*Official* New Zealand in Sri Lanka

[straw man]

Mission failed, Nissanka

 

[Bahnz]

Lol, another day, another dropped catch. The extent to which Stead and co have dropped the ball (lelz) on such an obvious controllable should be a sackable offence in itself.

 

[straw man]

That catch was a great chance to get on a roll, give O'Rourke momentum while the ball is new.

 

[ashley bach]

Mitchell Santner isn't worth a meat pie as a test cricketer.

 

[ashley bach]

O'Rourke has been impressive again without any luck. Ajaz has looked good too but unfortunately that spells another 4th innings nightmare.

 

[_Ed_]

That's a dreadful missed stumping.

 

[ataraxia]

Blundell's keeping has not been great at all to spin this series.

 

[Meridio]

I'd just like to congratulate Sri Lanka on having an excellent time zone for watching cricket. 4.30pm is a very nice time to start a test.

Lankans living a charmed life this session but ffs we've helped them out a lot. Missed chances has been a hallmark of this side in the last 18 months and it's so frustrating - but not altogether unsurprising - that it's continuing here. Real indictment on the coaching setup that slack standards haven't been addressed over a long period of time.

 

[ataraxia]

15km/h slower please Mitch

 

[Meridio]

15km/h slower please Mitch

Yeah for someone who has a reputation of being a Very Smart Player he just hasn't worked out that slower pace is what works here. On some other turning pitches firing it in at 90km/h into the pitch is how you get spin, but these decks don't suit that. Ajaz has succeeded this tour by slowing down; Santner hasn't recognised that at all.

 

[Moss]

Have to admire Stead’s willingness to persist with the status quo.

 

[danzydab]

Somebody of Sears' pace would be useful here.
Also, somebody please tell me the reason for bracewell not replacing santner is due to the former being injured

 

[ashley bach]

Have to admire Stead

 

[SteveNZ]

Have to admire Stead’s willingness to persist with the status quo.

Do I....

 

[Silver Silva]

Great first session , Karunaratne got a life twice but Chandimal has been a wall at no.3 , omnious signs for New Zealand, these two average over 50 at Galle and are well set now.

 

[jcas0167]

Rhys Mariu might be the next best specialist opener on the horizon rather than once again shoe-horning in middle order batsmen (D Phillips, Abbas, Conway, Young, Blundell etc)

Tim Robinson opens. Jacob Cumming or Thorne Parkes might be options in time.

 

[ashley bach]

1-111 @SillyCowCorner1

 

[_Ed_]

That's a weird dismissal, but OK. We'll take it.

 

[ashley bach]

lol we almost ****ed that up as well

 

[thierry henry]

Obv I’m 3 hours late to say this but jeez on top of everything else, it’d be great if we could win a toss