Chris : "Why are both teams playing like it is a 50 over game.. Plenty of time left in the test match to stay in and build an innings." -- The ball has done all sorts off the surface, and maybe both teams just want to get as many runs on the board before one of those wicket-taking deliveries (inevitably) come along. Plus, Phillips' innings did show that if you bat with the right intent, and choose the right balls to be hit, that is perhaps the way to go on this track.
Yeah test matches like this one on a minefield where there are a lot of wickets taken regularly can be fun to watch but I don't like to see test matches finished in 3 days which this test probably would have been if it wasn't for all the issues with rain and bad light.Missed most of this game but after that World Cup how good is it to see a genuine minefield?
350 v 350 is fun in moderation and it's good to have a few in a 45-50 game tournament but the WC was ridiculous.
the best Test matches are where both sides are in it from start to finish, a bit of to and fro but far too many are decided by conditions, big scores, all the kinds of things that are most level in low scorersWrong, the best test matches are the ones that we win.
whilst some of the cameos from the 90s for the likes of DeFreitas, Gough, Lawrence, Lewis and others didn't bring better results for England they were fun, great to watch and great for the game.It looks impossible to bat on this pitch. Bounce is all over the place. Total luck whether you actually time a shot or not. Fun to watch tbh
Nahthe best Test matches are where both sides are in it from start to finish, a bit of to and fro but far too many are decided by conditions, big scores, all the kinds of things that are most level in low scorers
it's a psychological handicap to look at a Test as "5 days, it isn't a good Test match if it doesn't go late into day 4 at least if not 5 days" Sure you can get some classics go five days but low scorers test batsmen, bowlers and fielding
- batsmen don't get easy hundreds, next ball might have their name on it, do they stick (around) and hope to accumulate runs or bad balls, or twist, have a bit of a dart, push field back or at least make the captain of the fielding side decide if he is happy to give away runs in the quest for wickets
- bowlers have to bowl well, the lame theory is it is "easy" but actually you have to bowl well or conditions in your favour go to waste. Do you field a third man and fine leg where a lot of runs may come, do you sustain 3-4 slips, do you put a man to stop the drives for four (my preference) or do you leave them vacant to entice a drive with a "four or bust" approach for the batsmen
- fielding has to be good, any lapses, areas exposed, tactical flaws and those 20-40 runs, or more, you might write off in a Test where totals are 300-400 become a game changer. every extra, every dropped catch or missed LBW/review not chanced can make all the difference.
Give me that over one side posts 400+, the other ends 75+ runs shy on 1st innings, target set of 350+ and game ends in a predictable runs win on day 4 or day 5, or one side skittled for 180, concede a 100+ run lead and struggle. Sure in some of these scenarios 300-400 isn't decisive, but even if it were 300 plays 300 both innings, or bigger totals, it's rarely exciting bar for the partisans following it
Let's put it this way, wishing for a 5 day conclusion as a norm seems senseless when the one feature shown in this thread is noone can work out how the game is going to turn next, some forecast kiwis not reaching 100 let alone taking a lead, and given a total of 200 looks like better than par even if the deshis only set 150-170 (might not get that far) kiwis may not.
or maybe some just want to see "on paper" wins, and if playing deshis if it becomes 300+ vs 300+ you back their opponents...
Mitchell shows that a lot of domestic cricketers have the raw talent to be at the highest level, just not always the method.Too easy to fall for the young blood narrative, especially when you have guys like Mitchell or even Ajaz debuting after turning 30 and putting in some solid performances. But Ravindra and Phillips have really been a breath of fresh air in the last couple of months amid a fair amount of staleness.
Surely with that, Macewell has played his last Test. Hopefully he'll make it in time for the T20WC.Phillips averaging 47 with the bat and 16.37 with the ball this series.
Agree. If GP had got a not out his series average would be about 70.Surely with that, Macewell has played his last Test. Hopefully he'll make it in time for the T20WC.
No5 Phillips
6 Blundell
7 Macewell
8 Santner
Sickos
McConchie or Foxcroft instead of Blundell. Phillips and Macewell can take turns keeping when not bowling.5 Phillips
6 Blundell
7 Macewell
8 Santner