Moss
International Captain
West Indies apart, they are the worst-hit team in terms of unavailables. Without Ajmal, Junaid and Hafeez's bowling they seem much more hittable than usual. Any decent replacements for Junaid?
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***Official*** Pakistan in New Zealand 2015
- Thread starter Fusion
- Start date
Athlai
Not Terrible
Dick Rockett
International Vice-Captain
I'm not turning my nose up because I think Pakistan are ****, I'd just prefer variety.
Immenso
International Vice-Captain
No, unfortunately.
I remember about 14 months ago we were all frothing over Kippax's video of Milne on the A tour of India and Sri Lanka getting his inswinger going consistently. A fortnight or so later he's bowling 140km straight stuff all throughout the Bangladesh ODI series.
Most on here know he's capable of swinging it at pace, have seen it at CD and NZA level but not consistently, it will probably click one day, but even when in red hot form he hasn't brought that side of his game to ODI level yet. Frustrating, but he's building up a decent record now anyway even without that.
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Niall
International Coach
I know the board has a strong NZ presence here, so this is not trolling. I agree they do look very good and should be one of the favourites for the world cup, but do any of you fear, the batting has been flattered a little by facing some muck bowling? Lanka without Malinga is meh, and the less said about Pakistan the better. South Africa were the last side with any bowlers resembling world class they faced and NZ batsman didn't have as much fun as they did with the likes of Bhatti and co.
Not saying Kane is ****e, I'l be pounding 20/1 for him to be top batsman so Christ I want him to score a century every game, but surely you would have wanted more challenging opponents? Heck even if Malinga and Junaid would have been fit, it would have been a more interesting test for the batting.
Not saying Kane is ****e, I'l be pounding 20/1 for him to be top batsman so Christ I want him to score a century every game, but surely you would have wanted more challenging opponents? Heck even if Malinga and Junaid would have been fit, it would have been a more interesting test for the batting.
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Prince EWS
Global Moderator
I don't think the point is so much that they've not been able to prepare against good bowling, but that maybe they're not as good as their recent results indicate. What if NZ's bowlers are actually owning NZ's batsmen in the nets because the batsmen just aren't that good and have been made look better by the attacks they've faced recently? There's a difference between the "they're underdone against good fast bowling" argument and the "we don't really know how good they'll be against good fast bowling" argument.
I don't really buy either argument at all personally, but your reply doesn't really refute the latter at all.
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Prince EWS
Global Moderator
Nah, chocolate croissants are definitely a better sweet snack than Kit Kats.
yep, when was the last time new zealand faced a strong pace attack? Can't remember off the top of my head
Howsie
Cricketer Of The Year
Probably worth remembering that NZ didn't have either Williamson or Taylor in that South African series.
OverratedSanity
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BeeGee
International Captain
It's my biggest concern. Mills and Boult are doing a good job keeping the run rate down, but they're not taking early wickets. So it falls on Southee to be the early wicket taker and he's just not performing. He looks good in his second spell, but has been ordinary first up.
I find the lack of Henry disturbing.
smash84
The Tiger King
OverratedSanity
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Oh god
hendrix
Hall of Fame Member
Oh yeah this is a major concern of ours, that's not trolling at all.
Greenlite
U19 Debutant
They'll get some practice vs SA so that should be ok, I'm more concerned about them getting injured by Steyn and co.
They did get some good workout from Irfan so it's not like they haven't faced any single good fast delivery.
I'm concerned with the lack of early wickets too, the last time an early wicket was taken was Southee taking down the SL leftie in one of the early games of the series? Mills took a couple but he's probably not in the knock out games, or is he? If our batsmen struggle and put together an average total, this strangling game is going to backfire, and this era of NZ bowling team should be better than that.
They did get some good workout from Irfan so it's not like they haven't faced any single good fast delivery.
I'm concerned with the lack of early wickets too, the last time an early wicket was taken was Southee taking down the SL leftie in one of the early games of the series? Mills took a couple but he's probably not in the knock out games, or is he? If our batsmen struggle and put together an average total, this strangling game is going to backfire, and this era of NZ bowling team should be better than that.
hendrix
Hall of Fame Member
Agreed.
We should be able to knock teams over without such a reliance on scoreboard pressure.
I guess since we've been getting big scores the safe option has been to strangle, but it'd be nice to see some more attacking bowling. Less scrambled seams, more swing, more slip catches etc.
Dick Rockett
International Vice-Captain
South Africa were 2/30 in game 1 and then 4 down for <100.
Then they were 3/70 in game 3.
Sri Lanka were 2/16 and then 4 down <100 in game 1.
In game 4, we got the first SL wicket at 11. I think this is the one you were referring to.
Game 6 we had them 3 down for under 100.
And of course Pakistan were 4 down for fewer than 100 in their first game.
Sri Lanka had three great ODI players in their top 4, plus one of the current and future best at number 5. There were always going to get away from us at some point. And yesterday's game was a batsman's pitch, on which we still managed to restrict Pakistan to 250.
I think some of you fellows are looking for something to worry about. Just relax - with the current format it's going to be a very hit and miss tournament. Even if a team plays real well throughout they still might lose that crucial wicket in a tight game or concede that six or just come up against another team having a blinder. The other teams have weaknesses too. NZ are very much one of the favourites imo, but ultimately that counts for very little.
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