***Official New Zealand in India Nov-Dec 2021 Thread***

[hendrix]

Yes I think our chance of chasing this score today was approximately zero, because India could always fall back to defensive bowling and fields to make scoring very difficult. However there was value in playing shots and scoring runs to push India into that, which improves the chance of a draw.

Exactly.

Now they have complete freedom to attack which is not good for us.

 

[Zinzan]

Don't really agree. Both Shreyas Iyer and Will Young scored runs by punishing the bad balls.

Look I don't think we could have chased this anyway but I think it would have been good to put the bowlers under some pressure, particularly in the first innings but also e.g. from Ross Taylor today who was never going to be capable of just blocking things out.

All fair, but I think NZ are being calculated & backing themselves in the 2nd Test if they can save this one. We do have a history of improving after the 1st test in the subcontinent since we are quick learners, and think we'll see better selection and captaincy in the next. So I'm reluctant to criticize it too much.

 

[sunilz]

Can we repeat Chennai 2016 or Delhi 2015 ?

 

[Zinzan]

Can we repeat Chennai 2016 or Delhi 2015 ?

It wouldn't be any sort of surprising miracle in India won from here. I'd say odds-on if they can breakthrough in the first 2-3 overs.

As it is I have it 60% draw 40% Indian win.

 

[hendrix]

All fair, but I think NZ are being calculated & backing themselves in the 2nd Test if they can save this one. We do have a history of improving after the 1st test in the subcontinent since we are quick learners, and think we'll see better selection and captaincy in the next. So I'm reluctant to criticize it too much.

Except we haven't actually drawn this test yet, and now India has complete freedom with attacking field settings because we're no chance of chasing it.

 

[Zinzan]

Except we haven't actually drawn this test yet, and now India has complete freedom with attacking field settings because we're no chance of chasing it.

Yep, but factored in the calculation you'd assume.

 

[Burgey]

That’s dead if he hasn’t hit it

 

[straw man]

spuddish stuff from Nicholls

 

[nzfan]

That's gone

 

[Immenso]

Nicholls has become so bad., so so bad.

 

[Zinzan]

Looked plumb live

 

[Burgey]

**** me why would you review that? Was a straight break

 

[_Ed_]

Bloody hell. He still has a great record, and I've been a big fan, but Nicholls has looked out of his depth this test.

 

[OverratedSanity]

That's one of the most out lbws I've ever seen

 

[Zinzan]

Straight as an arrow, horribly played, with an angled bat.

 

[nzfan]

Kept quite low.. exactly what India wanted first over. Another drama here

 

[nzfan]

Would give anything for a 100 ball 10 runs knock from Blundell

 

[Burgey]

Kept quite low.. exactly what India wanted first over. Another drama here

It didn’t beat him on height though. He just played the wrong line

 

[Hurricane2]

Agreed, blocking vs spin never has worked for him. Would have been super useful if he got some quick runs.

Ross gave Kane a stand for 9 overs and lasted just long enough that his wicket wasn’t immediately consecutive to lathams
Had Ross definitely failed in his innings but he did get us to tea
And from tea we should be able to bat it out
Ross gets a two out of ten for his inning from me rather than a zero or one.

 

[hendrix]

Blundell also not the best player of spin. Probably would rather have Rachin come out ahead of him.