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***Official*** India in New Zealand 2020

honestbharani

Whatever it takes!!!
If you can select only two out of Shaw, Vihari and Ashwin, I feel the answer is obvious. And there is a reason Vihari opened in the second A test too.
 

honestbharani

Whatever it takes!!!
Anyone "can" open. I get that that's want you want, but there is no point in repeating it again and again when someone disagrees. My position is India are more vulnerable in batting more than bowling and 6 batsmen are required and Vihari should bat at 6 since he's done well there.

If Ishant is the bottleneck to that plan, then Umesh should play.

I have only "repeated" this as many as times you have said we should play with 6 batsmen and Vihari at 6. :)

I am just pointing out that Vihari can still play as part of a 5 batsmen team. And yes, I do understand playing 6 batsmen if we are playing Umesh but I feel that significantly weakens our team anyways. Umesh is no good on bouncy tracks and will serve up a 4 ball every over as always. So either way, I feel we will be severely undermining our own strength if we play with 6 batsmen. I honestly think the best we can hope for, in that case, would be a draw and that is a lousy way to start a series, especially a 2 match one.
 
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NZTailender

I can't believe I ate the whole thing
It's weird having an NZ cricket thread where the opposition team playing gets just as much discussion as the Black Caps. Good to see.

sick of reading flem and athlai's constant dirge tbh
 

nzfan

International Vice-Captain
I think we are starting even stevens this game. There are no favourites for this test match as I can see. Indian bowling is better than ours but our batting is better than Indian side. Indian opening and lower middle order is unknown. I'm not convinced by Mayank, Shaw and although Vihari scored runs he's not someone that I'd worry about till maybe he produces a solid knock. Among Pujara, Kohli and Rahane, two have to come really good if India has to have a chance in this test match. The rest three doesn't matter whom India picks is going to be hit and miss. Saha if picked I think do well in NZ as against Pant. Pant is nowhere at times. Saha is fairly solid and very good behind stumps. I'd rather India pick Pant than Saha. For our sake if Shaw, Pant and Mayank play we will have better chance. They can still do well but I'd rather have them playing against us. Indian bowling worries me, the pace and spin equally good but not worried about spin to be honest. Can't remember when last a 5 fer was picked in New Zealand. I remember Jeetan Patel picking one in 2007 or 08 for us but none since then if I know my cricket correctly.
 

harsh.ag

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
I think we are starting even stevens this game. There are no favourites for this test match as I can see. Indian bowling is better than ours but our batting is better than Indian side. Indian opening and lower middle order is unknown. I'm not convinced by Mayank, Shaw and although Vihari scored runs he's not someone that I'd worry about till maybe he produces a solid knock. Among Pujara, Kohli and Rahane, two have to come really good if India has to have a chance in this test match. The rest three doesn't matter whom India picks is going to be hit and miss. Saha if picked I think do well in NZ as against Pant. Pant is nowhere at times. Saha is fairly solid and very good behind stumps. I'd rather India pick Pant than Saha. For our sake if Shaw, Pant and Mayank play we will have better chance. They can still do well but I'd rather have them playing against us. Indian bowling worries me, the pace and spin equally good but not worried about spin to be honest. Can't remember when last a 5 fer was picked in New Zealand. I remember Jeetan Patel picking one in 2007 or 08 for us but none since then if I know my cricket correctly.
Maharaj did it twice in 2017 :)

Although I don't see Ashwin doing that kind of damage.
 

nzfan

International Vice-Captain
Maharaj did it twice in 2017 :)

Although I don't see Ashwin doing that kind of damage.
Yeah I remember that test match at Basin couple of years ago. Prior to that Vettori has taken a 7 fer in 2006 and Murali likely in the same test match. Prior to that you have to go a loooong way back to 1990, a five fer from Bracewell.
 

nzfan

International Vice-Captain
List of bowlers that have taken 4 wickets or more in test cricket in NZ. Maharaj and Duminy took about 10 wickets between them in two innings at Basin three years ago.

Bowling stats.png

Much better than it used to in early 2000s or in the 90s. Remember Vettori wearing Tuffey's shirt during the one day series vs India in 2001 trying to cox Fleming to bowl him.
 

vandem

State Captain
Lyon took 3-22 and 4-91 at the Basin 2016. But that was the McCullum test side with Guptill and Anderson and more batting "intent", so offering more chances at mid-off and long-on ....
 

veganbob

U19 Captain
Very excited for the series.
I've written off the oz series as warm up for this. This is much bigger anyway- VS the best team in the world at our home.

Hopefully Boult is 100%.
Great to see Ajaz Picked ahead and we no longer have the corrupt selection of santner,
Will be interesting to see how blundell goes. He had nothing to lose in Australia. I feel this will be tougher for him mentally.

India's bowling scares me more than their batting.
 

nzfan

International Vice-Captain
Yeah saw that Matt Henry is brought in. Don't know why though? It's only in case of cover. Will they name Henry or Mitchell as 12th man. Wagner would have been really handy but obvious he'll choose to be at his child's birth.
 

Shady Slim

International Coach
very interested to see how the non-wagner division of the kiwi pace attack goes after getting the gauntlet on the tour here

expecting them to do well
 

Bahnz

Hall of Fame Member
That sucks. C'mon little wagz, get a leg on!

While I can understand it, I'm sad to hear that Ferguson wasn't considered as Wagner cover.
 

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