***Official*** New Zealand in India 2016

[Shri]

Gambhir may not be allowed to open the batting

Follow on.

 

[vcs]

India's not going to enforce the follow on. They'll opt to bat again, Gambhir, Kohli and Nohit will dowhill ski fifties, then they'll declare with a lead of like 1000 and then bowl NZ out on the fifth day.

It's going to be long and cruel.

Wouldn't mind that. When the lead is just 200-250 or so, that's a perfectly acceptable decision, so that we can make it easier for our bowlers and let them bowl on a more worn out pitch after they've put their feet up for a while. Plus grinding them down a bit more is not a bad move either. It's only dubious when the lead is 300+.

 

[Bahnz]

Henry really does have a wonderful eye. Could develop into a decent sortallrounder if a decent batting coach did some work with him.

 

[harsh.ag]

Wouldn't mind that. When the lead is just 200-250 or so, that's a perfectly acceptable decision, so that we can make it easier for our bowlers and let them bowl on a more worn out pitch after they've put their feet up for a while. Plus grinding them down a bit more is not a bad move either. It's only dubious when the lead is 300+.

Crushes their spirits too. KW to be a shadow during the ODI series.

 

[vcs]

Ashwin.

Just churns out 5-ers and 6-ers like it's nothing. Involved directly in 8 wickets, WAG!

 

[Teja.]

Shri doling out overbearing amounts of family love today.

 

[Bahnz]

Look at the scorecard fam. The 5 runs have been added as extras already. Him triumphantly getting out slogging on 353 would only be met with murderous stares.

That's why I said NZ finishing on 353, rather than NZ and Jadeja.

 

[Shri]

Shri doling out overbearing amounts of family love today.

#Wincest

 

[harsh.ag]

Great catch by Pujara. Won't catch Sanjay saying so, however.

 

[vcs]

So Ashwin averages 33 with the bat with 4 100s, 6 50s, and under 25 with the ball with 20 5-ers and 5 10 wicket hauls. I imagine this is what Botham must have been like in his peak.

 

[honestbharani]

Gavaskar did though.. so thank God for that

 

[Shri]

Most international wickets since Ashwin's debut - Ashwin 407, Anderson 406, Broad 388, Steyn 371

 

[Shri]

So Ashwin averages 33 with the bat with 4 100s, 6 50s, and under 25 with the ball with 20 5-ers and 5 10 wicket hauls. I imagine this is what Botham must have been like in his peak.

One of those 50s was an unbeaten 91 against England and two of those 50s came in Sydney in the same test.

 

[Bahnz]

Haha, Flem coming out all guns blazing.

 

[Shri]

One of those 50s was an unbeaten 91 against England and two of those 50s came in Sydney in the same test.

Also has test 50s against every test team except NZ and Bangladesh. He has never played against Pakistan in a test match either.

 

[Shri]

Haha, Flem coming out all guns blazing.

Have it on mute. What did I miss?

 

[Bahnz]

Have it on mute. What did I miss?

Getting stuck in to Vijay for taking off straight down the middle of the pitch first ball.

Also pissed off about Gambler being allowed to come straight out and bat.

 

[honestbharani]

Yep some classic Ki-waahing here from Flem in the commentary box

 

[vcs]

So how long do we reckon they'll bat? Probably until some time after lunch. Declare around halfway into the second session tomorrow. Should be roughly 450-500 ahead by then.

 

[Bahnz]

As much as I can't stand jonbrooks, it's approaching the point where he's got a point about Taylor. He's been awful this tour and in SA, and you can't help but worry that his eye-sight problems are starting to compound.