***Official*** New Zealand in the West Indies 2014

[wellAlbidarned]

He's about 10 degrees away from a perfect bowling action. There's just that little inside-tilt he seems to do when nervous and straining for pace.

 

[Dan]

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.

I think part of the 'surprise' comes from how much he's struggled in the past couple of games following those personal dramas. To use an Invers-ism, he didn't look like he was "in a good space" and likely to score runs. Something felt really off about the way he played in the last Test, like it wasn't the real Darren Bravo facing up to the Sodhi Fruit Salad.

Though my last post on the matter basically said that I reckoned Bravo would randomly pull out an extremely good knock and catapult himself back into form; this innings has (hopefully) broken through whatever beset him last game, and has triggered him back into being the batsman that we all know he can be.

I still reckon Williamson is the better batsman, ftr, but wouldn't try and statistically justify it. It's just Kane

 

[Bahnz]

On a different topic, I thought it was a very good innings from Brathwaite. His bloody mindedness is very impressive. He certainly has the judgement and temperament to be an opening batsman. But. That technique of his, dragging the bat around from wide of the off stump with his bottom hand when driving, is going to get him into trouble against the moving ball. He got clean bowled through the gate by Boult that way in Hamilton, and he was out again playing in a similar manner yesterday evening.

The way international cricket works is if there's a big technical flaw in your game (which I think his driving is) then opposition bowlers will ruthlessly exploit it. I'm not saying that it will prevent him from succeeding, as he has a lot of very good qualities. But I do think he's going to have work on it going forward.

 

[Prince EWS]

The thing to keep in mind about Brathwaite is that he's still only 21. He made his Test debut when he was 18. I don't really expect opening batsmen to be Test standard at that age so even just hacking it at all is a great sign.

He's got a couple of obvious technical issues to work on that may see him experience a slump or two in the immediate future but his basic setup is fine and his defence is sound so doesn't need to make wholesale changes to it; he'll be fine IMO.

 

[Bahnz]

The thing to keep in mind about Brathwaite is that he's still only 21. He made his Test debut when he was 18. I don't really expect opening batsmen to be Test standard at that age so even just hacking it at all is a great sign.

He's got a couple of obvious technical issues to work on that may see him experience a slump or two in the immediate future but his basic setup is fine and his defence is sound so doesn't need to make wholesale changes to it; he'll be fine IMO.

Yeah exactly, the fact that he's 21 and is already showing the qualities that he has is very encouraging. It's fairly evident that he's already improved massively since his first stint in the side, so I have no reason to suspect that he won't improve further. As you say, his core defence works well, which is the most important thing for an opener. Just pointing the main issue he has with his run-scoring options atm as I see it.

 

[Athlai]

Braithwaite >>> Rutherford

 

[Bahnz]

Braithwaite >>> Rutherford

Given that you could probably still argue that Fulton > Rutherford, I don't think you'll get much debate on this. Based on this innings I think you could also say that Brathwaite > Latham. I've been pleased with Latham this series, but it's disconcerting that he's basically been out twice in three innings flaying at a wide half volley when well set. Once Brathwaite got in he made us pay, as all openers should.

 

[Days of Grace]

Umpire's call on Brathwaite early in the day cost us.

Maybe there's an umpiring bias against New Zealand, WW?

 

[Bahnz]

Umpire's call on Brathwaite early in the day cost us.

Maybe there's an umpiring bias against New Zealand, WW?

Haha, was thinking about commenting on that too. Hopefully that can put an end to WW's whingeing about umpire bias

 

[Howsie]

Given that you could probably still argue that Fulton > Rutherford, I don't think you'll get much debate on this. Based on this innings I think you could also say that Brathwaite > Latham. I've been pleased with Latham this series, but it's disconcerting that he's basically been out twice in three innings flaying at a wide half volley when well set. Once Brathwaite got in he made us pay, as all openers should.

tbf his second innings dismissal shouldn't be held against him, he was obviously looking for quick runs when he came charging down the track.

