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

[Bahnz]

And on a pitch where it was doing a bit.

Tbf though to those people in the future I was preparing myself to come online and discount his runs, until I noticed the odd fizzer.

just because the pitch was doing plenty doesn't mean batting wasn't very easy for most of the day. Mathews was the only bowler who consistently probed the flaws in Guptill's technique.

 

[YorksLanka]

* 8 Wickets, Getting ahead of yourself there Yorks,

Yep sorry,my bad..back to the voodoo for the other two now then..

 

[Hurricane]

Also how much better is this match already given there is something in it for the bowlers compared to the Australian Tarmac across the ditch (excepting Adelaide).

Have an "express yourself" larrop in the morning boys, I don't really want Dougie and Wagner digging in to bat sensibly with 400 already on the board and the ball zipping around.
Aim to bat at about 5-6 runs per over all the way to 430ish when we are all out. Then get bowling when there is still an element of due on the pitch.

Wagner is a funny batsman. I often talk about gears of batting. He has a first gear and a third gear and no 2nd or 4th gear. Hopefully he does go into 3rd gear and nails some good ones and twos to rotate the strike.

 

[straw man]

Respect thy opponent, to all parts | Cricket | ESPN Cricinfo

Prior to this match Brendon McCullum spent almost as much time complimenting the opposition as he did endorsing his own, recently-defeated team. New Zealand are familiar with Rangana Herath's calibre, of course, but McCullum made particular mention of Sri Lanka's "world-class" batsmen, and their "underrated" seam attack. "They've gone through a lot of changes," McCullum surmised. "But we're respectful of the challenge these guys will put to us."

In a 57-ball knock that sent the hosts hurtling past 300, McCullum respected Sri Lanka to all parts of University Oval. He began by respecting Nuwan Pradeep for three consecutive fours after just 11 previous balls at the crease, then, later on, raced at Sri Lanka's quickest bowler to launch him high over cover for a six forged from deep, abiding, money-can't-buy respect.

...now touring the country for the second time in 12 months, Sri Lanka may feel they have just about had it. They may be sick to death of McCullum's particular brand of respect.

Heh

 

[straw man]

Have an "express yourself" larrop in the morning boys, I don't really want Dougie and Wagner digging in to bat sensibly with 400 already on the board and the ball zipping around.
Aim to bat at about 5-6 runs per over all the way to 430ish when we are all out. Then get bowling when there is still an element of due on the pitch.

During the end-of-day interview Guptill was stuck at one point on how to answer a question without repeating himself again - 'what would you say you did differently today?' I think it was. Ummed and ahhed, stumbled and then managed 'yeah probably more Intent, I guess'. Was classic.

 

[Hurricane]

I guess it is hard to assess the pitch overall, especially for me, since I only caught segments of play. One of the commentators, possibly the underrated Craig Cumming pointed out the pitch was quickening up and making the seam movement more explosive as the day progressed. I think that may have been finding excuses for some wayward early bowling however. I think New zealand did fantastically well nonetheless. Perhaps par on this was only 330. So while we would have liked 500 we are well in credit.

Guptill's/Gotpill's lbw looked out, when I saw it live and I would have reviewed it had I been them.

He regularly gets luck. Still he deserves it. Nice guy and without Mark Craig playing this game I suspect he will be our second slip **Anyonebutbazatslip.gif**

 

[weldone]

This match seems to be a bit closer than most people think. SL are still not out of it. A good batting performance from Mathews, Chandimal and Karunaratne may mean a small deficit (~50-100). In the 2nd innings, Herath's bowling may come into play. If SL have to chase 350 in the 4th innings on Uni Oval I'd still give them some chance.

 

[Days of Grace]

This match seems to be a bit closer than most people think. SL are still not out of it. A good batting performance from Mathews, Chandimal and Karunaratne may mean a small deficit (~50-100). In the 2nd innings, Herath's bowling may come into play. If SL have to chase 350 in the 4th innings on Uni Oval I'd still give them some chance.

Thing is we don't have Craig to bowl pies to release pressure.

But then again, we don't have Craig in teamiswinningmode to take 4th innings wickets. A lot of our bowling performance overall will depend on how Wagner shapes up. I expect the other three seamers to perform up to the standard of the Adelaide test at least. Southee is due a bag.


Don't know what to think of McCullum the test batsman anymore. Is that his only mode of playing now since the world cup? What happened to the guy who scored our first ever triple-century? Has he just become a self-parody?

