*Official* Pakistan in New Zealand 2020/21

[Moss]

Also distinguishable by being pre and post Amir/Asif/Butt bans...reckon all 3 played in those 09/10 tests?

Yes exactly. The 09/10 attack was miles better (even had Kaneria as spinner who was later discarded). Amir/Asif were pretty much unplayable on those early season pitches. Taylor played some of his best knocks against them I thought, got out a couple of times in the nineties. Was effectively carrying the middle order.

 

[Athlai]

you know the batting is going well when your bowlers are busy trolling the commentators

You jest but they just doubled the all time sales of Maccas book

 

[nzfan]

Some very good batting plans - namely coming down the wicket - have nullified Abbas and he hasn't been able to adjust.

Not sure whether Waqar et al came up with a response plan or not but for whatever reason he hasn't been able to respond to these plans.

It sounds brutal but it's the type of thing that can completely end a test career. He's been figured out, put simply.

Why wouldn't the keeper stand up to him? He's not all that express. Saw Blundell batting nearly a meter outside the crease.

The difference between the black caps bowlers and the Pakistan is the ability to keep the ball on the stumps without straying leg side. Very important to get the batters to play as many balls as possible early in the inning. Shaheen does the well.

Helps if you have one bowler that can keep the batters on the back foot which Naseem could have done but he's skiddy and doesn't have the height. His pace is not bad but not high enough to cause alarms.

Back of the length in the corridor helps on slower decks but just won't cut on these decks. With someone like Waqar in the coaching set up you'd think they'll have figured that out. Naseem in particular has similar approach like Waqar did.

 

[Flem274*]

the more i listen to him the more i think stevenson is sounding like the mark nicholas of the spark box.

 

[Athlai]

Stevenson has been a lot better this Test I've thought.

 

[Flem274*]

worse for me. he's been guzzling nz all game. our first towelling by aus (let's be honest it will be them) will be interesting.

 

[thierry henry]

There was some real melodramatic stuff earlier about how we were seeing something unbelievable, indescribable etc etc...I guess it was quite reminiscent of Mark Nicholas

 

[Athlai]

worse for me. he's been guzzling nz all game. our first towelling by aus (let's be honest it will be them) will be interesting.

I think he more or less rides the game state which has obviously been massively in our favour. No such thing as in depth analysis from Stevenson nor should there be.

Bit disappointed the other commentators haven't made more of an effort to focus on Pakistan.

 

[Athlai]

My issues with Stevenson in the first game related mostly to when it became clear he was out of his depth in cricket knowledge. Reacting to what's happening in the game is fine imo. It'll enter Nicholas territory when he doesn't do this for the opposition when they're riding high.

 

[Arachnodouche]

Almost feel KW overdoes the playing late bit. Can't argue with his class, numbers, or the general virtues of playing late, but it feels like he sometimes robs himself of run-scoring opportunities by letting average balls sneak up under his nose.

 

[Flem274*]

fleming focuses on pakistan. he and elliott are so good.

 

[Athlai]

fleming focuses on pakistan. he and elliott are so good.

Fleming and Elliott definitely been the stars of the box so far. Quite like the female commentator with dreads, haven't been listening well enough to remember which one is Mackay and which one is isnt.

 

[trundler]

At this point I'm simply rooting for Kane's rate to hit exactly 60. He was on 150 off 250 for a bit.

 

[Athlai]

Highlight of McCullums commentary was when he said Watling was NZ's ATG WK bat.

 

[Flem274*]

mccullum and mcmillan are alot better than they were on sky too. spark have definitely asked for more analysis and less 'banter', elliott and stevenson's trolling excepted.

stevonson is just too fawning for play by play box man imo. needs some chill.

 

[_Ed_]

Fleming and Elliott definitely been the stars of the box so far. Quite like the female commentator with dreads, haven't been listening well enough to remember which one is Mackay and which one is isnt.

That would definitely be Mackay. Feel pretty sorry for her, coming back into the White Ferns after 5+ years in the wilderness and immediately suffering a career-ending(??) injury in her first game back. But it's good she's found another option in commentary and seems to be a natural.

 

[Moss]

Bit disappointed the other commentators haven't made more of an effort to focus on Pakistan.

This seems to be an almost deliberate worldwide trend (with West Indians such as Bishop being the possible exception). Friends who get the Ch7 feed for the Aus-India series are amazed at the ignorance on display.

Sky in England are usually better when it comes to discussing the opposition, but can recall Alec Stewart being peeved last year that England should be taken apart by Neil Wagner of all people, and insisting than 2-3 NZ players would get into the England side.

 

[Flem274*]

mccullum and katie martin have been solid together despite it being her dayboo, which is a nice change from sky (cumming excepted) pretending female commentators don't exist.

 

[Athlai]

One of the signs of the Apocalypse has just occured.

 

[hendrix]

Hey you're not allowed to catch Nicholls