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*Official* Pakistan v New Zealand in the UAE 2018

The Hutt Rec

International Vice-Captain
Craig isn’t perfect, but he’s bowled us to a couple of test wins in the fourth innings, something I can’t remember any other spinners doing for us in donkey’s years. Maybe Matthew Hart in 1994!

I’d just select him (if fit) given he’s done well in these conditions before ... the experience wouldn’t go amiss either.
 

Athlai

Not Terrible
Craig isn’t perfect, but he’s bowled us to a couple of test wins in the fourth innings, something I can’t remember any other spinners doing for us in donkey’s years. Maybe Matthew Hart in 1994!

I’d just select him (if fit) given he’s done well in these conditions before ... the experience wouldn’t go amiss either.
Bowling records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo

Ehh.

In wins Santa has a better average.

Bowling records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo
 

Moss

International Captain
Craig isn’t perfect, but he’s bowled us to a couple of test wins in the fourth innings, something I can’t remember any other spinners doing for us in donkey’s years. Maybe Matthew Hart in 1994!

I’d just select him (if fit) given he’s done well in these conditions before ... the experience wouldn’t go amiss either.
Think Paul Wiseman did bowl NZ to a win in the 4th innings in Sri Lanka in 1998,on debut.

Didn't mind Craig too muchbut no point if he isn't fully fit. Amazing how much of a problem the absence of Santner has created.
 

Flem274*

123/5
The wider context of it though is that his best series where he bowled a match winning spell, was overall a fairly average series. And he hasn't done bloody anything since.
was also influential in a test against england in england and in the kane and watling "lol no" sri lanka test

but since the debate is primarily craig vs jeets, let me put it in a clearer way

Below is a comprehensive list of Jeetan "I average 50" Patel's notable bowling achievements in test cricket:



































.
 

Flem274*

123/5
Nah. You're just not going to win in the emirates with 3 quicks, because 2 of them will have melted by lunch. The one test we won in 2014, we played 3 spinners and they took 15 of the 20 wickets that fell. We don't have a Hadlee or a McGrath that can win us games regardless of the conditions. If we can't win with two spinners we're not going to win at all.

Again, ideally we'd have a spin-bowling allrounder that would allow us to do both, but I think if push comes to shove and we don't have anyone who can spin and bat as a passable #7, then we need to go with 2 pacers and 2 spinners, with CdG bowling some filler.
normally this is true, but we can spam wagner and lord colin. australia had a world class attack and a good spinner but they also had to contend with all of their quicks being made of glass. we have wagner.

all sodhi will do is leak runs. it's southee/boult/wagner or bust.
 

Athlai

Not Terrible
was also influential in a test against england in england and in the kane and watling "lol no" sri lanka test

but since the debate is primarily craig vs jeets, let me put it in a clearer way

Below is a comprehensive list of Jeetan "I average 50" Patel's notable bowling achievements in test cricket:



































.
It’s sort of funny that if Jeetan Patel had never been picked for the Black Caps until Vettori retired, he’d probably have had a far far far better career. Was a better, more canny bowler at that stage of his career.

He always managed to get himself hauled out as the second spinner on some horrendous road. Reckon he’d have absolutely eaten the Poms alive if he got more matches against them. It’s actually ludicrous that Craig has ended up with a better Test record, though Patel was never the total pressure valve that Craig was. It’s the worst thing about Craig, he can lose the game, undo all of a probing Wagner spell. There’s one gimme ball every over, it’s unforgivable.
 

Mike5181

International Captain
Southee was in pretty good form around 2012-14 and he did nothing in the UAE last time. I feel like Ferguson would have been a good third seamer pick alongside Boult/Wagner, if you were going to go that route. He's been over there for a month or so already.
 

Spikey

Request Your Custom Title Now!
i don't know why you all are talking about the past now that you have will somerville
 
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Flem274*

123/5
It’s sort of funny that if Jeetan Patel had never been picked for the Black Caps until Vettori retired, he’d probably have had a far far far better career. Was a better, more canny bowler at that stage of his career.

He always managed to get himself hauled out as the second spinner on some horrendous road. Reckon he’d have absolutely eaten the Poms alive if he got more matches against them. It’s actually ludicrous that Craig has ended up with a better Test record, though Patel was never the total pressure valve that Craig was. It’s the worst thing about Craig, he can lose the game, undo all of a probing Wagner spell. There’s one gimme ball every over, it’s unforgivable.
20 roads?

wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

jeets was terrible. he got so many chances over so many years, even after he supposedly improved, and never even got a fluke bag.
 

Flem274*

123/5
Southee was in pretty good form around 2012-14 and he did nothing in the UAE last time. I feel like Ferguson would have been a good third seamer pick alongside Boult/Wagner, if you were going to go that route. He's been over there for a month or so already.
i was a uni kid with no life and watched the whole series live. southee bowled very well, and picked up important wickets. the statistics aren't pretty but i have no issues with his bowling in that series and im always happy to critique a guy most outside cw still see as indispensable.
 

Mike5181

International Captain
i was a uni kid with no life and watched the whole series live. southee bowled very well, and picked up important wickets. the statistics aren't pretty but i have no issues with his bowling in that series and im always happy to critique a guy most outside cw still see as indispensable.
Yeah, I might have had one or two beers too many over the years to remember specific bowling performances from back then, you might be right.

I'm not as down on his test game, he's been pretty great recently there. Just think Ferguson might have been useful to have in the squad at least.
 
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straw man

Hall of Fame Member
I was certainly thinking the test attack should be Boult, Wagner and two spinners (which would now be Ajaz and Sodhi), plus CDG's part-timers.

Admit though that Sodhi's mediocre form is making me wonder, and agree that if Southee is in form he should keep it tight and maybe even get a little reverse.

I'd still prefer the latter for the first test - just couldn't really go into the match with only one spinner when chances are that's what the conditions will strongly favour.
 

Starfighter

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
20 roads?

wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

jeets was terrible. he got so many chances over so many years, even after he supposedly improved, and never even got a fluke bag.
Anyone remember that match in Zimbabwe, where Vettori picked up a five-for and Jeets was out bowled by Guptill?
 

Moss

International Captain
Bad start today, need Taylor and Latham to fire once again. A chance for Worker to show he is up for it.
 

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