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

[Flem274*]

Well if I continue pointing out how lazy he is and how past NZ captains have blasted him for "not giving a ****" or in the case of Vettori, marching into his dressing room after CD pulled off a win against ND with Taylor playing a leading hand, sledging the players (due to the whole "You're in Hamilton, you should play for ND" shtick he gets) to blast Taylor and say the words "Wish you showed half as much passion as this playing for your country"

In my case, my back was buggered and I was usually spent if we were bowling first, plus most club bowlers don't make you pay for **** footwork.

(and no, I don't actuallythink Taylor has changed his stance solely due to being lazy. I think it's a degeneration in his technique through not enough time at the crease and no where near the same level of training )

You're gonna need to start citing buddy

 

[wellAlbidarned]

The main difference in my view has been that the Sri Lankan seamers have mostly attacked the stumps at a good to full length where as we bowled a bit too wide and tried for the miracle ball a bit too much. Have a look at Pradeep and Prasad's pitch map on Cricinfo versus what we bowled in the first innings.

our batsmen are much weaker legside so they can afford to. Whenever we strayed too straight it was an easy single or boundary.

 

[Blocky]

I think the main difference is that Sangakkara batted much better than anyone else. New Zealand have still bowled better than Sri Lanka IMO.. not as much as you'd expect given the personnel difference, but noticeably all the same.

When Neesham was the pick of our bowlers, you know our guys didn't bowl that well. Sanga is obviously a major difference maker but this second innings, they've really attacked the stumps. We didn't, we gave Chandimal so many freebies outside off in particular.

Neesham looking good for his 10 here, *NoMockers.

 

[Blocky]

our batsmen are much weaker legside so they can afford to. Whenever we strayed too straight it was an easy single or boundary.

Because of our field placements and fact that it wasn't the "plan" - we kept expecting Sanga to get himself out driving on the offside, so we stacked the fielders there - he picked us apart on the leg side and square of the wicket.

 

[jcas0167]

A 45 average NZ opener.. he might even make the all-time NZ XI?

Would be close - also wrote a very good book 'Thinking Negatively'. Interestingly he started out as left arm spinner and remade himself into an opener. The book goes into detail on his mental approach and tactics.

 

[Blocky]

You're gonna need to start citing buddy

It's a forum, not Wikipedia. It's well known in cricketing circles in NZ that Taylor isn't that well liked beyond a few players ( Gup, Ryder )

 

[Jono]

Fatty dropped Kane? Eek

 

[Blocky]

Would be close - also wrote a very good book 'Thinking Negatively'. Interestingly he started out as left arm spinner and remade himself into an opener. The book goes into detail on his mental approach and tactics.

Great book around how to deal with anxiety, set game plans and train effectively. Should be in the library for any aspiring batsman.

 

[Zinzan]

Yeah, very under-rated fielding position these days, particularly on seaming wickets.

Indeed, not only saves you runs along with the potential of the odd wicket (as seen with Rutherford), but also limits the freedom of the batsman throwing the kitchen-sink at anything wide. Just too many easy scoring options for the Lankan's yesterday.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Because of our field placements and fact that it wasn't the "plan" - we kept expecting Sanga to get himself out driving on the offside, so we stacked the fielders there - he picked us apart on the leg side and square of the wicket.

We stacked fielders offside to sanga but bowled a very defensive length which he could leave easily, especially boult. He never drove early on because we never bowled there.

 

[Blocky]

Prediction - Neesham will tonne up, Williamson out before 65.

Fun Fact - NZ will miss Wagner bigtime in the second innings.

 

[Cabinet96]

Still going with tonne.

 

[Zinzan]

Oh well fellas, least they're batting again.

Interesting to know if we were still 2 down atm, whether we'd consider things to be even-Stevens or with the pitch unlikely to deteriorate, would we still think SL were on top?

 

[Blocky]

Knowing it trolls people, sure - I'll continue to use irregardless too.

 

[Blocky]

Oh well fellas, least they're batting again.

Interesting to know if we were still 2 down atm, whether we'd consider things to be even-Stevens or with the pitch unlikely to deteriorate, would we still think SL were on top?

I personally don't see us knocking Sri Lanka out for anything less than 250-280 - so 2 down, even score, I'd still have Sri Lanka ahead.

 

[Flem274*]

It's a forum, not Wikipedia. It's well known in cricketing circles in NZ that Taylor isn't that well liked beyond a few players ( Gup, Ryder )

You're not a part of those circles though.

 

[straw man]

At least Neesham was in after 46 overs this innings rather than 36 overs (with pitch still green in the latter too). There should be very little movement for the seamers now and that makes a big difference for Neesham's stand and deliver style. Still has Herath to deal with though.

 

[Prince EWS]

Still going with tonne.

Interesting choice to equate a run with the odd, non-standard decakilogram measure, but each to their own.

 

[Blocky]

You're not a part of those circles though.

Sure, in your world where Tinkerbell flies around and it's Neverland with a ticking crocodile hunting a dreaded pirate, that might be the case. I'd be worried about your obsession with me if you actually knew who I was.

 

[Jono]

!!!!!!!!!!!!