Black to the Future (NZ story)

[_Ed_]

FIRST TEST

NZ destroyed by Badrinath

India won the first Test against NZ by 249 runs, thanks largely to an amazing triple century on debut by Badrinath.

It started well for NZ, with a wicket in the first over. India found themselves at 2-2 and then 14-3. But from then it was all Badrinath. In a belligerent display, Badrinath slammed 46 fours and a six in bringing up his 300 from 436 balls. Most of the damage was done on the first day - he was 225* at stumps.

In response, NZ scratched their way past the follow-on mark. In the second innings NZ were far better, bowling India out for 192. Tim Southee led the way with an excellent 6-61.

NZ had a glimmer of hope, with a 43-run opening partnership as NZ chased 390, but it all turned to custard as they collapsed to 140 all out.

 

[Flem274*]

Luffly. I've been thinking for ages there should be a "punch in the face" option for times like that. Soooo annoying.

 

[_Ed_]

I thought I had a chance of winning when I got them out for less than 200, but...no.

 

[Flem274*]

I thought I had a chance of winning when I got them out for less than 200, but...no.

Bowl bouncers and see if you can't hurt them.

 

[_Ed_]

SECOND TEST

Amazing NZ comeback seals victory

After the first Test, New Zealand were down and out. Half way through the second it didn't look like things were getting any better. But an amazing fightback, led by Jacob Oram, has seen them take the match and secure a 1-1 series draw.

At 145-5 after conceding a first innings lead, things were looking terrible for NZ. But Greg Hay (who had scored 8 runs in his first 3 innings of the tour) started the recovery with a career-saving 53, joining with Brendon McCullum (37) and Oram. Once Hay departed, Oram went on to the offensive. When India finally dismissed him he had scored 130 from 139 balls with 11 fours and 3 sixes.

Set 398 to win, India began well with a slashing 98 from Sachin Tendulkar. But NZ chipped away with regular wickets and in the end India fell 66 short.

Yay! Can't believe it.

 

[Jamee999]

Very nice story Go Black Caps!

 

[_Ed_]

The ODIs were played in very bowler-friendly conditions, and our batsmen fell apart.

In the first game it didn't matter, we were only chasing 180. We fell to 159-9, though, and were on the brink of an embarrassing defeat. But a 21-run stand between Patel and Scott saw us through to an awesome win.

The difference between the two sides in the second game was Sachin Tendulkar. While most batsmen on both teams struggled in the conditions, he was superb. His 80 took just 77 balls and included 13 fours. NZ were never in it.

The third game started disastrously for NZ. We slumped to five down with just 80 on the board, of which Guptill had slammed 53 from 46 balls. Scratchy but determined knocks from Oram (35), Vettori (49*) and Mills (27*) took us through to 200, but it wasn't enough. Badrinath tore the game, and the series, away from us with a superb 86.

 

[_Ed_]

Players I'm going to have to look at as a result of poor performances on the tour:

Tim Southee - one superb bag of 6, but his other six wickets in the series came at 65.5 apiece.
Neil Broom - 14 runs @ 4.67 in the ODIs. Jesse Ryder breathing down his neck.
Bradley Scott - bowled well for his 3-38 in the second ODI, but was wicketless and expensive in the other two.

 

[_Ed_]

The West Indies are visiting again. 2nd time they've toured in the 2 years this game has been running, but there you go.

Squad for the first Test:
Martin Guptill
Craig Spearman
Peter Fulton
Ross Taylor
Greg Hay
Brendon McCullum * +
Jacob Oram
Daniel Vettori
Kyle Mills
Jeetan Patel
Iain O'Brien
Michael Henry

The one surprise there is the last name, 21 year-old pace bowler Michael Henry. In his first two years in FC cricket, he's taken 77 wickets @ 23.05. Deserves a chance, IMO.

 

[_Ed_]

FIRST TEST
Bravo sinks NZ

The West Indies comprehensively outplayed New Zealand in the first match of a 3-Test series. They were in complete control from a very early stage - responding to losing the toss and being asked to bowl first by knocking the home side over before stumps on the first day.

Superb hundreds by Bravo and Chanderpaul followed, and NZ were never given a hope of setting a defendable target as Bravo ripped through their top order with 4-74.

Thoughts:
Ouch. Spearman was bad (5 & 2), he'll need to improve or he'll be given the boot. Hay was terrible too, he hit his first ball in the first innings for four, then was eventually out for 8 off 39 balls!

And a forgettable debut for young Mr Henry - match figures of 1-127.

 

[_Ed_]

SECOND TEST
New Zealand level series

An excellent all-round performance has seen New Zealand draw the series level at 1-1 with one match remaining.

It looked at first like West Indies were going to pick up where they left off in the first game, with Bravo scoring another century as the visitors racked up 419. But the in-form Fulton and McCullum both replied with tons as NZ made 407.

Then Henry stole the show. An excellent spell of pace bowling netted him the early wickets of Gayle, Bravo and Sarwan. Those crippling blows meant WI were unable to recover enough to set a genuinely difficult target for NZ.

Thoughts:
Yes! That's more like it. Spearman, Hay and Henry all heard me. Spearman scored 42 and 53, Hay got a steady half-century to guide our chase and Henry took seven for the match. Awesome.

 

[kingdamo]

Maaan, Peter Fulton never performs for me .

 

[_Ed_]

Haha. His Test average for me is 39.26! Pretty happy with that.

THIRD TEST
NZ take series with comfortable win

After a slow start to the series, New Zealand have surged back to take it 2-1 thanks to a six-wicket win in the deciding game.

WI began the match well, losing only two wickets in the first 80 overs. But a four-wicket rampage by Kyle Mills with the second new ball turned things around, and WI were dismissed for 343.

McCullum, Fulton and a heroic 33 from Jeetan Patel at number 10 took NZ to a first-innings lead, and good bowling by Vettori, Oram and Henry restricted the target to a comfortable 243.

Thoughts:
Nice. Hay's Test average has hit 20! On to the ODIs now. I think my only change to the squad will be Jesse Ryder coming in to take Hay's place (but really replacing Broom, who batted poorly in the last ODI series).

 

[_Ed_]

ODIs

The results speak for themselves really. It was pretty much perfect apart from the batting in the last game, and we nearly won it anyway.

Sucks that the World Cup is so far away, I reckon this team would go alright in it.

 

[Somerset]

Looks like Henry could lead your attack in the upcoming seasons, 5-for on ODI debut and a 7 wicket haul in the second test are positive signs.

 

[kingdamo]

Funny, Greg Hay absolutely dominates for me. Regularly in the top spot for Test and ODI batting; he averages 60 in tests and above 45 in ODI's.

 

[_Ed_]

I think he'll come good for me eventually. His FC average is 53.

He seems to suck in one-day games in my game though, averaging only 31 in List A.

 

[inbox24]

Don't drop Hay! He has massive potential, in all the games he averages at minimum 50 whether I'm playing with NZ or not.

 

[NZTailender]

Scored about 6000 at 65 for me in my current game. 20+ centuries. Will be interesting to see how he ends up, as he's just 32 atm.

 

[Flem274*]

Fulton and Sinclair are ones that either suck or rule too. I have two games going, in one Fulton averages just under 60 and opens the batting after 50 odd tests. Sinclair is rubbish in this game. However in the other he averages 47 and Fulton only 35.