***Official**** Sri Lanka in New Zealand 2014/2015

[NZTailender]

Because that was the only game where he bowled well..... Bracewell was excellent for a good year when he first came into the test squad.

He was excellent for about a season then fell away pretty gradually. Wagner's looked mediocre at times but he continuously finds way to come back. Always think of that Walter Hagen/Bagger Vance movie quote 'three bad shots and one good shot still make par'.

 

[BWSport]

With Wagner you know that you're getting someone who will continue to charge in all day as hard as he can. Bracewell has tendencies to slip his standards a bit in the middle parts of a days play. Don't know if he has resurrected this since the last time he played test cricket but if he has then I would love to see him get a chance

 

[hendrix]

Apart from the win over Pakistan, all of our dominant displays have come when we bat first. I'm not sure how we'll go bowling first even on a green pitch. Our bowlers seem to thrive on a little scoreboard pressure.

There's also the possibility of SL playing two spinners, and bowling first would play right into their hands if that's the case.

 

[Hurricane]

With Wagner you know that you're getting someone who will continue to charge in all day as hard as he can. Bracewell has tendencies to slip his standards a bit in the middle parts of a days play. Don't know if he has resurrected this since the last time he played test cricket but if he has then I would love to see him get a chance

welcome to the forum -

 

[NZTailender]

Apart from the win over Pakistan, all of our dominant displays have come when we bat first. I'm not sure how we'll go bowling first even on a green pitch. Our bowlers seem to thrive on a little scoreboard pressure.

There's also the possibility of SL playing two spinners, and bowling first would play right into their hands if that's the case.

Yeah there's a pretty big difference to our bowlers performance when you compare bat first to bowl first. Kinda supports the spinners-bowling-last thing as well, unless you're Ish Sodhi.

 

[Athlai]

Yeah there's a pretty big difference to our bowlers performance when you compare bat first to bowl first. Kinda supports the spinners-bowling-last thing as well, unless you're Ish Sodhi.

Too small a sample size IMO.

 

[NZTailender]

Too small a sample size IMO.

Last 3 years bat first and field first.

 

[Athlai]

Last 3 years bat first and field first.

Still don't really like it.

Here is us winning the toss Bowling records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPN Cricinfo

and losing it Bowling records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[Kippax]

Tim Southee in doubt for Black Caps' Basin Reserve test | Stuff.co.nz

New Zealand strike bowler Tim Southee is in doubt for the cricket test against Sri Lanka starting tomorrow at the Basin Reserve, Wellington.

Captain Brendon McCullum, returning to the scene of his epic knock of 302 against India in February, said Southee was battling an ankle injury and a decision would be made on his fitness tomorrow. He hoped for an unchanged side to that which showed dominance in the first test, beating Sri Lanka in four days to go 1-0 up in the two-match series.

If Southee is ruled out, seamer Doug Bracewell will come in, but no other changes are likely from the eight-wicket victory at Hagley Oval in Chrietchurch. It means fit-again all-rounder Corey Anderson misses out to Jimmy Neesham while if Southee is passed fit, Bracewell will miss out again to Neil Wagner.

"Tim's probably the major concern at the moment," McCullum said today.

"He's got a slight ankle issue but we'll see how he pulls up in the morning. If he isn't playing then Doug Bracewell will come in in his place, otherwise I'd imagine it will be an unchanged team."

"Tim will tell us. He's an experienced customer and a leader within the group and he's incredibly honest with his assessment. Most of the time he will play even if he's not quite right but in this circumstance he'll make an astute judgement of whether he's right or not.

"If we think that he is a risk that's not worth taking then we won't take it. If he thinks he's OK and we don't think there's a major risk there then Tim will start."
Bracewell was "bowling the house down" and the team would lose little with him in the side, McCullum said.

"I checked Kane's stats as well and they're not great either. It's a New Zealand problem that's lasted a fair while, because Flem was a shocking tosser as well."

 

[NZTailender]

Still don't really like it.

Here is us winning the toss Bowling records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPN Cricinfo

and losing it Bowling records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPN Cricinfo

Won the toss and fielded first.

Lost the toss and fielded first.

Lost the toss and sent it.

Won the toss and batted first.

 

[Bahnz]

Oh dear... though I'd prefer Southee sit out the game if it means avoiding risking aggravating his ankle.

Not feeling to bad about the $100 I put on SRL at $7 earlier in the week.

 

[hendrix]

Southee is our MVP. That would be a huge loss.

 

[Swingpanzee]

If Southee is not playing, should Wagner play as well? I mean the presence of Southee and Boult is a major reason why Wagner has been successful (in the past few months) as a third-seamer workhorse type bowler, right?

I'm not too sure but isn't Wagner a new-ball bowler for the Otago Volts? Doesn't he have a so-so record there as well?

Don't follow NZ's domestic scene so what I've said is mostly assumption of course.

 

[kiwiviktor81]

With Southee out we might play for the draw and series win.

It seems clear that Bracewell is well ahead of Henry at this stage. Perhaps interesting for the many Henry fangirls on here (of which I am one).

 

[Bahnz]

Bracewell is rated for his superior fitness, apparently the selectors reckon Henry is still a bit of a dandy who wouldn't stand up too well to two days straight in the field.

Wagner will definitely play, and he'll continue on in his current first change position. Hesson likes his lh/rh combinations and Bracewell has been bowling well (much better than Wagner) with the new ball in first class cricket.

 

[Hurricane]

Won the toss and fielded first.

Lost the toss and fielded first.

Lost the toss and sent it.

Won the toss and batted first.

The only way you make this analysis compelling is if you can illustrate it with a few scorecards where we fielded first after winning the toss and didn't bowl well - then we can discuss the specifics of that game(s) and if there are no mitigating circumstances you will carry the day.

Right now even though I am looking at those links I am thinking some of those games might harken back to when Brendon was **** scared of batting first after the SA debacle and sent everyone in for 5 to 6 tests afterwards.

 

[kiwiviktor81]

Bracewell is rated for his superior fitness, apparently the selectors reckon Henry is still a bit of a dandy who wouldn't stand up too well to two days straight in the field.

Fair enough, I guess Henry's only played 15 FC matches in which to prove his fitness. I note, though, that Boult is pretty slender as well as incredibly fit.

 

[Athlai]

If Southee is not playing, should Wagner play as well? I mean the presence of Southee and Boult is a major reason why Wagner has been successful (in the past few months) as a third-seamer workhorse type bowler, right?

I'm not too sure but isn't Wagner a new-ball bowler for the Otago Volts? Doesn't he have a so-so record there as well?

Don't follow NZ's domestic scene so what I've said is mostly assumption of course.

Na I'd go the opposite way, we need Wagner more if Southee is out. One of the big reasons I'm downplaying Wagner's value to the attack is because Southee is now a better old ball bowler and comes back spell after spell with intensity. Boult is still very new ball reliant.

Without Southee we need Wagner 120% for the old ball.

Also FFS Bahnz, NZ will get to 5th in the rankings if we don't lose this Test. You better lose that money!

 

[Maximas]

Well our bowling trump card couldn't play the first test so this is only fair, although it's a shame as Southee is fantastic to watch, if he does sit out I wonder how it will affect Boult

 

[wellAlbidarned]

So torn. As much as I'd love to fap to seeing Henry with the new ball in test cricket Bracewell has definitely earned it.