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

[wellAlbidarned]

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

It all depends how Bracewell goes. Boult definitely relies on having Southee building up maidens at one end.

 

[Hurricane]

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

Boult doesn't travel as well when Tim is not playing so yeah - if i were them I might make some other changes to the line up if Tim can't play to ensure a draw - but they have signalled that they won't. Tim for Doug is the only change on the cards. There will be pressure on Tim not to play with the pending World Cup and the need to be fit for it.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Boult doesn't travel as well when Tim is not playing so yeah - if i were them I might make some other changes to the line up if Tim can't play to ensure a draw - but they have signalled that they won't. Tim for Doug is the only change on the cards. There will be pressure on Tim not to play with the pending World Cup and the need to be fit for it.

What changes could we possibly make to play for a draw? It's not like we have a bunch of top level stonewallers waiting on the shelves.

 

[Bahnz]

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

I think of it as emotional insurance.

 

[Maximas]

What changes could we possibly make to play for a draw? It's not like we have a bunch of top level stonewallers waiting on the shelves.

Nor is that an attitude that ever works particularly well, even on roads

 

[Hurricane]

Nor is that an attitude that ever works particularly well, even on roads

Disagree

IIRC Neesham came into the Basin Reserve match against India to lengthen the batting line up and secure a draw and he got a critical ton.

 

[Maximas]

**** happens though too...

3rd Test: Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Sharjah, Jan 16-20, 2014 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

McCullum won't make 300 each time anyway

 

[Bahnz]

Disagree

IIRC Neesham came into the Basin Reserve match against India to lengthen the batting line up and secure a draw and he got a critical ton.

Neesham's innings would've probably never happened if McCullum hadn't played a once in a lifetime innings and exhausted the Indian bowling attack first

 

[Hurricane]

**** happens though too...

3rd Test: Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Sharjah, Jan 16-20, 2014 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

McCullum won't make 300 each time anyway

5th place is on the line if we draw this test. I would be focusing on the series win rather than shooting for 2-0. Especially since you have the 2014 leading wicket taker back in your side.

If we lose Southee then this is anybody's match.

 

[Hurricane]

Neesham's innings would've probably never happened if McCullum hadn't played a once in a lifetime innings and exhausted the Indian bowling attack first

True - but maybe McCullum ends up 240 not out with out Neesham to support him and the blackcaps lose...

Either way he was put in the team to secure a draw and the tactic paid off.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

5th place is on the line if we draw this test. I would be focusing on the series win rather than shooting for 2-0. Especially since you have the 2014 leading wicket taker back in your side.

If we lose Southee then this is anybody's match.

Surely the best way to get a draw out of a test is to plan to win it, otherwise you give the opposition too much freedom in their plans knowing that you're not going to try to punish them.

 

[Hurricane]

Surely the best way to get a draw out of a test is to plan to win it, otherwise you give the opposition too much freedom in their plans knowing that you're not going to try to punish them.

Indeed good point. I would have all XI guys pay positively to win but not pick all XI guys with victory in mind.

I wouldn't send out Hamish and Tom and have them bat at 2 runs an over and occupy the crease. I would still play positively and try to win. I would just be tempted to alter the team selection strategy like we did against India.
Teams like Australia will be making their future tour plans right now - we win this series and we get invited to more places other than W.I. and Banglagainladesh.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Indeed good point. I would have all XI guys pay positively to win but not pick all XI guys with victory in mind.

I wouldn't send out Hamish and Tom and have them bat at 2 runs an over and occupy the crease. I would still play positively and try to win. I would just be tempted to alter the team selection strategy like we did against India.
Teams like Australia will be making their future tour plans right now - we win this series and we get invited to more places other than W.I. and Banglagainladesh.

Yeah I understand your point about the Neesham selection. It wasn't a total rehaul of the team, but just a slight rebalance can make a large difference. Since we've already got Neesham in the side I don't see any potential for similar moves unless we did something crazy like replace Craig with Tastle, have him open and bring in another middle-order batsman.

 

[hendrix]

If we had Shiv, Faf and Misbah playing for us, were playing on University oval or in Napier, and had a week to instruct the groundsman, we might be able to entertain selecting for a draw.

Reality is a green basin pitch that historically can offer either seam or spin or swing or all three depending on how Welly feels.

We need to select our best bowlers that take wickets. Mathews coming in at 200/3 will destroy us.

Similarly, Herath will back himself bowling to batsmen without the ability to relieve the pressure.

 

[Hurricane]

Yeah I understand your point about the Neesham selection. It wasn't a total rehaul of the team, but just a slight rebalance can make a large difference. Since we've already got Neesham in the side I don't see any potential for similar moves unless we did something crazy like replace Craig with Tastle, have him open and bring in another middle-order batsman.

I just want to clarify that if Tim plays then we will be ok going with the same team as the first test IMHO.

That's point number 1

If Tim doesn't play then we are really gambling on Doug Bracewell to take 6-8 wickets this test match to replace what Tim probably would have done and that is a tall order for someone who hasn't bowled to the likes of Sanga in a while. Given we, without Tim, may not get 20 wickets this test maybe we fine tune the team balance to bat deep. At this stage we can't go outside the squad. So it would be Anderson coming in for Craig most likely. Anderson to 6, Watling 7. Jimmy 8 Bracewell 9 Wagner 10 Boult 11
Probably the strongest tail we have had in a while and we guarantee ourselves position number 5 in the test rankings*. In theory anyway as they could all go out and get ducks.

 

[hendrix]

Craig and Bracewell isn't that weak of an 8-9 though.

 

[NZTailender]

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.

Think one where it didn't come off was vs England in Wellington, but it seems one bowler just about always stands up to make up for the others not bowling that well.

Also I wasn't making any kind of argument providing those links; was just intrigued at the differences in numbers.

 

[Bahnz]

I just want to clarify that if Tim plays then we will be ok going with the same team as the first test IMHO.

That's point number 1

If Tim doesn't play then we are really gambling on Doug Bracewell to take 6-8 wickets this test match to replace what Tim probably would have done and that is a tall order for someone who hasn't bowled to the likes of Sanga in a while. Given we, without Tim, may not get 20 wickets this test maybe we fine tune the team balance to bat deep. At this stage we can't go outside the squad. So it would be Anderson coming in for Craig most likely. Anderson to 6, Watling 7. Jimmy 8 Bracewell 9 Wagner 10 Boult 11
Probably the strongest tail we have had in a while and we guarantee ourselves position number 5 in the test rankings*. In theory anyway as they could all go out and get ducks.

Is the team batting really that much stronger with Anderson as opposed to Craig though? I know who I'd rather have blocking things out for a draw...

 

[Hurricane]

If we had Shiv, Faf and Misbah playing for us, were playing on University oval or in Napier, and had a week to instruct the groundsman, we might be able to entertain selecting for a draw.

Reality is a green basin pitch that historically can offer either seam or spin or swing or all three depending on how Welly feels.

We need to select our best bowlers that take wickets. Mathews coming in at 200/3 will destroy us.

Similarly, Herath will back himself bowling to batsmen without the ability to relieve the pressure.

It isn't a graveyard for spinners by any means but I haven't really seen a spinner carve up there. Maybe we don't lose much by not playing a spinner.

Could even help us to have an extra medium pacer if it is that green.

 

[Hurricane]

Is the team batting really that much stronger with Anderson as opposed to Craig though? I know who I'd rather have blocking things out for a draw...

Yeah that is the fly in the ointment of my argument. Craig is actually quite handy with the bat. But that said I think Anderson is sensational against spin and I would rather have him batting it out for a draw. Corey has played some fighting innings.