*Official* Pakistan v New Zealand in the UAE 2018

[NZTailender]

 

[cnerd123]

This is pretty awesome from NZ

 

[Moss]

If we win, will it be our best ever away series win?

Contenders -

Aus 85/86

England 86 and 99

West Indies 2002

Thoughts?

England 1999 for mine, but a bit biased as I watched practically every ball of that series and remember it in great detail. NZ dominated a fair bit in that series and it was a sort of coming of age for Fleming, Cairns, Nash etc.

If NZ do win this however, it would be something quite special as this Pakistan side *ought* to be outclassing NZ in these conditions. Quite crazy seeing how NZ have been playing catch-up all series and now suddenly doing the frontrunning.

 

[harsh.ag]

The nicest thing about this win would be that Wagner didn't have to kill himself earning it.

 

[Moss]

For whatever reason it seems like any overseas lure that comes to NZ get s a gig anyway. Ronchi got a gig in the Test side out of seemingly nowhere. It's almost as if they sign a contract with NZC where they guarantee them one test if they move.

Ronchi was piling on the runs for Wellington for at least two seasons wasn't he? Wouldn't call it "out of nowhere". Though it's anyone's guess how he would've done in an extended test career.

 

[NZTailender]

Ronchi was piling on the runs for Wellington for at least two seasons wasn't he? Wouldn't call it "out of nowhere". Though it's anyone's guess how he would've done in an extended test career.

He was 34 at the time no? Up until that point he wasn't ever really near the test side and it wasn't exactly a pick for the future.

 

[NZTailender]

The nicest thing about this win would be that Wagner didn't have to kill himself earning it.

This is one of the more enjoyable things. Obviously Williamson has played a huge hand but usually it's Kane, Taylor, Boult, Southee and Wagner doing all the heavy lifting. This time it's been Kane, Nicholls, Somerville and possibly/probably Ajaz,

 

[Moss]

He was 34 at the time no? Up until that point he wasn't ever really near the test side and it wasn't exactly a pick for the future.

Well, yes and no. If my memory serves me right he was backup to Watling on the West Indies and UAE tours the previous year, he was drafted in for Leeds because Watling couldn't keep for some reason. For all his faults he more than did his bit in that test.

 

[Spikey]

i thought Ronchi got into the OD side fairly quickly? and got the test gig on the back of that

 

[NZTailender]

Well, yes and no. If my memory serves me right he was backup to Watling on the West Indies and UAE tours the previous year, he was drafted in for Leeds because Watling couldn't keep for some reason. For all his faults he more than did his bit in that test.

He did well in that Test for sure but it never seemed like he was a legit choice, but I guess the lack of genuine keeper options played a part.

 

[NZTailender]

i thought Ronchi got into the OD side fairly quickly? and got the test gig on the back of that

He did, but quite some time before Tests iirc

 

[harsh.ag]

This is one of the more enjoyable things. Obviously Williamson has played a huge hand but usually it's Kane, Taylor, Boult, Southee and Wagner doing all the heavy lifting. This time it's been Kane, Nicholls, Somerville and possibly/probably Ajaz,

Easy to forget Watling's hand in the first dig, but they would have been lost without it. Somehow I don't think of KW's great knocks as heavy lifting. It seems only right that he should be scoring mountains of runs with that technique.

 

[Moss]

Easy to forget Watling's hand in the first dig, but they would have been lost without it. Somehow I don't think of KW's great knocks as heavy lifting. It seems only right that he should be scoring mountains of runs with that technique.

Watling's been hugely important for NZ, especially overseas. NZ missed his runs badly when his form took a dip during the last Australia and India tours. Great to see him back to his fighting best.

 

[morgieb]

If we win, will it be our best ever away series win?

Contenders -

Aus 85/86

England 86 and 99

West Indies 2002

Thoughts?

All three of those sides were largely awful at the time. Still significant wins granted but I think this in terms of class (if not prestige) would top them all.

 

[NZTailender]

Easy to forget Watling's hand in the first dig, but they would have been lost without it. Somehow I don't think of KW's great knocks as heavy lifting. It seems only right that he should be scoring mountains of runs with that technique.

True. We'd be majorly ****ed without that dig

 

[Days of Grace]

Fantastic stuff!

Why the long first session?

 

[Flem274*]

england like to pretend they were terrible in 99 but weren't they coming off a reasonable series against sa? i swear i read that the last time they moaned about the 90s

im far too young to gain a real measure of how good the other teams were. oz and england had their issues but they had some great players too in the 80s

 

[Spikey]

Fantastic stuff!

Why the long first session?

Friday in a Muslim country = changed session times

 

[Flem274*]

watling being something like 16* when he brought up 100 balls faced is such an underrated attribute these days. you wouldn't want that at home against a meh attack when you're on top but in a series decider in alien conditions against quality and you need to weather the storm, not many batsmen have it in them to do that then prosper later like watling did

 

[Hicheal Michael]

That 2017 series loss to South Africa hurts like a b****.

This team could probably go to number 1 on the rankings if they played test cricket regularly and were able to avoid touring Australia, India, and South Africa within close proximity of each other.

That is pretty much how England and India move up rankings fast.