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

[kiwiviktor81]

I think with this innings Kane Williamson has done enough to replace Andrew Jones at No. 3 in my All Time BCs XI.

 

[Flem274*]

Watling was always a keeper through every grade until he happened to get into ND where there were was another keeper in the squad. The idea that "He just picked up the gloves after being a specialist bat" isn't accurate.

Yeah I know both he and AB were youth keepers, but they've still spent years in professional cricket as top or middle order batsmen and it's done wonders for both.

 

[Zinzan]

They are in a way.

Say we required a win in this match to take us to fifth but chasing a win meant we risk losing the game and drawing the series - versus drawing this match means we win the series but remain sixth.

That's why I say "series don't really matter"

That's what I was asking, the ICC predictor isn't loading for me. So it has to be 2-0 is move to 5th?

 

[cnerd123]

Yeah, even Prior played quite a bit as a specialist batsman in County Cricket. Shows that nowadays the best method is to get a good batsman and improve their keeping, rather than vice versa.

Ehhhhhh...

I'm a purist. I'd prefer a keeper first who works hard on his batting and has a few good domestic seasons before being picked for Nat level.

Much like spinners, I think keepers need longer to develop and reach their peak in their 30s.

 

[Blocky]

Another big daddy for Kane.

 

[Cabinet96]

Kane has that late career Tendulkar sweet spot on his bat.

 

[Flem274*]

Awesome partnership, awesome knock.

 

[Blocky]

That's what I was asking, the ICC predictor isn't loading for me. So it has to be 2-0 is move to 5th?

Nope - drawn match gives us enough points to go to five, although makes it hard for us to get to four against England. If we won this match and won the first match against England, we'd be 4th - if we don't win this match, we need to win both against England.,

 

[Jono]

This is seriously dejavu from last year. Obviously not precisely the same but 1-0 up in the series, 5 down and a deficit... then this happens.

 

[Blocky]

This is seriously dejavu from last year. Obviously not precisely the same but 1-0 up in the series, 5 down and a deficit... then this happens.

Yup - which is why I'm worried about anything less than 300. The Basin pitch isn't easy to take wickets on in the final days.

 

[Cabinet96]

Ehhhhhh...

I'm a purist. I'd prefer a keeper first who works hard on his batting and has a few good domestic seasons before being picked for Nat level.

Much like spinners, I think keepers need longer to develop and reach their peak in their 30s.

All those guys are good keepers though. I mean, I doubt there's a keeper in the world who'd average 30 in test cricket and be more valuable than someone like Watling. A fractionally better keeper can't make up for someone who can score important centuries and average close to and even above 40.

 

[Flem274*]

Even if he gets out now, Watling is the ultimate lieutenant. It's like having a conservative #3 down at #7 who also keeps well.

 

[Blocky]

Get ready for more short stuff Beej.

 

[hendrix]

All those guys are good keepers though. I mean, I doubt there's a keeper in the world who'd average 30 in test cricket and be more valuable than someone like Watling. A fractionally better keeper can't make up for someone who can score important centuries and average close to and even above 40.

AB is a bit of a freak though.

Bairstow, for example, is a terrible option IMO. Conversely, I think it was a great move not to encourage Tom Latham to take the gloves.

 

[Blocky]

If you're Luke Ronchi - do you give away the gloves in four day cricket? His only chance in tests now is as replacement to 5/6 batsman.

 

[Flem274*]

If you're Luke Ronchi - do you give away the gloves in four day cricket? His only chance in tests now is as replacement to 5/6 batsman.

Only if he can also develop the ability to shift down the gears. We know he can attack, but can he do what Kane and Watling have just done?

 

[Swingpanzee]

Absolutely loving Watling after first watching him in the home series vs England last year. WAG.

 

[hendrix]

If you're Luke Ronchi - do you give away the gloves in four day cricket? His only chance in tests now is as replacement to 5/6 batsman.

Watling can always be injured. Ronchi is a nice backup option to have.

He should never ever ever make the Test side as a specialist bat.

 

[Cabinet96]

AB is a bit of a freak though.

Bairstow, for example, is a terrible option IMO. Similarly, it was a great move not to encourage Tom Latham to take the gloves.

Bairstow has never even excelled as a test batsman bar a couple of fifties though. His struggles aren't an issue of the wrong type of qualities needed, it's simply not being good enough. Watling, Prior, Haddin, de Kock et al are all examples of people who are/were perfectly competent keepers and really good test number 7s.

 

[Flem274*]

Nice pulls from Kane and Watling there. Pradeep has been their best bowler and they just said "you're tired and I own you".