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*Official* New Zealand tour of Sri Lanka 2019

9

91Jmay

International Coach
Hate these kind of pitches, little in it for the bowlers and sticky for batsmen. Kind of pitches Sri Lanka own on though, greater than sum of their parts etc.
 
Maximas

Maximas

Cricketer Of The Year
Disappointing for Mendis to go after a start, would have loved to see these two kick on, especially now that they are coming off for light, SL really need to look to bat NZ out of this one, keep it going into day 3 and see what happens
 
nzfan

nzfan

International Vice-Captain
If SL gets some good runs on the board it is going to be tough as this pitch will definitely slow down. Bit unlucky yesterday I thought, there were few edges but wide of the fielders. Likely fast bowling will be preferred for another session or two I reckon. Batting last on this pitch is not going to be easy, our lads have to keep SL to under 300 in the first dig. There's spin but albeit slow. Can't fault the selection or bowling it's been quite tidy.
 
nzfan

nzfan

International Vice-Captain
It doesn't make sense to carry 15 players for an overseas tour of 2 test match series. TAstle, Blundell, Wagner are all surplus to the team. Unchanged team means the individuals are putting their hand up but in 2 test match series it must bore the hell out of players that are on the sidelines. In such series' is there any merit in carrying players that are most likely not to play but just give them the touring experience? As in couple of NZ A players on the tour and not likely to play? Good that it's off season otherwise all these surplus folks will miss out on valuable time in the middle.
 
Bahnz

Bahnz

Hall of Fame Member
nzfan said:
It doesn't make sense to carry 15 players for an overseas tour of 2 test match series. TAstle, Blundell, Wagner are all surplus to the team. Unchanged team means the individuals are putting their hand up but in 2 test match series it must bore the hell out of players that are on the sidelines. In such series' is there any merit in carrying players that are most likely not to play but just give them the touring experience? As in couple of NZ A players on the tour and not likely to play? Good that it's off season otherwise all these surplus folks will miss out on valuable time in the middle.
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They're there as injury cover. Somebody goes down sick the night before the game, you're not going to be able to fly a replacement over in time for the game.
 
S

SteveNZ

Cricketer Of The Year
Bahnz said:
They're there as injury cover. Somebody goes down sick the night before the game, you're not going to be able to fly a replacement over in time for the game.
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Not only that, but Wagner is there with the possibility conditions may necessitate him being picked, Blundell could play if BJ got concussed mid-Test or injured before etc.
 
straw man

straw man

Hall of Fame Member
That was such a huge wicket right before the close of play - Colin's got the knack. Need to win the match and having only the wicket of Thirimanne from day 1, albeit rain affected, would've made that seem so far away.

Need Karunaratne early in the morning.
 
Bahnz

Bahnz

Hall of Fame Member
Still think the team selection is wrong. Should've been Boult, CdG and Wagner. Southee slogging into the crease and letting it go at 129 in the first session of day 1 isn't adding anything to the side. He was even getting less swing than Colin to boot. The selectors view seems clouded by the fact that Southee went well in the third test at Abu Dhabi last year, ignoring the fact that in the first test at the same venue Wagner had a really good game too.
 
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straw man

straw man

Hall of Fame Member
Southee looked reasonable I thought - mostly good lines and lengths - but once again didn't get the results. I too would've left him out for Wagner if I thought there'd be some bounce in the wicket.

We've failed to take a first new ball wicket from seam bowling yet this series which is very disappointing. Boult hasn't been great either - I'm pleased he's sitting out the T20s.
 
Maximas

Maximas

Cricketer Of The Year
Not the first time Matthews has got out in that fashion of late, happened in the WC once or twice iirc, getting inside the pull shot and gloving it to the keeper

Middle order need to look to keep the scoring rate reasonable while Dimuth builds, he doesn't look in trouble at all
 
Moss

Moss

International Captain
Another example of how Boult much the better bowler than Southee despite them having similar records. Trenty just finds ways of picking up wickets even when not at his best.

Need him to get Dimuth though, the latter has been in "over my dead body" mode all series long.
 
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