wyk for this game.

I didn't see any of taylor's inning except for his six over long off.

Franklin's dismissal was attrocious execution.

Actually, Van Wyk asked for it when the new ball was taken and the umpire asked him to stfu and play.

 

[Days of Grace]

Seemed kind of stupid to pull them off in the middle of the over. Should have just finished the over or not even started it at all.

 

[BeeGee]

Actually, Van Wyk asked for it when the new ball was taken and the umpire asked him to stfu and play.

Seemed kind of stupid to pull them off in the middle of the over. Should have just finished the over or not even started it at all.

Yeah that was weird. KVW was going on and on to the umpires about the light, to the point that they told him to stfu, but then two balls later, in the middle of the over, they go off for light.

It was almost like an annoying child who goes on and on to his parents to let him do something and they finally give in just to shut him up.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Could go either way but definitely has some ability - looks like a proper batsman, if not a particularly good or experienced one. Vettori and McCullum had years of guaranteed selection down the order and managed to improve their batting significantly because of it, and Bracewell doesn't seem to have any less ability.

But yeah, Mills is a counter-example to that. So is Zaheer Khan actually - looked a promising lower order batsman about ten years ago, and now....

It's all about the approach to batting. Bracewell bats like he's a top-order batsman, so we're going to see pretty substantial improvement. Guys like Khan and Mills buy into the whole "I'm a tailender, no-one expects to me to do much" even though they have just as much potential.

 

[Athlai]

Yeah that was weird. KVW was going on and on to the umpires about the light, to the point that they told him to stfu, but then two balls later, in the middle of the over, they go off for light.

It was almost like an annoying child who goes on and on to his parents to let him do something and they finally give in just to shut him up.

Haha I'd say the umpires probably just felt that KVW may have been right but didn't want to give him the pleasure of telling them what to ****ing do.

 

[Howsie]

He does seem to have a sound technique. I'd be happy if he managed an average in the 19-22 region, though.

For his career? Something would've gone seriously wrong with his development if he only managed that. Should be no reason whatsoever why Bracewell can't become a number eight batsmen who averages 30 with a few 100's in his career, has a lot more ability with the bat then people are giving him credit for I reckon.

Hopefully that starts today for him, really need at least 400 from here I reckon. Pitch is going to be fairly flat for the next day or two.

 

[Athlai]

Dougeh looks a proper bat to me.

 

[_Ed_]

Partnership 96. Really outstanding. Probably been a while since we've had one like this in the lower order.

 

[straw man]

Quite like this walking-down-the-wicket from Van Wyk vs Zaheer while he's only bowling 125-130

 

[silentstriker]

Dhoni should think about standing up to the stumps.

 

[straw man]

Very little movement in air or off deck with new ball this morning so far - helpful for our batsmen however not great signs for when we bowl.

 

[_Ed_]

Aw. Good knock, though, and it was a good ball that got him.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Waaaaaaay too full and too close to cut a guy coming around the wicket. Fair knock though.

 

[straw man]

Damn. Touch of movement in to cramp him but shouldn't have been trying to run it through there anyway.

Still, a good innings.

 

[Days of Grace]

Well played by the little man. Did Zaheer just tell him to "**** off?" WAC, if so.

Will we see the new Southee?

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Please keep your head Doug.

edit: shottttttt

 

[_Ed_]

Glorious shot by Doug.

Hope Southee doesn't do anything daft.