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

[smash84]

It's very difficult to say where any team should be ranked. Everyone except South Africa is awful in conditions traditionally alien to their players. I don't see how India can be ranked conclusively behind Pakistan at all. South Africa are number 1, Australia number 2, but after that you could put England, Pakistan, India, New Zealand in virtually any order.

yeah,I guess that is a fair assessment.

 

[smash84]

I think NZ have emerged as a pretty obvious number 3, while Sri Lanka probably ought to be 4, although the loss to SA at home leaves that under a bit of a cloud. I can't rate Pakistan because the team seems a different one from that which toured SL, England seemed awful when SL toured but appeared invigorated and back in pretty good form by the end of the summer and India have had no luck touring but haven't had a proper opponent to play at home since Australia but they've been quiet ordinary for mine.

number 3 is pretty high for NZ. There is nothing obvious about them being no 3.

 

[OverratedSanity]

I think NZ have emerged as a pretty obvious number 3, while Sri Lanka probably ought to be 4, although the loss to SA at home leaves that under a bit of a cloud. I can't rate Pakistan because the team seems a different one from that which toured SL, England seemed awful when SL toured but appeared invigorated and back in pretty good form by the end of the summer and India have had no luck touring but haven't had a proper opponent to play at home since Australia but they've been quiet ordinary for mine.

I think the fact that we were so unimaginably awful in those final 3 tests in England has coloured people's opinions. It needed miracles from Faf-AB and BaZ-BJ to prevent us from leaving with very respectable drawn series.

We'd have got a series victory in England too if we'd had the chance to run home with the trophy after two tests pike SL :P. NZ maybe number 3 but it's hardly clear cut among the rest. They all have big limitations.

 

[Maximas]

Haha we softened England up for you guys!

 

[Daemon]

I think the fact that we were so unimaginably awful in those final 3 tests in England has coloured people's opinions. It needed miracles from Faf-AB and BaZ-BJ to prevent us from leaving with very respectable drawn series.

We'd have got a series victory in England too if we'd had the chance to run home with the trophy after two tests pike SL :P. NZ maybe number 3 but it's hardly clear cut among the rest. They all have big limitations.

Yeah, thought we did an outstanding job overseas until the disaster that was the last 3 tests of the England series.

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

The thing that impressed me is that we learned lessons from the first test loss. It went from their spinners being all over us to Babar being smashed out of the attack yesterday. Craig's improvement was remarkable and he more than justified his contentious selection over Wagner. Speaking of which, it's pretty great that the openers and spinners won this match for us considering those were the two areas at the start of the tour where we had doubts over.

 

[Fusion]

Didn't get to see much of this series at all, but want to congratulate NZ and their fans on a fine performance. I think it's safe to say that a tied result, especially under difficult circumstances, is a remarkable accomplishment. I have a feeling that if this was a 4 or 5 match series, NZ would have emerged as victors.

 

[Immenso]

Another tick for 3 match series.

Although the level of low in the first to level of high in the third test surprised me, the 'trend' is no surprise at all.

A shame our next away series (v Eng in May) is only two tests. Against the Duke they will need to be better prepared earlier than most tours, need more than just a single warm-up of declaration cricket.

Congatulations to both teams, I really like Misbah so wish his team all the best.

 

[hendrix]

My ratings:

Latham - 8
Two centuries for the series opening the batting. Classy against spin. An absolute find.

McCullum - 8
The frustrations of him throwing away his wicket aren't completely eroded, as we needed another batsman to push on in the second Test and we might have got a victory. Still, superb captaincy, selection and of course that ridiculous double century.

Williamson - 7.5
Underdone in the first two Tests. Looked rubbish actually. And then this stunning innings that was just as important as McCullum's.

Taylor 8
Superb century in the second Test that almost won us the match. Showed ruthlessness in making sure he didn't fail in this Test as well.

Anderson - 5.5
He's not yet a number 6 batsman let alone a number 5. But he was surprisingly decent with the ball and managed a few important partnerships with the bat. A fair contribution.

