Hurricane
Hall of Fame Member
Indeed well in Jeetan.Congrats Jeets
Indeed well in Jeetan.Congrats Jeets
Yes, I agree, and I understood the reasons at the time - except those reasons were completely thrown out the door when Hesson decided to play both Sodhi and Bartin in the first Test. If they were going to play a second spinner, like they did in Sri Lanka, it should have been Astle who got the job.Disagree. Too much hindsight in your comment.
At the time, Astle was regarded as a spin-bowling all rounder, and played his only test as #2 spinner (behind Jeets) and batting #7. When Jeets was discarded, Martin was next of the rank, as the test team needed a spinner who could tie up an end in an attack with only 3 seamers + KW. I assume Astle was seen more as a 17-2-80-2 bowler than a 30-8-80-2 bowler.
But now Anderson has changed the game for the test spinner role. Sodhi made the Bangs tour as a learning experience, but when Anderson batted at #6 and was able to bowl 10 overs a day, we could pick a spinner to take wickets in the 3rd / 4th innings, rather than bowl a tight 20-25 overs a day.
I think Astle was only picked for Sri Lanka in the first place under the theory that a second spinner had to be able to bat seven. Anderson coming into the side changed all that.Yes, I agree, and I understood the reasons at the time - except those reasons were completely thrown out the door when Hesson decided to play both Sodhi and Bartin in the first Test. If they were going to play a second spinner, like they did in Sri Lanka, it should have been Astle who got the job.
Manu sees all...that's all I'll say. And he has a temper.hang in there blocky. I have enjoyed some of your posts.
If you want to get on SteveNZ's good side by the way try bagging Colin Munro. He will like that.
He's driven his average up by about five runs in the past few seasons domestically, but he's not really the bullying style of player - plus no one in NZ Cricket can bully Wagner if he's bowling on form.Watling doesn't do domestic bullying does he?
yeah, and the deck looks about the flattest I've seen.Sheesh I was impressed with Latham's knock till I had a look at the Central "attack".
Probably one of the worst I've ever seen in a NZ domestic. KNB would be a vast improvement over that lot. Dreadful.