**Official** Pakistan v New Zealand in the UAE 2014

[Flem274*]

luckily we're in the UAE

#smartalec

 

[Athlai]

But Nz are not really a top batting side expected to make 500 or so in the first dab. When was the last time they made 500 in subcontinent type conditions?

In June against the WI.

 

[social]

I have never seen Pakistan as an amazing batting team. Conditions are crap but usually they would have thrown half the wickets in such conditions. Ahmed Shehzad was applying himself and took a long time to start making too many runs despite his instinct being aggressive.

Hafees is the weakest of the top 6 and even he almost made a 100. I would bet for this team to win tests and series outside the subcontinent if they show such commitment.

I think the jury is out on that one as Younis apart, some of the Pakistani top order have very dodgy techniques against pace but the pitches are so slow that the batsmen are able to adjust and the rare edges go nowhere

 

[Pratters]

Some times I have seen a collapse in the first session of day 2 after a great first day. New Zealand's best hope is to go qll out in the first session with pace while the bowlers are fresh, get them all out for around 400. Seems unrealistic now but stranger things have happened.

 

[Athlai]

I think the jury is out on that one as Younis apart, some of the Pakistani top order have very dodgy techniques against pace but the pitches are so slow that the batsmen are able to adjust and the rare edges go nowhere

Yeah thats pretty much it. Trent Boult looked like he wanted to cry after about 4 overs because of how little the pitch offered.

 

[Flem274*]

im amazed we didn't try to get the ball changed. need to bring that tactic back.

 

[Pratters]

In June against the WI.

Last 5 times in India, Pakistan, SL, UAE?

 

[Pratters]

I think the jury is out on that one as Younis apart, some of the Pakistani top order have very dodgy techniques against pace but the pitches are so slow that the batsmen are able to adjust and the rare edges go nowhere

Asad Shafiq is fine and when Azhar Ali is batting higher than him I assume he is okay too. Shehzad and Younis can make some runs at least. May not win a series against SA but can in WI or Nz..

 

[straw man]

But Nz are not really a top batting side expected to make 500 or so in the first dab. When was the last time they made 500 in subcontinent type conditions?

We're improving a little but as usual our batting is over-reliant on a couple of players, one of whom (Taylor) has fitness/matchplay question marks. If it stays this flat then I like this batting lineup, but if turn develops and conditions feel more alien, then we are likely to find our middle is soft. DoG is also right that, if we are going to score runs in SC-type conditions, it hasn't usually been in the first match of the series.

 

[Pratters]

Yeah I like the direction Nz is taking. I loved Latham recently and Williamson is delightful to watch.

 

[Teja.]

I like Williamson too but I think he's a bit overrated as an outstanding talent in the global scenario particularly when compared to Southee and Boult who definitely are rare talents.

 

[Athlai]

Last 5 times in India, Pakistan, SL, UAE?

Never been to UAE before, Pakistan would have been before any of our current crop.

India we batted well in 2010 and poorly in 2012, SL we batted well in 2012 but neither were flat tracks.

 

[Flem274*]

I like Williamson too but I think he's a bit overrated as an outstanding talent in the global scenario particularly when compared to Southee and Boult who definitely are rare talents.

i'd say it's because there aren't many young batsmen who look the business atm. for his age KW is excellent and he has the technique and has played knocks that show he could be quite special, and without getting into a debate over who is or will be better, when you do the things KW, Kohli, Pujara, Rahane, Smith, Bravo etc have done at such a young age and during a period where teams are struggling to get six test standard batsmen on the park, you look really good.

By contrast Southee and Boult are competing for some limelight with a whole host of other young stars and they're from a country who doesn't get shown on TV much unless you're playing them, so outside CW they are more likely to miss out on the hype machine. It's a bit like how no one really remembers Shakib al Hasan would walk into every test team on the planet and has a claim to being the most valuable cricketer in the world (can bowl spin effectively away from home, can bat in the top six).

 

[Athlai]

Na the Shakib thing is because the biggest voices in the cricket world, Australia, India and England all haven't actually seen how good a Test cricketer Shakib is.

 

[Flem274*]

I was being polite

 

[Athlai]

But you missed the opportunity to blame the BCCI for something.

 

[Flem274*]

Yeah well I can't review my poor decision so...

 

[Teja.]

i'd say it's because there aren't many young batsmen who look the business atm. for his age KW is excellent and he has the technique and has played knocks that show he could be quite special, and without getting into a debate over who is or will be better, when you do the things KW, Kohli, Pujara, Rahane, Smith, Bravo etc have done at such a young age and during a period where teams are struggling to get six test standard batsmen on the park, you look really good.

By contrast Southee and Boult are competing for some limelight with a whole host of other young stars and they're from a country who doesn't get shown on TV much unless you're playing them, so outside CW they are more likely to miss out on the hype machine. It's a bit like how no one really remembers Shakib al Hasan would walk into every test team on the planet and has a claim to being the most valuable cricketer in the world (can bowl spin effectively away from home, can bat in the top six).

I get what where you're coming from but considering both Boult and Boult are only 25 too, the absolute bowlers who are better then them/are in the same league is almost the same as the bunch of young, good batsmen you're referring to and then there are the 8-9 batsmen who are definitely superior to them. There's no doubt that every side in the world should pick Southee ahead of Williamson by a decent margin and I'd be tempted to say the same for Boult.

So we have with batsmen:

8-9 top dog batsmen
>
5-6 quality, young batsmen who get all the hype.

and with fast bowlers:the top 6-7 or so bowlers already include the young Southee and Boult yet Kohli, Williamson etc. get all the hype.

I have this down more as a standard 'batting getting disproportionate, undeserved attention' thing, myself.

 

[Flem274*]

I get what where you're coming from but considering both Boult and Boult are only 25 too, the absolute bowlers who are better then them/are in the same league is almost the same as the bunch of young, good batsmen you're referring to and then there are the 8-9 batsmen who are definitely superior to them. There's no doubt that every side in the world should pick Southee ahead of Williamson by a decent margin and I'd be tempted to say the same for Boult.

So we have with batsmen:

8-9 top dog batsmen
>
5-6 quality, young batsmen who get all the hype.

and with fast bowlers:the top 6-7 or so bowlers already include the young Southee and Boult yet Kohli, Williamson etc. get all the hype.

I have this down more as a standard 'batting getting disproportionate, undeserved attention' thing, myself.

Southee and Boult don't bowl fast enough to get the attention of the people who get wet over ***y shots more than nicks to slip.

And I think a side like Australia would pick KW before Southee.

 

[Teja.]

Now head to crabs and explain this agribusiness thing to me, ****.