 

[Bahnz]

I meant the first innings were he was caught off a no ball in basically the exact same manner that he was yesterday.

 

[hendrix]

I meant the first innings were he was caught off a no ball in basically the exact same manner that he was yesterday.

I think we can afford the same lenience to Latham here as we do to Brathwaite.

Latham's second test dismissal came after he'd just hit a flurry of boundaries and he got carried away. He'd batted with excellent restraint up until that point.

I agree that they were poor shots but it's nowhere near the level of Rutherford or Fulton where there are clear technical issues.

 

[Howsie]

I meant the first innings were he was caught off a no ball in basically the exact same manner that he was yesterday.

My bad. Still I wouldn't hold it against him too much, he's not trying to play those shots of a good length like Rutherford. His judgement this series has been a lot better than I thought it would be and that is a very productive shot for him.

 

[Hurricane]

I think we can afford the same lenience to Latham here as we do to Brathwaite.

Latham's second test dismissal came after he'd just hit a flurry of boundaries and he got carried away. He'd batted with excellent restraint up until that point.

I agree that they were poor shots but it's nowhere near the level of Rutherford or Fulton where there are clear technical issues.

I don't mean to put you on the spot - or invoke a response where you say they are obvious. But just so I can compare my notes on him with yours please list your thoughts on Rutherford's technical issues.

For me I think he is an impetuous batsman that possibly doesn't get his foot to the pitch of the ball outside off stump but plays a shot anyway.

 

[hendrix]

I don't mean to put you on the spot - or invoke a response where you say they are obvious. But just so I can compare my notes on him with yours please list your thoughts on Rutherford's technical issues.

For me I think he is an impetuous batsman that possibly doesn't get his foot to the pitch of the ball outside off stump but plays a shot anyway.

He's weak off his hip area; he doesn't really have a leg glance or much onside game to speak of.

He's loose outside off stump and tries to drive or cut anything even if it's not full or short enough for it. He's actually quite good at these shots, so I don't mind them too much, but since he has no onside game he plays them way too often and gets out easily.

 

[ajdude]

Umpire's call on Brathwaite early in the day cost us.

Maybe there's an umpiring bias against New Zealand, WW?

Haha, was thinking about commenting on that too. Hopefully that can put an end to WW's whingeing about umpire bias

first two deliveries i see of brathwaite this series he's squared up and nearly LBW, and edges just short. everything goes against the windies though according to WW

good from me.

 

[straw man]

I don't mean to put you on the spot - or invoke a response where you say they are obvious. But just so I can compare my notes on him with yours please list your thoughts on Rutherford's technical issues.

Which of Rutherford's weaknesses will lead to his dismissal next innings? Vote now!

A) Slashing outside off
B) Prodding outside off
C) Tucked up by the short ball at the body
D) Caught on the crease and lbw
E) Lofting a spinner to mid-on or mid-off

After the first innings was A, I think he'll be more circumspect next time, so B.

 

[Zinzan]

This is where we really miss a fit & available Daniel Vettori. He might not have been the greatest striker, but would have been the perfect guy for Southee & Boult to bowl around. Can't recall Vettori going for more than 3 runs an over very often at all.

 

[Zinzan]

Which of Rutherford's weaknesses will lead to his dismissal next innings? Vote now!

A) Slashing outside off
B) Prodding outside off
C) Tucked up by the short ball at the body
D) Caught on the crease and lbw
E) Lofting a spinner to mid-on or mid-off

After the first innings was A, I think he'll be more circumspect next time, so B.

It's astonishing in retrospect just how good Rutherford looked in that debut innings against England and in contrast how feeble he's looked ever since.

 

[Zinzan]

Umpire's call on Brathwaite early in the day cost us.

Maybe there's an umpiring bias against New Zealand, WW?

Didn't see this, what happened exactly?

Regardless, was really impressed with the little bit I saw of Brathwaite,