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

[kiwiviktor81]

Pakistani batsmen other than Hafeez this match: 12/162

 

[hendrix]

Need it to keep swinging.

nah it's not so important. Younis is out now so our spinners should have plenty of confidence.

 

[morgieb]

Interesting that New Zealand have had more of a public outcry of emotion wrt Hughes yet they're pretty much dominating since Day 1.

 

[BeeGee]

Interesting that New Zealand have had more of a public outcry of emotion wrt Hughes yet they're pretty much dominating since Day 1.

We're discovering that New Zealanders play better when they CBF. Ryder was just ahead of the curve.

 

[hendrix]

We're discovering that New Zealanders play better when they CBF.

I feel like I should make a dating reference here.

 

[Blakey]

Nz' innings is 12th fastest run rate of any completed innings and the highest total on the list

link

 

[straw man]

Amazed to see the swing Boult and Southee got in that opening spell and the carry as well. Boult on for his Broad-like once per series demolition job.

 

[cnerd123]

Why did the commentator just speculate about whether or not this would be Misbah's last test match?

 

[ohnoitsyou]

Not as bad as "best third team in the world"

 

[OverratedSanity]

Why did the commentator just speculate about whether or not this would be Misbah's last test match?

Long gap till their next test series, and considering how old he already is, it's quite possible he'll retire. Will be so sad if he doesn't play another test

 

[cnerd123]

Really? I don't feel like Misbah is going to ever retire. Will need to be dropped from the Pak side.

Has Craig ever taken a wicket that has not been described as a soft dismissal?

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Reading a couple of biographies, Hadlee maintained that he only changed his run up because he found he lost close to no pace. I should rephrase that, people claim his change in run up didn't cause him to slow down.

Changing his run-up didn't cause him to lose pace, he just lost pace naturally as he got older.

 

[Spark]

Pakistan can't be all there, can they? I mean, there's an obvious reason for that but these last few days have been most unusual given the pattern of the previous month

 

[cnerd123]

Seems NZ and Pak are both reacting to Hughes' death, but quite differently.

 

[hendrix]

Has Craig ever taken a wicket that has not been described as a soft dismissal?

To be fair, his modus operandi is to use flight and bounce. Which is why I wasn't expecting him to do well in the UAE but when there is some bounce in the wicket, as there is here, he's pretty decent.

 

[hendrix]

Pakistan can't be all there, can they? I mean, there's an obvious reason for that but these last few days have been most unusual given the pattern of the previous month

The reason is that NZ on the second day did not want to be there but were forced to play by the negotiations. They basically said that they didn't care about the result. That took all the pressure of expectation off them and the momentum has been unstoppable since than.

Also, NZ had the better of the second Test so it's not as if it's been completely out of the blue.

 

[cnerd123]

To be fair, his modus operandi is to use flight and bounce. Which is why I wasn't expecting him to do well in the UAE but when there is some bounce in the wicket, as there is here, he's pretty decent.

I agree with that, just find it odd no one wants to give him credit for good bowling. Always seems to be the batsman's fault, a loose shot, a wicket out of nowhere, etc.

He's very Vettori like in the way he bowls.

 

[Flem274*]

the one problem with the baz 300 is now i don't even quite trust 40/4 with one and a half days left. we drew a test from 90/5 with two and a bit days left

 

[Spark]

The reason is that NZ on the second day did not want to be there but were forced to play by the negotiations. They basically said that they didn't care about the result. That took all the pressure of expectation off them and the momentum has been unstoppable since than.

Also, NZ had the better of the second Test so it's not as if it's been completely out of the blue.

Yeah but the gap between the sides since Day 2 has been staggering. Pakistan have lost 11 or 12 wickets for ****-all whilst NZ have put on about a million.

 

[Zinzan]

Has Craig ever taken a wicket that has not been described as a soft dismissal?

Haha, Craig just seems to be one of the cricketers who has Lady L on his side. Forget bowling, even batting alone he's had more luck his short career than Stephen Fleming had in over 100 test matches.