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

[hendrix]

From what I have seen in both FC and test cricket, at this stage of his career, Sodhi is more effective v LHers than RHers.

Unfortunately no more LHers in the Pakistan line up (unless some if their tail are ).

Yeah I've noticed that too.

On Sodhi - one thing that's pleasing to see is that he's consistently turning his leg break, but still hasn't lost his wrong-un. I'm still not convinced about the repeatability of his action but there has been definite improvement.

Tomorrow will be a massive day for him.

 

[straw man]

Always beautiful to see a batsman bowled through the gate. I know you don't usually expect a subcontinental batsman to allow that gap between bat and pad, but to give Sodhi credit there was just a touch of drift to draw Masood out further than he wanted to be.

Hard slog now to get the next two wickets and will accept them any way they come; something special, continual pressure or just dumb luck. Even buying the next two wickets for 150-200 runs would seem worthwhile, just for a chance to bowl at Shafiq and below.

Boult needs some wickets as otherwise it could conceivably be him making way for Wagner in the third test.

 

[Blocky]

Always beautiful to see a batsman bowled through the gate. I know you don't usually expect a subcontinental batsman to allow that gap between bat and pad, but to give Sodhi credit there was just a touch of drift to draw Masood out further than he wanted to be.

Hard slog now to get the next two wickets and will accept them any way they come; something special, continual pressure or just dumb luck. Even buying the next two wickets for 150-200 runs would seem worthwhile, just for a chance to bowl at Shafiq and below.

Boult needs some wickets as otherwise it could conceivably be him making way for Wagner in the third test.

I'd be against Boult being dropped. I want Southee, Boult and Wagner to get experience in these conditions on the basis that I think they'll be our attack for the next five years. Even if Boult goes wicketless in the series, it'll tell him he has things to work on - Southee is a case and point of going away after some bad series and coming back better.

 

[Nate]

That Sodhi ball.

 

[straw man]

I'd be against Boult being dropped. I want Southee, Boult and Wagner to get experience in these conditions on the basis that I think they'll be our attack for the next five years. Even if Boult goes wicketless in the series, it'll tell him he has things to work on - Southee is a case and point of going away after some bad series and coming back better.

The old future-improvement-vs-current-results balancing act. Imagine though that Boult goes wicketless here for the second test in a row, while the spinners pick up a few each. Even though none of us were picking two spinners for this series, it'd be very hard to argue one of Craig or Sodhi should be left out for Wagner in that scenario. Whether we think Wagner could do any better than Boult has is another question.

Reserving judgment until the end of this match of course.

 

[hendrix]

Meh, we were happy to give the batsmen a long leash and Sodhi himself has had quite the charmed life. I'd keep the same team for the third test. Wagner for Craig being the only change I'd consider.

 

[Blocky]

The old future-improvement-vs-current-results balancing act. Imagine though that Boult goes wicketless here for the second test in a row, while the spinners pick up a few each. Even though none of us were picking two spinners for this series, it'd be very hard to argue one of Craig or Sodhi should be left out for Wagner in that scenario. Whether we think Wagner could do any better than Boult has is another question.

Reserving judgment until the end of this match of course.

In this case we know we have a world class seam bowler who will always be threatening with the new ball, who we know needs to learn how to adjust to other conditions where swing isn't as prevalent. I'd agree with you that Wagner should be ahead of Boult but NZ selectors never will, because Boult is "one of the good guys" in terms of the little pack/clique of cricketers who can't possibly be dropped.

 

[SteveNZ]

In this case we know we have a world class seam bowler who will always be threatening with the new ball, who we know needs to learn how to adjust to other conditions where swing isn't as prevalent. I'd agree with you that Wagner should be ahead of Boult but NZ selectors never will, because Boult is "one of the good guys" in terms of the little pack/clique of cricketers who can't possibly be dropped.

You'd have Wagner taking the new ball in Test cricket?

 

[Blocky]

You'd have Wagner taking the new ball in Test cricket?

You'd continue with Boult if he produces another sub par performance like the last game?

Over Boult, in these conditions, even though he's not anywhere near as good with the new ball as Boult is - Wagner is the better horse for the entire match.

 

[straw man]

In this case we know we have a world class seam bowler who will always be threatening with the new ball, who we know needs to learn how to adjust to other conditions where swing isn't as prevalent. I'd agree with you that Wagner should be ahead of Boult but NZ selectors never will, because Boult is "one of the good guys" in terms of the little pack/clique of cricketers who can't possibly be dropped.

