*Official* World Test Championship Final 2021

[The Hutt Rec]

Just wanna point out that had this been a pitch in India that helped the spinners exactly as much as this one has helped the seamers, the tourists would have been all out for a 100 or thereabouts and there would be questions on whether the pitch was poor or very poor. Case in point - the 2nd test wicket in Chennai against England.

Has the pitch really done that much? There's been a few that have reared up, but it's mainly been movement in the air from what I've seen.

 

[honestbharani]

It’s not a green seamer so I don’t agree,
seen tons of more seamer friendly pitches and conditions. The ball has swung but that’s nothing to do with the pitch.

Has the pitch really done that much? There's been a few that have reared up, but it's mainly been movement in the air from what I've seen.

Precisely my point. The pitch aided swing all day but the amount of swing was consistent as was the pace and the bounce. Same was the case in Chennai in the 2nd test earlier this year. Yet the cribbing was enormous in cricket media that the latter was somehow a poor test pitch.

 

[Dissector]

I suspect this test will continue to be a frustrating combination of high-quality test cricket combined with lost time and a looming draw. With the reserve day fully used, only 3 wickets down on the first day and every possibility of more time being lost in the coming days, the odds of a draw have shot up. If it does come to that let's at least hope there is enough play for some quality individual performances like today.

 

[h_hurricane]

Just wanna point out that had this been a pitch in India that helped the spinners exactly as much as this one has helped the seamers, the tourists would have been all out for a 100 or thereabouts and there would be questions on whether the pitch was poor or very poor. Case in point - the 2nd test wicket in Chennai against England.

And the decibel levels would be higher if India were to win the toss.

 

[honestbharani]

There will be 16 hours and 38 minutes of daylight in England today, and they couldn't even manage to get a full session in after lunch. I can't even.

Only 2 hours in Southampton TBF.

 

[Shri]

Precisely my point. The pitch aided swing all day but the amount of swing was consistent as was the pace and the bounce. Same was the case in Chennai in the 2nd test earlier this year. Yet the cribbing was enormous in cricket media that the latter was somehow a poor test pitch.

 

[Noumenon]

Withering contemptuous gaze

 

[h_hurricane]

On a side note, BJ Watling's keeping has been top notch today. With the ball swinging and seaming all day, he hasn't put a foot wrong. Will leave the game poorer by the end of the game, once he retires.

 

[Teja.]

India’s day by a bit as it stands. Impressed with how well all our batsmen did in challenging conditions.

 

[Arachnodouche]

India batted well but NZ weren't too flash (Southee wayward, CdG innocuous, the other two not consistently penetrating). Really should get to 300 from here and then if conditions remain as they've been, hopefully winkle out the kiwis for not much. 300 and we should be making the plays in whatever time's left.

 

[honestbharani]

Gonna hope this forecast holds and we get a lot of cricket over the next 4 days.

 

[Moss]

India batted well but NZ weren't too flash (Southee wayward, CdG innocuous, the other two not consistently penetrating). Really should get to 300 from here and then if conditions remain as they've been, hopefully winkle out the kiwis for not much. 300 and we should be making the plays in whatever time's left.

Yeah not that happy with the bowling effort, can happen when the conditions seem gift wrapped and you go searching as a result of some good resistance from the batsmen. The wasted review off CdG was symptomatic.

Good thing about this being a test match is NZ can still regroup and course correct tomorrow, having blinked once again on a big occasion. The frontliners didn’t build enough pressure (controlled the run rate, but didn’t make the batsmen play enough) and KW was a lot more keen on CdG’s bowling than he should have been.

Day 1 to India, can feel happy about that effort after losing the toss.

 

[Flem274*]

just gonna cynically note this is the third time southee and boult have disappeared in the first hour of a huge game. the 7 test veteran and the madman saved us some lunchtime blushes. both sides of the deck bowling very reminiscent of brisbane 2015.

also honestbharani has the biggest persecution complex on the forum. a jaw so glassy it sets ants on fire.

 

[honestbharani]

also honestbharani has the biggest persecution complex on the forum. a jaw so glassy it sets ants on fire.

wanna be Burgey sees himself in others... whats new?

 

[sunilz]

Hope no one posted this image earlier ?
I want the confidence of this person.

 

[honestbharani]

Southee was on fire in that last session. But I guess the game plan of the Indian batsmen walking down to the ball and not poking at ones outside off at least initially seemed to hold NZ back. But NZ definitely did tighten up their bowling post the first hour and the field placements were very good. What I mean by that is how they kept the mid off slightly towards cover and the mid on really straight even when they only had two men on the leg side. Its a shame the weather is interfering this much coz we saw some really good quality test cricket when it was allowed to happen.

 

[hendrix]

Just wanna point out that had this been a pitch in India that helped the spinners exactly as much as this one has helped the seamers, the tourists would have been all out for a 100 or thereabouts and there would be questions on whether the pitch was poor or very poor. Case in point - the 2nd test wicket in Chennai against England.

- you think this team, featuring Latham and Williamson and Watling would be out for less than 100 on the first day of a match on a spinning wicket? I don't think so.
- This pitch IS likely to assist the spinners as well as the pace bowlers
- it is not particularly green. Most of the movement has been in the aor and is down to the dukes ball.
- NZ has to bat on this pitch too.

Dunno just seems a weird time to have a whinge

 

[Apex Predator]

It was indeed top quality test cricket no doubt about it. F*** the weather

 

[Manee]

It was indeed top quality test cricket no doubt about it. F*** the weather

Agree with this. Very good bowling and the batsmen were solid. No one threw away their wicket and they put away the bad balls, of which there were few.

 

[Gob]

Kohli pretty good innit

Love the way he plays the swinging ball of the front foot. Big stride yet plays it so late.