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

[Bahnz]

I'm not counting my chickens yet, we've still got two wickets to get and the pitch isn't exactly awful for batting yet.

Nah, barring a massive downpour tomorrow you've got this in the bag. Even in a worse case scenario where Craig and Watling somehow hold on to lunch, you've still got the 3rd new ball at that point, and with the rate NZ are scoring you're never going to need more than 30 overs to polish this off.

As hesitant as I am to admit it, Blocky is right, New Zealand have probably let themselves down by being too negative over the course of this innings. We really should have at least another 70 or 80 runs at this point, which would've been getting us close to a target that would've given us a slim chance of putting WI under pressure. As it is, I'll be shocked if this lasts longer than an hour tomorrow. Full credit to WI though, they made it hard work all day and didn't offer New Zealand any opportunities to get on top.

 

[hendrix]

Lord Pidg won't gift his wicket, and we know BJ is as tough as it comes. They'll make them sweat a bit tomorrow.

Reckon a rejuvenated Taylor and Roach will get them pretty quick tomorrow morning.

Really disappointing that the rest of the batting lineup barring Latham and Neesham didn't show the same application.

 

[Kippax]

Morrison received a correction today when he raised the prospect of Narine still being in contention for the Barbados Test, ftr. "No, I'm now hearing we won't see Narine until the T20s".

 

[Mike5181]

Thoughts on our team for the third test?

 

[Bahnz]

Think that's being a bit tough on Williamson. He did bat for more than 3 and a half hours before making a mental error - which can easily happen when you're in such a negative mindset. Taylor's dismissal was very disappointing though, just a waft at a ball which was nowhere near the right length for driving. The fact that Watling has subsequently been so solid makes it look even worse.

 

[Bahnz]

Morrison received a correction today when he raised the prospect of Narine still being in contention for the Barbados Test, ftr. "No, I'm now hearing we won't see Narine until the T20s".

Interesting, so maybe WI to field an unchanged side for the third test? Or will they bring Shilly back?

For New Zealand, this test has provided pretty conclusive evidence that we can't field a supporting bowling attack of Neesham, Sodhi and Craig. My XI for the second test

Latham
Craig
Williamson
Taylor
McCullum
Anderson
Neesham
Watling
Southee
Wagner
Boult

 

[Howsie]

Yup, this. Williamson - so so soft

Yep, the most disappointing shot of the day IMO. It was terrible. Five feet outside off stump, just looking to defend it. Horrible.

Just finished watching the day's play. What was the plan exactly, look to bat 180 overs? Anything short of that and the Windies are looking at a fairly short chase. I don't mind being defensive, but we weren't that, we were negative. I mean how exactly do you bat 100 overs on this pitch and only score 200 runs? Fair play to the West Indies, they've been excellent this test, but we were terrible day four, and that had nothing to do with the West Indies. I think Rutherford's dismissal summed up our day tbh. Half volley outside off stump, 'better pad up to that'

Sigh.

 

[Blocky]

Even if we'd managed three an over, you're talking about being 120-140 runs ahead without really taking that many more risks. Grinding with more than two days to go never works out and I think most of our problem actually happened yesterday when two set batsmen went out grinding out the overs.

 

[RxGM]

It reminds me a lot of his dismissals 2 years ago when he was last in the WI, I had hoped that he had moved on from that

 

[NZTailender]

After the first Test, the way we've performed in this Test is actually no surprise. We seem to be great at following up a win with a sub-par performance. I mean even how we won the first test was almost mirror image to how we won the first test vs India (except we polished of WI easily in the first; India made 366 in the other after we posted 105). The 2nd Test vs India, we all know how that went. A miracle performance saved us but otherwise it was near identical to how this match has played out, scorewise.

 

[hendrix]

Nah big differences.
For one, the West Indies actually has a good bowling attack capable of taking wickets on a flat track. India doesn't have that.
Against India, NZ was sent in to bat on a very green track in what was basically a gambler's toss.

Here, we lost in the first innings. From 120/1, we should have at least got to 350. Or even 300. Being bowled out for 220 in the first innings on this pitch after such a solid start is inexcusable.

 

[SteveNZ]

Even if we'd managed three an over, you're talking about being 120-140 runs ahead without really taking that many more risks. Grinding with more than two days to go never works out and I think most of our problem actually happened yesterday when two set batsmen went out grinding out the overs.

Cmon mate. I know it supports the point you were labouring but the residual effect of the 40 overs the previous evening would have been nigh-on zero. Latham got an unplayable and Kane had batted past drinks. Who's to say the Test isn't over now if they had've been more attacking.

 

[Flem274*]

If Watling scores a ton tomorrow I don't care who wins.

 

[hendrix]

If Watling scores a ton tomorrow I don't care who wins.

Can we change his title from OPWB to WPWB yet?

 

[Kippax]

 

[Blocky]

Cmon mate. I know it supports the point you were labouring but the residual effect of the 40 overs the previous evening would have been nigh-on zero. Latham got an unplayable and Kane had batted past drinks. Who's to say the Test isn't over now if they had've been more attacking.

But you have to recall what I said in relationship to "getting unplayables" - any form of cricket, there is a chance a ball will be bowled that'll basically be an anomaly that you can't keep out. If you're trying to grind down a side by defending them into dust, you're furthering the risk of getting that unplayable ball because you're not rotating the strike frequently, you're not putting pressure on the bowler and the bowler can construct a plan with full awareness that the batsman will not look to disrupt him.

It was always likely that one of these guys get a good nut to dismiss them within 40 odd overs of batting together, it was equally as likely that mental lapses borne out of simply trying to refuse the opposition wickets was likely to happen too, because your plan doesn't include a scoring mindset, you get what you think is a hittable ball and you throw the hands at it ending in dismissal.

Whether the test would already be over or not isn't really the question, for me, showing fight means actually trying to get yourself in a position where the opposition struggle to beat you. Rather than this situation where we really just had a plan of batting time, rather than advancing the game.

 

[Flem274*]

Can we change his title from OPWB to WPWB yet?

Not while AB has the gloves.

If he blocks out all day tomorrow I'll call him that anyway though.

 

[hendrix]

Whether the test would already be over or not isn't really the question, for me, showing fight means actually trying to get yourself in a position where the opposition struggle to beat you. Rather than this situation where we really just had a plan of batting time, rather than advancing the game.

I agree with most of this but there has been some fight from some of the batsmen. Latham was very good. Kane did manage a fighting half century (albeit with a very disappointing dismissal) and Watling has Watlinged.

I think Neesham and Taylor were the ones who's game plans suited a bit more counterattacking. Unfortunately, Taylor was dreadful and Neesham got a freak dismissal.

It might be a different story had Benn dropped that catch.

 

[Blocky]

Meanwhile, Williamson still just struggles to play an innings where he doesn't throw away the results of his hard graft... He's becoming king of the soft dismissal at a time that his side really needs him to kick on.

 

[hendrix]

Meanwhile, Williamson still just struggles to play an innings where he doesn't throw away the results of his hard graft... He's becoming king of the soft dismissal at a time that his side really needs him to kick on.

Yeah I've criticised Williamson a lot lately for these soft dismissals. A year ago I would've said it was worrying. Now I'd say it's a fairly well-established trend.