***Official*** India in New Zealand 2013/14

[Blocky]

Sigh Wagner... continues to make a lie of me saying that he's a respectable tail-ender.

At 200/8 against rapid pace bowling, he'd do a job. At 490/8 against spin bowling, probably not so.

Sodhi's only future in international and domestic cricket is to become an all rounder. He needs to provide an 0 balance to the side like Vettori did - averaging 30ish with the bat and 30ish with the ball. I think Sodhi's best case is probably 35ish with the ball, which means he'll have to develop into a guy who can average 35 with the bat internationally.

I also think 35 with the ball might be a way away for him, I just don't buy this idea that he has an amazing talent and high potential when you look at other leg spinners and their trajectory in cricket.

 

[Bahnz]

McCullum's tactics here are betraying the fact that he rarely hangs around for long enough to bat with the tail.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

It's like it's Chris Martin at the other end ffs. Where's the faith in Boult gone?

 

[Blocky]

McCullum being silly here. Boult can bat, there's no reason to change what he's been doing.

Boult can hit. But not really bat. And spin bowlers are a curse for him.

 

[hendrix]

look, when you reverse sweep it doesn't matter if the ball pitches outside leg.

That's a rule that the umpires really need to grasp.

 

[Blocky]

McCullum's tactics here are betraying the fact that he rarely hangs around for long enough to bat with the tail.

Definitely a fair point. Mind you a lot of his late order partnerships when he batted six and seven came with Vettori at 8 and they'd put the runs on together.

I think he just needs to bat as he normally would, it's not like his strike rate has been dismal and NZ have a run rate of 4 an over. Look to work twos, and the four when it's there and give Boult two balls an over.

 

[Bahnz]

Boult can hit. But not really bat. And spin bowlers are a curse for him.

He certainly didn't have too many problems biffing Shillingford out of the attack earlier in the summer.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

look, when you reverse sweep it doesn't matter if the ball pitches outside leg.

That's a rule that the umpires really need to grasp.

The reverse sweep is still a right-handed shot provided the stance doesn't change before the ball is bowled so the pitching outside leg rule remains

 

[BeeGee]

 

[Flem274*]

this is great. not the best tactics from nz since boult can bat but indias fielding makes this awesome.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

McCullum is clearly knackered. He should just take the not out at instruct boult to have a swing imo

 

[hendrix]

Why is Ishant smiling? look at the scoreboard you ****.

 

[Pothas]

Thanks India, not enjoyed test cricket this much in a good few months.

 

[Blocky]

He certainly didn't have too many problems biffing Shillingford out of the attack earlier in the summer.

Exactly the point I made though - he can hit the ball, but not block it out over after over. I think with McCullum at the crease, he'll go away from what works for him and try to hold up an end - to be honest, I think he should just go for it.

And that.. is a great catch - and sadly, a dismissal that didn't need to happen for McCullum.

 

[Flem274*]

we'd score more runs if we pushed ones and twos. struggling to get the big shots to even connect atm.

 

[BeeGee]

Brilliant catch.

 

[Flem274*]

well that connected.

great catch. fmd i said it before but the contrast between their best and worst is just ridiculous.

really great work there.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

we'd score more runs if we pushed ones and twos. struggling to get the big shots to even connect atm.

Yeah, it's actually really hard to go for boundaries towards the end of a massive innings because your body can't keep up with your eye. Not the right strategy for McCullum to shoulder the hitting responsibility.

 

[straw man]

Sodhi's only future in international and domestic cricket is to become an all rounder. He needs to provide an 0 balance to the side like Vettori did - averaging 30ish with the bat and 30ish with the ball. I think Sodhi's best case is probably 35ish with the ball, which means he'll have to develop into a guy who can average 35 with the bat internationally.

I also think 35 with the ball might be a way away for him, I just don't buy this idea that he has an amazing talent and high potential when you look at other leg spinners and their trajectory in cricket.

If you offered me a spinner that could average 35 while playing most of his games in NZ I would bite your arm off. Yes it is a long way away from here.

 

[Bahnz]

Sigh, after the start we had this morning, 503 is a little underwhelming. Goddamn you Davis. Still a very good total. Now we'll find out just how good to bat this pitch really is.