*Official* Pakistan v New Zealand in the UAE 2018

[The Hutt Rec]

Well from what I've seen so far, Somerville should have been batting ahead of Southee.

 

[smash84]

This turn is already out of control ... if we can somehow get to 250 we might not be going too badly.

This seems to be the case. And especially Pak batting last on this wicket should give NZ a lot of confidence

NZ haven't done too badly here i feel

 

[Borges]

NZ haven't done too badly here i feel

They haven't done enough, batting first. Needed 300+ to gain an advantage from the toss.

 

[smash84]

They haven't done enough, batting first. Needed 300+ to gain an advantage from the toss.

For a wicket taking turn on the first day 250 seems like a very good score in the first innings. It usually only goes downhill from here.

 

[Moss]

They haven't done enough, batting first. Needed 300+ to gain an advantage from the toss.

Agree with this, was an opportunity to bat Pakistan out of the game if they didn't lose wickets in clumps. Though KW's wicket as usual was decisive, that partnership promised a lot more.

I suppose from a NZ perspective you would take 229 for 7 after Yasir looked like he was going to engineer a Dubai repeat in the first session.

 

[OverratedSanity]

From the little of the day's play I was able to see, I think it's a decent effort by NZ. Looked a tough deck with dodgy bounce.

However, it's a bit of a myth that SC/UAE decks always get worse for batting as the test goes on. Might slow down and get easier on day 2 for all we know.

 

[91Jmay]

From the little of the day's play I was able to see, I think it's a decent effort by NZ. Looked a tough deck with dodgy bounce.

However, it's a bit of a myth that SC/UAE decks always get worse for batting as the test goes on. Might slow down and get easier on day 2 for all we know.

I thought it was fairly received wisdom that day 2 is the gun day for batting in UAE because as you said it just dies and spin is slower.

 

[_Ed_]

Jeez I'd love another 40-50 runs, but that might be a bit too much to ask with this tail.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

haha did we really ****ing drop wagner on a deck with variable bounce

Score doesn't look great but sounds like a tricky deck

 

[NZTailender]

went to bed with Williamson and Watling in. Was hoping to wake up to 100+* and 50+* from them respectively. Gutted Kane didn't get a ton; that was some of the finest handling of spin I've ever seen; would've been one of the best centuries.

Anyway, bowlers on debut can sometimes do magnificent things with the bat - here's hoping Somerville can just hold up his end and score a run or two while Watling builds an innings. 300 would be great. With the silly people back in the shed, if Watling carries his bat through with the tail I think 300 is on.

 

[The Hutt Rec]

I have to say Somerville didn’t look very convincing out there ... but he did battle away which was good to see.

 

[Bahnz]

went to bed with Williamson and Watling in. Was hoping to wake up to 100+* and 50+* from them respectively. Gutted Kane didn't get a ton; that was some of the finest handling of spin I've ever seen; would've been one of the best centuries.

Anyway, bowlers on debut can sometimes do magnificent things with the bat - here's hoping Somerville can just hold up his end and score a run or two while Watling builds an innings. 300 would be great. With the silly people back in the shed, if Watling carries his bat through with the tail I think 300 is on.

It's especially distressing because from the sounds of it, it was a real mental lapse from Williamson. 240/4 and we'd have had the AhoyHoy cup in the bag. As well as he played, if you get in in conditions like this, you have to make the opposition pay. Watling isn't the type who can really shift gears when needed, and given our tail's susceptibility this series, I'd be surprised if we pass 250.

Really just don't understand the point of playing both Southee and de Grandhomme. Presumably Southee will open tomorrow, have the selectors not seen how anodyne Colin's seamers have looked with an older ball?

 

[Athlai]

Santner should've been thrown in the team as soon as he was declared fit.

 

[NZTailender]

I reckon CdG will open with the new cherry and Southee will be relegated to first change.

 

[_Ed_]

With the silly people back in the shed

This is excellent.

 

[NZTailender]

Santner should've been thrown in the team as soon as he was declared fit.

What do we reckon the home side is for the summer?

What we'll probably see:

Latham
Raval
Williamson
Taylor
Nicholls
Watling+
CdG
Santner
Southee
Wagner
Boult

What might happen:
Latham
Raval
Williamson
Taylor
Nicholls
Young
Watling+
Santner
Southee
Wagner
Boult

What would be a shake up to give a wake up:
Rutherford
Raval
Williamson
Taylor
Nicholls
Young
Watling+
Patel
Wagner
Ferguson
Boult

 

[Bahnz]

There's no way Southee deserves to be dropped after how well he bowled last summer. He really was excellent in the England series. Leave him out from the ODI side if you like.

 

[Bahnz]

I reckon CdG will open with the new cherry and Southee will be relegated to first change.

Which would be ridiculous if it happens. Southee is just a much better bowler - new ball and old. It's fine to open up with CdG if Southee isn't in the side and Wagner is the 2nd seamer, but if Southee is playing he was to take the new ball.

 

[NZTailender]

There's no way Southee deserves to be dropped after how well he bowled last summer. He really was excellent in the England series. Leave him out from the ODI side if you like.

ha, I had actually forgotten about that. I want to see Ferguson debut but I wouldn't want to drop Wagner or Boult for that to happen.

unless

Raval
Young
Williamson
Taylor
Nicholls
Santner
Watling+
Southee
Ferguson
Wagner
Boult

 

[Bahnz]

I think Santner would have to show some consistency as a test bat before that could be a goer. You can't have a test match #6 averaging 25.