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***Official*** New Zealand in the West Indies 2014
- Thread starter Hurricane
- Start date
hendrix
Hall of Fame Member
Just pure guts, I think.
ohnoitsyou
International Regular
Haha blocky tasting so hard. (Cue Wagner rant)
Lets here it WW
Lets here it WW
wellAlbidarned
International Coach
Wow, excellent comeback from WI (from the first test obvs). Well on top here.
Bahnz
Hall of Fame Member
Yeah, I can't say I'm very hopeful. Even in a dream scenario were New Zealand bowl brilliantly and restrict WI to 370ish, 150 is just too much of a lead to concede, especially given NZ's historic ****iness the 3rd innings. Realistically, with Chanderpaul still there and Ramdin to come, 450 is probably much more likely which opens up the potential for WI to win by an innings.
BeeGee
International Captain
It's kind of a redundant statement, when you think about it.
It's like saying: "The sky is blue! Bwahahahaha!"
If would have had more impact if he'd said: "You are gonna dieeeeeee... around tea time tomorrow".
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Beamer
International Vice-Captain
Superb stuff from Kragg. The first of what will be quite a few test centuries I expect. He has exactly the right temperament for a test batsman and is working hard on a few technical flaws. He is also exactly the sort of batsman we needed, a second Shiv to complement the stroke-players we have in the side. Bravo was an absolute treat to watch, he's definitely back in form. It was good to see him hold back from playing his favourite shots through the offside because the wicket didn't suit it. He also decimated the NZ spin attack which could well prove a critical moment in the match. Also well played to Kirk Edwards whose attacking innings set the tone for the day IMHO. He gave the other batsmen confidence.
Obviously, we are well on top, Shiv is at the crease and we have a gun young batsman and an inform wicket keeper batsman still in the pavillion. Things are looking very good. If we can get through the last few overs of the newish ball tomorrow morning with the loss of Roach or less, we really will be laughing.
I thought Southee and Boult were as good as usual. Probing stuff with good each way movement just like JT (but a little bit slower, which might be fatigue?). Craig started badly but started to look more threatening as the innings went on. Sodhi still not good enough IMHO, way too much loose stuff and quality batsmen like Bravo will punish that severely. He did turn a few of his leggies today which was an improvement, but he simply shouldn't be playing at this level yet.
Neesham put in one of the worst displays of seam bowling I've seen at QPO. Utter filth for the most part, either banging it in by his feet or bowling full tosses. He might look a test class batsman thus far but a 3rd seamer he certainly isn't.
Slight worry of the day was that the umpire let play go on when it was that dark. Being a Trini myself and knowing those conditions, I was very surprised to see them carry on even though the two opening bowlers were bowling 50% of their deliveries short. The umpires have set a precedent now and will have to keep the players out again in the same circumstances, which could prove...interesting!
Obviously, we are well on top, Shiv is at the crease and we have a gun young batsman and an inform wicket keeper batsman still in the pavillion. Things are looking very good. If we can get through the last few overs of the newish ball tomorrow morning with the loss of Roach or less, we really will be laughing.
I thought Southee and Boult were as good as usual. Probing stuff with good each way movement just like JT (but a little bit slower, which might be fatigue?). Craig started badly but started to look more threatening as the innings went on. Sodhi still not good enough IMHO, way too much loose stuff and quality batsmen like Bravo will punish that severely. He did turn a few of his leggies today which was an improvement, but he simply shouldn't be playing at this level yet.
Neesham put in one of the worst displays of seam bowling I've seen at QPO. Utter filth for the most part, either banging it in by his feet or bowling full tosses. He might look a test class batsman thus far but a 3rd seamer he certainly isn't.
Slight worry of the day was that the umpire let play go on when it was that dark. Being a Trini myself and knowing those conditions, I was very surprised to see them carry on even though the two opening bowlers were bowling 50% of their deliveries short. The umpires have set a precedent now and will have to keep the players out again in the same circumstances, which could prove...interesting!
straw man
Hall of Fame Member
I would retain some hope if we can bowl WI out with a lead under 150, though with all the nightwatchmen I'd forgotten Windies have not just Ramdin but also Blackwood as recognised batsmen still to come. New ball blitz tomorrow or nothing. We would then need to score 350 and try bowl WI out for under 200 as the pitch gets difficult. McCullum and Taylor are due some runs though I'm not getting the feeling that McCullum will score any.
Can't see a draw happening unless there's a lot of rain.
Brathwaite and Bravo setting up this game is very reminiscent of Latham and Williamson in the first test (and what we failed to do yesterday), and there's nothing like scoreboard pressure to help an average spinner like Craig or Benn take a fistful of wickets.
Can't see a draw happening unless there's a lot of rain.
Brathwaite and Bravo setting up this game is very reminiscent of Latham and Williamson in the first test (and what we failed to do yesterday), and there's nothing like scoreboard pressure to help an average spinner like Craig or Benn take a fistful of wickets.
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Blocky
Banned
To be honest though, we're all surprised at how well Braithwaite has played and Bravo hit a great knock too. Unexpected but good cricket. The "Wagner Rant" is obvious. Had Wagner played, they'd not be 300 for 5.
wellAlbidarned
International Coach
They both top out in the early 140s when really fired up but sit around 130-135 mostly. Taylor is just a shade quicker generally.
hendrix
Hall of Fame Member
I've always rated Brathwaite. Even Edwards I'm rather fond of.
It's going to be a pretty useful batting order with a little consistency of selection.
Howsie
International Captain
Haha yeah. Fair play to him on scoring his first test hundred but technically he's still got a few things to work on. That little drive waft thing he has would probably get him into a few problems on a more lively pitch too. Dogged determination can take you a long way though I suppose.
As for our bowling, Southee and Boult good, the rest really, really bad. Especially Neesham. I'm not expecting him to run through a team or anything but it would be nice if he could land two balls in the same general area per over.
Blocky
Banned
I hadn't seen enough of Braithwaite. Edwards always came off as talented but not hardened enough to be consistent. It'll be interesting to see if the Windies can turn things around on the basis of a young side - although I still feel once Chanderpaul finally hangs up the gloves, they'll not see his like for a number of years.
Southee and Boult have looked a class above in this test, just a shame they've not had any support.
Mike5181
International Captain
A youthful core of Brathwaite, Bravo, Blackwood, Roach, Narine, and Holder in the next few years doesn't look too bad.
Beamer
International Vice-Captain
Some of us have been calling for Kraigg to return. I certainly know he is capable of performing like that. He has scored mountains of runs on far more difficult surfaces than this in both domestic and A team cricket. I think some of you who have seen much less of his batting underestimated his abilities. For a 21 year old he has immense powers of concentration.
Also, in what way is Darren Bravo scoring runs surprising? He is averaging almost 45 in Test cricket and has 2 more centuries at this stage in his career than one Brian Charles Lara. He's a pretty special young batsman. You can't praise Kane WIlliamson to the hilt and put down Bravo when Darren has a considerably superior test record.
No he certainly hasn't. Hasn't found a length at all - either well short of a length or long HVs, which is also along the lines of how he bowled in the ODIs over our summer. I'd only be guessing but for a lot of guys it can be a mental thing - takes a while to trust the ball coming out of your hand. He needs conditions to be in his favour at the moment to be successful, can't see him being too much of a factor here, in the UAE etc. That's certainly not to say a tall guy who can bowl 140+ won't rectify that.
Anderson was completely toothless v India over the summer (Test wise). I think over time his bowling will become a very secondary entity to his batting.