Hey slow down there . I just said it *could happen* for the third test.

You'd have Wagner taking the new ball in Test cricket?

Give it to Anderson instead

 

[Blocky]

Hey slow down there . I just said it *could happen* for the third test.

It won't, NZ Cricket for years has gotten itself into the habit of having four to six players that it simply will not consider dropping under any circumstance even if the performances aren't there.

Boult is in that group.

 

[Athlai]

It won't, NZ Cricket for years has gotten itself into the habit of having four to six players that it simply will not consider dropping under any circumstance even if the performances aren't there.

Boult is in that group.

For good reason, they all end up performing.

 

[Blocky]

For good reason, they all end up performing.

Guptill... Sodhi... Fulton... Rutherford...

 

[Athlai]

Guptill... Sodhi... Fulton... Rutherford...

Fulton, Rutherford, Guptill and Sodhi aren't undroppable and 3 of them have been dropped already.

Sodhi has played less than 10 Tests for NZ. It's hardly like he is keeping someone out of the team that will certainly out perform himself. All of the players you've listed are people we've believed were the best option in a weak area.

If we drop a spinner or opener for not performing after 2-3 Tests we'd have exhausted every option in the country by now and still be searching.

 

[kiwiviktor81]

Trent Boult has 91 wickets @ 28, we're not going to drop him anytime soon.

 

[straw man]

Fulton, Rutherford, Guptill and Sodhi aren't undroppable and 3 of them have been dropped already.

Sodhi has played less than 10 Tests for NZ. It's hardly like he is keeping someone out of the team that will certainly out perform himself. All of the players you've listed are people we've believed were the best option in a weak area.

If we drop a spinner or opener for not performing after 2-3 Tests we'd have exhausted every option in the country by now and still be searching.

This is all true. They're rightly giving openers and spin bowlers extended leeway because we have few other options and merry-go-rounds are rubbish.

 

[the big bambino]

The disadvantage of Pakistan having played so well to this point for them is that if we can snip off two out of Younis, Azhar and Misbah we're into a mid to lower batting order that hasn't had to do much work recently and we could break through them relatively easily. I still think we're going to regret not having Wagner there as he's had the ability to take out the best player in the opposition side.

Sadly, it really comes down to whether Craig and Sodhi can prove us all wrong and put in a good performance.

This is on for the only reason Pakistan, especially Younis, are probably due for failure. Admittedly I'm only going on odds and nothing to do with what I've seen that will make it happen, but the chances of Southee or Boult creating a breakthrough are not miniscule. Get a big enough lead here and make Pakistan bat on the final day in the hope a variable wicket could assist NZ to victory. Along way to go but Pakistan could be Pakistanned here.

 

[ohnoitsyou]

This is on for the only reason Pakistan, especially Younis, are probably due for failure. Admittedly I'm only going on odds and nothing to do with what I've seen that will make it happen, but the chances of Southee or Boult creating a breakthrough are not miniscule. Get a big enough lead here and make Pakistan bat on the final day in the hope a variable wicket could assist NZ to victory. Along way to go but Pakistan could be Pakistanned here.

law of averages, or regression?

 

[Blocky]

Fulton, Rutherford, Guptill and Sodhi aren't undroppable and 3 of them have been dropped already.

Sodhi has played less than 10 Tests for NZ. It's hardly like he is keeping someone out of the team that will certainly out perform himself. All of the players you've listed are people we've believed were the best option in a weak area.

If we drop a spinner or opener for not performing after 2-3 Tests we'd have exhausted every option in the country by now and still be searching.

All of them had more time and leniency than say Flynn... Sinclair... Franklin... Elliot... Bruce Martin... Todd Astle...

 

[Athlai]

All of them had more time and leniency than say Flynn... Sinclair... Franklin... Elliot... Bruce Martin... Todd Astle...

Flynn - 24 matches
Sinclair - 33 matches
Franklin (as batsman) - 10 matches
Elliott - 5 matches
Bruce Martin - 5 matches
Todd Astle - 1 match

Only Astle may be hard done by there but in all honesty are any of us really of the belief that Tastle was harshly treated by the selectors? He was an experiment and somewhat last minute selection and in 2012 his spinning credentials weren't quite as well versed as they are today.

I fully expect Tastle to get a few matches if we do continue the spin merry go round.

The rest were all given a fair go and all came up short.