wellAlbidarned
International Coach
Honestly I'd take an average of 10-20 given our usual opener performance against themJeez. I don't like Raval's chances in the SA series.
Honestly I'd take an average of 10-20 given our usual opener performance against themJeez. I don't like Raval's chances in the SA series.
Yeah NZ openers are literally averaging less than 15 in the last 15 years against South Africa.Honestly I'd take an average of 10-20 given our usual opener performance against them
As Immenso said, it's been pretty unwatchable. Especially given you know full well the way we've played - ie the short pitch barrage without any consistency of length and ability to find full swing - starts not being converted, unease outside off stump etc is going to be ruthlessly picked apart by SA.Look what happens when you bowl line and length. Credit to the Bangladesh seamers.
NZ may have won every game on this tour, but jeez we've looked awful doing it.
Makes you feel bad for Papps really, who unfortunately copped South Africa for seven of his eight Tests. Played a beautiful innings against England in his only other Test and is actually still the proud owner of the highest score by a NZ opener against SA in that time period.Yeah NZ openers are literally averaging less than 15 in the last 15 years against South Africa.
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3 fifties in 58 innings. Highest score of 59. That's absolutely hilarious.
I've just now developed a theory about this, partially through logic but also because I don't want to believe the NZ brains trust is as stupid as it appears.the short pitch barrage without any consistency of length and ability to find full swing
I'd bloody hope not, but hey I've heard of crazier things.I've just now developed a theory about this, partially through logic but also because I don't want to believe the NZ brains trust is as stupid as it appears.
I think they've seen how effective Neil Wagner has been using the short pitched stuff on lifeless pitches, and they're using this series as a means for Southee and Boult to practice it in anticipation of similar conditions against SA. Whether that means it's a contingency plan or they are just going to doctor the pitches to blunt the SA seam attack I don't know. I certainly hope it's not the latter.
Huh, I hadn't read that article until just now. Seems like a sound theory, but not to the extent that they should be bowling as much short pitched stuff as they have been. Totally agree that they should be focussed mainly on pitching it up and swinging it, and bowling simple line and length otherwise.Read somewhere that Trent said the short pitch bowling makes the fuller stuff more effective.
Raval's now so afraid of playing outside off that he tried to pull one he should've left and played it on. Williamson got a peach, but he also should've left it.What happened I left seemingly just before Raval fell.