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

[honestbharani]

Why should NZ have to bat first in those conditions just because they are the hosts? Seamers/greentops can trouble any batsman and there's no real evidence to say that NZ are better batsmen in those conditions simply because they're at home. We just bowled and batted like assholes, that's all there is to it.

It is not based on this test alone nor in NZ alone. It is across all conditions in an effort to try and reduce home teams preparing tracks that suit them excessively.

 

[honestbharani]

I find it pretty ridiculous that Kohli is bringing up the toss when they failed in their second innings as well? In fact, when India had New Zealand 210/7 or whatever it was, they were right in the game. But then the bowlers and CDG took the lead to 183, and India batted badly second time around as well/NZ bowled well.

If India bowl NZ out for 270 in the first innings, then make 300 themselves, NZ have a potentially difficult chase of 200 to win in the final innings.

They had their chance, and couldn’t play well enough. Much more to do with the game than the toss IMO.

TBF, he was blaming the batting a lot more than the toss. Its just a bad look coz he brought it up first and without anyone asking about it. So came off all cheap and stupid.

 

[vcs]

I have generally moaned about pitches going from greentop for two sessions => road which tends to makes tosses too important (NZ and a few venues in England), but this was definitely not such a case. There are no excuses when you get bowled out for <200 in your third innings.

 

[SteveNZ]

Did the pitch change so considerably from the shortened first day to when we batted? Could we say there was any discernible difference that made winning the toss a major advantage? I say absolutely no.

We're a great side at home but some teams turn up here with the wrong mentality. India seemingly won the toss and had it in their mind that our decks are green swampfields that magically change when the other side gets a bat. Given the moisture on the second half of day one, truly I don't think we batted on something any different to India. We bowled better and batted better in pretty similar conditions. Kohli should be better than to even think about mentioning an advantage. If they'd truly worked hard to bat longer, to negate Jamieson etc, they could've been in the game. But they regularly turn up here and don't want to do the grafting work. And we're relentless at home, so we win.

 

[vcs]

Yeah I didn't see a huge amount of day 1 but it was not one of those unplayable green wickets you sometimes get in places like Durban, Wanderers etc. where 250 looks like a great score. With some application, India could have got to 275-300 (and should have, given they played 6 batsmen).

 

[SteveNZ]

Hopefully there will be no further questioning of Southee's worth in this Test side. His averages over our last four home summers are 23, 24, 21 and 24. He's swinging it late and both ways, the working over of Vihari was absolute world class.

Not that it would have made too much difference but his form further serves to show how disgraceful his non-selection and Henry in at Sydney was.

 

[SteveNZ]

Yeah I didn't see a huge amount of day 1 but it was not one of those unplayable green wickets you sometimes get in places like Durban, Wanderers etc. where 250 looks like a great score. With some application, India could have got to 275-300 (and should have, given they played 6 batsmen).

Absolutely. Only Pujara got an unplayable one, the rest wanted to play shots.

It's almost like the ghosts of 2002 still hover above every time India turn up here.

 

[vcs]

I don't think 2002 has anything to do with it. Now those pitches really were unplayable green tops (though it was still fair because it remained the same for both teams). We batted pretty well on our last couple of tours here, by and large.

 

[SteveNZ]

I don't think 2002 has anything to do with it. Now those pitches really were unplayable green tops (though it was still fair because it remained the same for both teams). We batted pretty well on our last couple of tours here, by and large.

Nah I know, being a bit silly - but there's that stigma of 'green wicket' NZ that doesn't always fit what's below. I thought it was an excellent, actually outstanding Test deck. Had bounce, a little bit of sideways movement (not a lot, more so swing), and it even gripped and bounced for Ashwin on day two. You got runs if you wanted them, and you could really trouble batsmen if you worked hard too. Very good test of everyone's skills and mental application.

 

[Flem274*]

the 2002 pitches were not as nasty as is made out.

the shane bond highlights footage even shows some nice yellow on the decks.

 

[Gnske]

Some nice yellow coming down the pantleg of PEWS this morning I dare say.

#FREESHRI

 

[kaetor]

Will be interesting how the second test plays out. Something I've noticed when team tour here is that we often win the first match fairly decisively and then struggle a bit more in the second. Wonder who will take over Blundell's spot if he doesn't recover his shoulder in time.

 

[Bahnz]

the 2002 pitches were not as nasty as is made out.

the shane bond highlights footage even shows some nice yellow on the decks.

The Basin deck was a pretty standard Basin deck. The Hamilton pitch was one of the worst in the history of test cricket. I mean just look at this scorecard.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ia-2nd-test-india-tour-of-new-zealand-2002-03

Rahul Dravid deserved to take a lap of honour when he passed the 35 mark in the second innings.

 

[Gnske]

Nicholls probably, worked in white ball right?

#FREESHRI #SIEGHEILMEINPEWRER

 

[nzfan]

There was nothing wrong with the pitch. Too much is made out of it. There is always bound to be something in it for first couple of days at Basin and then settles down. As for Kohli's assessment about slowness of the pitch, Basin is one of the faster ones in the country rest are much slower. Without the grass to bind the pitch together it will end up too slow and no chance for wicket taking either. It's just that both teams have very good bowlers so they make it harder for the batsmen. We play lot of test matches at home so we're used to the slowness of the pitch. This is where we struggle in Aussie, their decks are much quicker with steep bounce which we aren't used to.

 

[nzfan]

Will be interesting how the second test plays out. Something I've noticed when team tour here is that we often win the first match fairly decisively and then struggle a bit more in the second. Wonder who will take over Blundell's spot if he doesn't recover his shoulder in time.

Blundell came out to bat in the second dig so I'm guessing he's fine. In case he's not available they will likely get Mitchell to play in the late middle order and bring Nicholls up the order. I don't think that's a good option though, best to keep left right combination going. They should ideally bring in Will Young in his place.

 

[kaetor]

Definitely nothing wrong with the pitch, no excuses if you only put on 191 in the second dig after we scored nearly 350.

There is an argument to be made about the toss in test cricket, but the number 1 ranked team in the world don't have a real excuse here as far as I'm concerned. If they'd put a decent total in once the pitch flattened up a bit, then you'd have a reason to lament having to bat the first innings while it was still tough.

 

[NZTailender]

Hopefully there will be no further questioning of Southee's worth in this Test side. His averages over our last four home summers are 23, 24, 21 and 24. He's swinging it late and both ways, the working over of Vihari was absolute world class.

Not that it would have made too much difference but his form further serves to show how disgraceful his non-selection and Henry in at Sydney was.

Leapfrogged Boult in the picking/pecking order imo

Wagner, Southee, Boult, Jamieson, Ferguson, daylight, Henry I guess

 

[Immenso]

Will be interesting how the second test plays out. Something I've noticed when team tour here is that we often win the first match fairly decisively and then struggle a bit more in the second. Wonder who will take over Blundell's spot if he doesn't recover his shoulder in time.

Probably a second test dirge pitch to sit on the 1-0 lead.

 

[straw man]

Leapfrogged Boult in the picking/pecking order imo

Wagner, Southee, Boult, Jamieson, Ferguson, daylight, Henry I guess

Ferguson still above Jamieson plz.

If Tickner keeps improving, he will be next on the list.