***Official*** Pakistan in New Zealand 2016/17

[Daemon]

It'd be hilarious if Guptill somehow played another test match

 

[Mike5181]

Guptill averaged like 21 against proper sides over a seven year career. I honestly couldn't care less about the amount of runs he's scoring in domestic cricket.

 

[SteveNZ]

Guptill averaged like 21 against proper sides over a seven year career. I honestly couldn't care less about the amount of runs he's scoring in domestic cricket.

As an opener.

Anyway, it's not going to happen. Just saying, if we're playing the aliens tomorrow I'm picking him at #5. Not relevant that selectors picked and persisted with him in a position that doesn't suit him. He could've had Nathan Astle's career at 5. Henry Nicholls is a poor man's Colin Munro, Will Young has an allergy to tons, Neesham is a six at best as is Anderson. That five spot is going to be problematic for the foreseeable future unless someone seriously ups their game.

 

[Mike5181]

I'm a bit scared that we might genuinely be nearing the end of Taylor, too. Eye problems aren't exactly ideal at this level and he hasn't scored anything of note in a year or so (probably closer to two really).

 

[Blocky]

If Guptill had simply come out and hit, T20 style, in tests, he'd still be there as an opener. He's brainless, can't learn and is beyond attempting any more tests with.

As for Taylor, diabetes ****s with eyesight.

 

[Athlai]

Still reckon we will see Guptill make another comeback, whether due to injury of others or a typical run of bad form on the merry go round. Only 30, and will likely continue to keep runs flowing in domestics and one dayers.

 

[Blocky]

I don't see it, the promising thing is we're seeing a lot of young players in first class find a way to get to a 40 average and sustain it. We've also got almost 50 tests with which to see Guptill just doesn't work in test match cricket.

What we've got to ensure is that the top three or four youth cricketers are playing more NZ A cricket and getting county opportunities where possible, and to incentivise them based on meaningful statistics - number of innings longer than 100 balls, number of conversions, etc.

 

[Flem274*]

As for Taylor, diabetes ****s with eyesight.

not long now boys

 

[Blocky]

Taylor has averaged 11.44 across his last 10 Test innings, and has not made an international half-century in his last 15 innings.

Still not dropped.

"Ross Taylor hampered by growth in left eye."
http://www.espncricinfo.com/new-zealand-v-pakistan-2016-17/content/story/1067363.html

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). At this advanced stage, growth factors secreted by the retina trigger the proliferation of new blood vessels, which grow along the inside surface of the retina and into the vitreous gel, the fluid that fills the eye. The new blood vessels are fragile, which makes them more likely to leak and bleed. Accompanying scar tissue can contract and cause retinal detachment—the pulling away of the retina from underlying tissue, like wallpaper peeling away from a wall. Retinal detachment can lead to permanent vision loss.

 

[Athlai]

I don't see it, the promising thing is we're seeing a lot of young players in first class find a way to get to a 40 average and sustain it. We've also got almost 50 tests with which to see Guptill just doesn't work in test match cricket.

What we've got to ensure is that the top three or four youth cricketers are playing more NZ A cricket and getting county opportunities where possible, and to incentivise them based on meaningful statistics - number of innings longer than 100 balls, number of conversions, etc.

Can get behind that, but doubt we will see it.

 

[listento_me]

A pretty dominant performance by NZ. They haven't got anyone who is truly exceptional in that bowling department, apart from possibly Boult but they bowled well as a unit and Pakistan capitulated with the bat twice, which has been unusual in the modern Pakistan side.

All to play for for the visitors in the next test where I feel they might as well give Sharjeel a shot on pacier wickets because he likes the ball coming onto the bat. And Riaz might be making a come back too.

 

[listento_me]

A pretty dominant performance by NZ. They haven't got anyone who is truly exceptional in that bowling department, apart from possibly Boult but they bowled well as a unit and Pakistan capitulated with the bat twice, which has been unusual in the modern Pakistan side.

All to play for for the visitors in the next test where I feel they might as well give Sharjeel a shot on pacier wickets because he likes the ball coming onto the bat. And Riaz might be making a come back too.

 

[Black_Warrior]

Disappointing result in the end. This team was shaping up quite well from 2015 onwards through to 2016. Haven't seen a battling collapse like that in a long time and now we had 3 consecutive disappointing batting performances (Sharjah test) followed by a horrible collapse in the Dubai test. Misbah to miss second test is going to mess things up in terms of batting because the likely replacement will be Sharjeel which would mean Azhar will move back to number 3.

This is not good. Just when the team structure was looking so good following the England series.

 

[Moss]

Disappointing result in the end. This team was shaping up quite well from 2015 onwards through to 2016. Haven't seen a battling collapse like that in a long time and now we had 3 consecutive disappointing batting performances (Sharjah test) followed by a horrible collapse in the Dubai test. Misbah to miss second test is going to mess things up in terms of batting because the likely replacement will be Sharjeel which would mean Azhar will move back to number 3.

This is not good. Just when the team structure was looking so good following the England series.

As has been said, the lack of preparation didn't help at all, also it was a bad toss to lose. While Misbah will be a big loss, it'll give us a peek at how Azhar might lead the side once Misbah is done with international cricket so definitely some interest there. Seeing how the batting didn't cover itself in glory against the Windies either, it does seem quite brittle now.

 

[listento_me]

Disappointing result in the end. This team was shaping up quite well from 2015 onwards through to 2016. Haven't seen a battling collapse like that in a long time and now we had 3 consecutive disappointing batting performances (Sharjah test) followed by a horrible collapse in the Dubai test. Misbah to miss second test is going to mess things up in terms of batting because the likely replacement will be Sharjeel which would mean Azhar will move back to number 3.

This is not good. Just when the team structure was looking so good following the England series.

Is Misbah injured?

Plus it's not so bad, the conditions were always going to be tough for Pakistan and Asian batsmen in general, not to mention the quickies still showed a lot of promise and skill. I think Sharjeel, if he goes out to play his natural game, would be a good addition at the top of the order.

 

[vcs]

Pakistan have been collapsing every other innings or so since the WI series and now this one. Considering they aren't exactly facing gold-standard attacks, it should be a cause for concern.

 

[AndyZaltzHair]

I am not sold on Sharjeel. A boult swinger away from him full up will find his edge

 

[Howe_zat]

Is Misbah injured?

He's going home for a family funeral unfortunately.

 

[Kirkut]

Disappointing result in the end. This team was shaping up quite well from 2015 onwards through to 2016. Haven't seen a battling collapse like that in a long time and now we had 3 consecutive disappointing batting performances (Sharjah test) followed by a horrible collapse in the Dubai test. Misbah to miss second test is going to mess things up in terms of batting because the likely replacement will be Sharjeel which would mean Azhar will move back to number 3.

This is not good. Just when the team structure was looking so good following the England series.

What's your take on Amir ? I'm not following the series, but is he bending the ball like 2009 ?

 

[Kirkut]

Pakistan have been collapsing every other innings or so since the WI series and now this one. Considering they aren't exactly facing gold-standard attacks, it should be a cause for concern.

NZ bowlers in NZ conditions are not easy to score runs against though.