 

[Moss]

Thing is we don't have Craig to bowl pies to release pressure.

But then again, we don't have Craig in teamiswinningmode to take 4th innings wickets. A lot of our bowling performance overall will depend on how Wagner shapes up. I expect the other three seamers to perform up to the standard of the Adelaide test at least. Southee is due a bag.


Don't know what to think of McCullum the test batsman anymore. Is that his only mode of playing now since the world cup? What happened to the guy who scored our first ever triple-century? Has he just become a self-parody?

Yes, as batsman and captain.

 

[Moss]

This innings from Guptill has probably ensured he retains his spot for the rest of the summer, and even allowing for the fact that a fit Prasad would have given him a tough time (on recent evidence), kudos to him for holding things together.

409 is a good score but 8 wickets on the first day..bah. Pretty decent comeback from Sri Lanka given it was 360 for 4 at one stage. Anyway, like they say, let's wait till both teams have batted.

 

[Flametree]

The moment I heard Prasad was heading home I should have gone and put some serious money on Guptill for a 100. He's good against attacks as bad as this (which is a talent, to be fair)....

How the hell was that lbw not out? Hit on the crease with 47% of the ball hitting the stumps. The review rules just make no sense - or at least their definition of doubt doesn't correspond to mine..

Please can Watling go back to being our second best batsman - the lower order looks extremely fragile without him, full of quick 18's and nothing else against any serious opposition. Though to be fair, that's two tests in a row Dougie has batted like everyone thinks he can so maybe he will turn into a test number 8 after all.

 

[Kippax]

It was three reds, that Chameera to Guptill one. Mathews didn't review.

 

[Gob]

Gotpills yeeeeeeeees

 

[Dead Meat]

Enjoyed Russel Arnold's commentary not directly for his words but how he humorously he kept on pointing out how 'one eyed' everyone in the com box was being (esp the newbie Harris, who was practically begging something good to happen for NZ every ball). For an overseas viewer the continuous shots of the Highlanders training, local weather jokes and unexplained/outdated references to provincial/high school rivalries must be somehow even more painful....

Although in fairness the title of the 'Cumming Your Way' segment alone is enough to make up for it

 

[SteveNZ]

Don't know what to think of McCullum the test batsman anymore. Is that his only mode of playing now since the world cup? What happened to the guy who scored our first ever triple-century? Has he just become a self-parody?

I didn't enjoy his knock yesterday one bit. It's a bit of a portent for how he's going to go against much better attacks when Australia turn up, then India/SA away. It just won't work. And he won't bat any different.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

I didn't enjoy his knock yesterday one bit. It's a bit of a portent for how he's going to go against much better attacks when Australia turn up, then India/SA away. It just won't work. And he won't bat any different.

It looks about 90% sure that his test career will finish after the Australia series. I think he wants to go out with a bang in his final summer.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Thing is we don't have Craig to bowl pies to release pressure.

But then again, we don't have Craig in teamiswinningmode to take 4th innings wickets. A lot of our bowling performance overall will depend on how Wagner shapes up. I expect the other three seamers to perform up to the standard of the Adelaide test at least. Southee is due a bag.


Don't know what to think of McCullum the test batsman anymore. Is that his only mode of playing now since the world cup? What happened to the guy who scored our first ever triple-century? Has he just become a self-parody?

I get criticism for McCullum's approach in a lot of situations but not here. We needed some quick runs to give as as much time as possible to get a result on this pitch.

 

[Skyliner]

What happened to the guy who scored our first ever triple-century?

I remember his rationale for that 300 innings was that he decided that NZ had worked too hard and played too well in that series to not win it, so he was determined to drop anchor. I'd like that to be the attitude of all our players all the time, not picking and choosing to dig in one day, bat like a headless chook on another.
As per Mark Greatbatch at Perth, the Astle / Morrison partnership vs England, Kane Williamson defying SA template. Many of the greatest moments in NZ cricket have been in drawn matches. If you can't get the win, take the draw.

Then we have the below pathetic article on Stuff, where the writer (troll) clearly has no feeling for test cricket at all, no love of the real game, wants to see a 5 day hit and giggle match rather than the guts and courage that makes the game truly magnificent at times.

After South Africa's go-slow tactics, New Zealand and Australia show how it's done | Stuff.co.nz

 

[Athlai]

Doug isn't a mug

 

[WalkingWicket]

Technology not working apparently, which meant Doug couldn't review that. Seems a bit off that.