***Official*** New Zealand in India 2016

[wellAlbidarned]

Don't get me wrong, Ashwin can bat you know.

has a test hundred

 

[Prince EWS]

I'm not jumping on the Ashwon is the greatest since Sobers train either, but what world doesn't see a Test cricketer who after 37 tests averages mid 30s with bat and mid 20s with ball as being a genuine allrounder?

Yeah look, Ashwin is definitely an allrounder. That doesn't mean he's a great one or anything, but he's got four tons, averages 34 and is batting ahead of the keeper now (sometimes #6 in this side, sometimes #7, depending on balance). I care about longevity way too much to have him anywhere near the sort of company viriya and weldone have put him in, but that doesn't mean he's not an allrounder.

 

[Athlai]

I think Burgey's applying the "would he get in as a specialist" sort of logic for a genuine allrounder. Would be an interesting one for Ashwin. If he couldn't bowl he'd just about be selected as a genuine bat, I don't think he actually would though.

 

[indiaholic]

Nah won't be selected as a bat. Only Rohit can get in by being terrible. 100% certain he would be treated like Pujara if he was marginally worse.

 

[Zinzan]

I think Burgey's applying the "would he get in as a specialist" sort of logic for a genuine allrounder. Would be an interesting one for Ashwin. If he couldn't bowl he'd just about be selected as a genuine bat, I don't think he actually would though.

Of course Ashwin wouldn't make the Indian Test side on batting alone, but look how strong India's batting is.

I remember a period in the late 90s that Chris Cairns was making the NZ test side purely as a bat when injured from the bowling crease, but that says more about NZ's *** batting at that time than anything else.

There's not many Test cricketers who'd have made a reasonably strong Test side as pure specialists that I can think of in Test history. Miller was one for most of his career, Imran, as good as he was, only would have been good enough purely as a batsman in the last few years of his career, and the other ones off the top of my head would be Aubrey Faulkner & Monty Noble.

 

[Athlai]

Reckon you also need to give the guy a bit of credit and say if he was a specialist he'd put a bit more work into that form as well. Ashwin may struggle with India since they're so strong in batting but he'd probably come close to a few Test teams.

For NZ I'd argue Anderson and Neesham aren't far away from qualifying as specialist bats, though neither would probably qualify as a specialist bowler. Shakib would get in for both batting and bowling in most teams.

 

[Burgey]

I think Burgey's applying the "would he get in as a specialist" sort of logic for a genuine allrounder. Would be an interesting one for Ashwin. If he couldn't bowl he'd just about be selected as a genuine bat, I don't think he actually would though.

Not really. I just don't rate him very highly.

 

[Zinzan]

Reckon you also need to give the guy a bit of credit and say if he was a specialist he'd put a bit more work into that form as well. Ashwin may struggle with India since they're so strong in batting but he'd probably come close to a few Test teams.

For NZ I'd argue Anderson and Neesham aren't far away from qualifying as specialist bats, though neither would probably qualify as a specialist bowler. Shakib would get in for both batting and bowling in most teams.

Even in a weak NZ side, Anderson wouldn't make it purely for his bowling, not even close. Neesham makes a better case, but don't think he would either.

Shakib is an interesting one, what international current test sides would you think he'd make as a specialist with either bat or ball? Probably NZ, Zim, Bang and Windies with either bat or ball currently. SA & England with ball only.

 

[Athlai]

Even in a weak NZ side, Anderson wouldn't make it purely for his bowling, not even close. Neesham makes a better case, but don't think he would either.

Shakib is an interesting one, what international current test sides would you think he'd make as a specialist with either bat or ball? Probably NZ, Zim, Bang and Windies with either bat or ball currently. SA & England with ball only.

I rate Shakib as a bat, think he'd get in, if not necessarily hold a spot in them. Reckon he'd bowl for Australia too, would have fought Lyon for his spot and certainly been able to get the second spinner role. Possibly second spinner material for SL and Pakistan.

 

[Burgey]

Of course Ashwin wouldn't make the Indian Test side on batting alone, but look how strong India's batting is.

I remember a period in the late 90s that Chris Cairns was making the NZ test side purely as a bat when injured from the bowling crease, but that says more about NZ's *** batting at that time than anything else.

There's not many Test cricketers who'd have made a reasonably strong Test side as pure specialists that I can think of in Test history. Miller was one for most of his career, Imran, as good as he was, only would have been good enough purely as a batsman in the last few years of his career, and the other ones off the top of my head would be James Faulkner & Monty Noble.

Itstl

 

[TheBrand]

I just assumed Boult was at 10 and Waggers at 11 because of the LH/RH combo down the order...

 

[Mike5181]

Big blow for Black Caps as captain Kane Williamson ruled out of second test with illness | Stuff.co.nz

Kill me now

 

[Burgey]

Wow.

Gives NZ a reasonable excuse for copping a flogging, mind you.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Big blow for Black Caps as captain Kane Williamson ruled out of second test with illness | Stuff.co.nz

Kill me now

Well, that's not good.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Who's captain now? Taylor?

 

[Athlai]

Noooooooooooooooooo

 

[Zinzan]

*** me it couldn't be Guptill could it.

 

[Mike5181]

Taylor's captain

 

[wellAlbidarned]

some dust from the pitch must've stuck in his circuit boards

 

[Athlai]

I'm just going to pretend this is a hoax.