Neesham - 2
Not a good series

Watling - 7
Apart from the drops on the first day, it was a typical Watling series. No downhill skiing, very important partnerships with the tail, and tidy keeping.

Southee - 6.5
His stats are somewhat unfair but he did lack heat in the first Test. He was pretty good in the second but he has high standards. He was starting to return to form in this Test and looked very dangerous. Is still leading the attack well.

Sodhi - 6.5
Our best bowler in the first Test and not too bad in the rest of the series either. Well above expectation but still lots of work to do. Was excellent with the bat.

Craig - 7
How much can you rate from one Test? I called for his dropping after the first Test and he was very poor in the second too, but he won us the match here. 10 wickets and those 7 first innings ones changed the whole series. Superb.

Boult - 7
Very ineffective in the first Test but started to understand these conditions from the second match onwards. Had some good spells with reverse swing and knocked over their top order with the new ball to ensure the victory. This pair is taking wickets in all conditions against all batsmen.

 

[Fusion]

There is a possibility that this was Misbah's last Test. He has said that he's thought about retirement. If I were to wager though, I'd say he retires next year.

 

[hendrix]

as for where NZ rank on the world stage I'd say we're at least top 5. You could argue top 3 as well in that only South Africa seem to perform overseas.

 

[marc71178]

Yeah the umpires bias effects the margin by about 25% for LBW's considering they're often robbed for height as well as outside off & leg. Moral of the story only review it if it's absolutely plumb.

To be fair, the whole idea of DRS is to eliminate howlers so that's always been the case.

 

[marc71178]

Then we'll have twenty pages of mindless debate once Blocky returns.

We'll get that regardless.

 

[Bahnz]

as for where NZ rank on the world stage I'd say we're at least top 5. You could argue top 3 as well in that only South Africa seem to perform overseas.

I'd say top 5 is probably fair. Top 3 is probably a bridge too far, as we've yet to really show our qualities against England/Aus/SAF in seam friendly conditions. This year has been fantastic, but next year will be the real test of just how good this team really is.

 

[Binkley]

How many spinners have ever won a test for New Zealand? A handful. And now Craig has won two. Wonderful stuff.

 

[Bahnz]

If Craig could go on averaging 30+ with the bat and around 40 with the ball in test cricket then I'd take that at the drop of the hat, but sadly once he's back on New Zealand pitches I think his batting average will shrink and his bowling average will balloon out. Still, a great comeback from him in this series. The main thing he needs to focus on is keeping his shape and his bowling plans working even when the batsmen are coming at him. He looks pretty good when batsmen are playing to survive (as they generally were in this test), but he falls to bits when he gets hit for a couple of sixes.

 

[Howe_zat]

kiwi batting by year

Year		Mat	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50
year 2014	8	4931	302	35.47	9504	51.88	13	16
year 2013	12	5445	217*	30.41	10772	50.54	11	28
year 2012	10	4455	142	25.75	9529	46.75	6	18
year 2011	5	2375	110	24.23	4989	47.60	2	17

Last year and this year both broke the NZ record for most tons in the year

 

[wellAlbidarned]

What this test has proved IMO is that much of NZ's famous weakness against spin has been due to fear and anxiety rather than ability. In the past we psyched ourselves out when facing quality spin, essentially losing the battle before the ball was even bowled.

 

[Binkley]

If this is Misbah-ul-Haq's last game for Pakistan, it is a very sad way for him to go out. A wonderful batsman, an inspiring captain that helped his team through a horrendous time and he seems like an outstandingly good guy too. I wish he were ten years younger.

 

[hendrix]

What this test has proved IMO is that much of NZ's famous weakness against spin has been due to fear and anxiety rather than ability. In the past we psyched ourselves out when facing quality spin, essentially losing the battle before the ball was even bowled.

I think playing against India, SL, West Indies and Pakistan in spinning conditions has helped.