*Official* New Zealand in Sri Lanka Thread

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

He's quicker than Daryl Tuffey even.

What?? Not when he came to the West Indies. He was clocking in the low to mid 70's. Tuffey bowls in the 80's.

Altogether I'm entitled to my opinion, whether you agree with it or not. I'm not really up to arguing the point.

 

[Rik]

What?? Not when he came to the West Indies. He was clocking in the low to mid 70's. Tuffey bowls in the 80's.

Altogether I'm entitled to my opinion, whether you agree with it or not. I'm not really up to arguing the point.

What does speed have to do with anything? Take the simple example of McGrath and Pollock vs Lee and Shoaib...

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

What does speed have to do with anything? Take the simple example of McGrath and Pollock vs Lee and Shoaib...

The point of the post which you so eloquently quoted, was to suggest that Hitchcock is (was) not faster than Tuffey in my estimation.

 

[anzac]

I didn't think that Hitchcock was even in the Test Squad?????????

I agree that Tuffey should get the nod ahead of Butler for the 1st Test as he has the best figures on tour of the seam attack so far.....another reason for this is that Bond may have to be used as an impact bowler in short bursts if he is suffering with the heat, which will require Tuffey & Oram to hold up the seam attack.

This could also have an influence in the possible selection of Wiseman along with Vettori - esp if it is a turner. From what little I have heard so far he bowled better in the 2nd warm up and the spinners shared 5 wickets. Even if he did not take wickets it would be good for Vettori to have another spinner to work off - so long as he keeps it tight!

I do not see Jones getting a shot as yet and so think the batting will pick itself as there is not too many options, & it will still be asking a lot of the middle & lower order - Sinclair, Styris, Oram & Hart.

Richardson & Fleming will need to occupy the crease for a long time to cement the batting.

 

[marc71178]

Well I doubt NZ will take in more than 3 seamers because its likely they'll probably want 2 spinners.

Heres my possible test team:

Richardson
Horne
Fleming
Sinclair
Styris
Oram
Hart
Wiseman
Vettori
Tuffey
Bond

It will come down to whether they want the 2nd spinner or the specialist batsman in Jones.

With Styris and Oram, do you really need Tuffay and Bond - Jones in place of Tuffey would be an option for me.

 

[Tim]

Well the team I named is the official 11 for the first test, although Styris won't be able to bowl because of a shoulder injury.

Now I still have question marks as to whether Styris & Oram are #5 & #6 batsmen at test level, having said that Styris played Murali very well at the WC so he'll need to do that again on a turning pitch.

Tuffey gets the nod ahead of Butler. I know Butler didn't get the figures Tuffey got in the warm-ups but i'd love to see Butler & Bond open up the bowling & really put some fear into the Sri Lankans rather than Tuffey bowling & getting slapped all over the place.

 

[Tim]

No surprises, NZ elect to bat so they don't have to bat last and Matt Horne is out for 4 off 32 balls. Good job selectors.

 

[Kiwi]

Well fleming and richardson are doing a good job at the moment. (at a very slow pace though).

Just want to make a point on Hitchcock..He is certainly quicker that Tuffey, Mills but not up to the adams, bond, butler. Also of people seem to think he is slow because he swings the ball alot. He is a bowler who will put it on the spot 6 balls an over.

 

[anzac]

with 4 overs play remaining NZ are in a good position at the end of the day - Richardson another half ton b4 getting out, and Fleming not out with a ton under the belt, and Sinclair yet to get off the mark.

While the scoring rate is slow I think it was important for the top order to be able to establish some accendancy over SL by occupying the crease - something they have been unable to do for some time.

Tomorrow they need to do it all over again and build towards a score that will hopefully not require them to bat again as the wicket turns more.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I didn't think that Hitchcock was even in the Test Squad?????????

The discussion was as to why, not 'if'...

 

[V Reddy]

No surprises, NZ elect to bat so they don't have to bat last and Matt Horne is out for 4 off 32 balls. Good job selectors.

He didn't play many shots. He was just leaving almost every ball outside his off stump.Nissanka bowled a lot of short of the length balls which many players would have cut the ball. Maybe he was really intent on staying at the crease. But also he was unlucky to get out though. He flicked a ball which hit high on the bat and went slowly but fast enough for a short leg fielder but Dharmasena at short leg dived to his right and caught it one handed. Any way good start by the NZ team. They have to play a bit more attacking cricket though as they may have to bat again b'coz they may not be able to bowl in 2 continuous innings b'coz of the heat factor.But very good chance for NZ to win this one as the SRL batting looks thin too.

 

[Legglancer]

Credit due to the Black Cap's after the 1st days play and now they have a platform to build on. Not the most spectacular in thier approach but this is vintage doggard test cricket. Sri Lankens having lost a most important toss have only themselves to blame as they helped the NZ cause by dropping some important chances. At this level you simply cannot afford to do that ! This is a great oppertunity for NZ to get something around 550, Idealy not taking much more that 2 days and put the pressure on the home side. Anything other than a win for NZ in this test (bar bad weather) will certainly be a dissapontment for the Black Caps.

 

[Kiwi]

A great gutsy ton from fleming. He had the ablilty to sit and wait for the bad ball, and put that away.

From what I heard on the radio it sounds like Richardson struggled a lot. But I suppose the main thing is that he got 85 runs.

I can't really see Styris have the same patients as these guys so I hope we will see a more of a hard hitting innings from him.. Just what NZ need coming in with this platform.

 

[marc71178]

I wouldn't be so sure there though.

A couple of early wickets, and Murali gets his tail up. Suddenly even 300 looks a long way away, and if the batsmennext in take their chances...

 

[Tim]

Well there's not much below Styris...Oram who is still an unknown quantity & Robbie Hart who has shown just how gutsy he can be with the bat.

So alot rests on Fleming & Sinclair today to try and get to atleast 320-350.

 

[Kiwi]

The nz lower/middle order is not known for its great batting but they are not bunnies either.

Oram has proved his batting at ODI level but is not flash against spin so that is not promising.

Bond finished with the second highest batting average in this seasons State Championship(he only played 2 matches though).

Wiseman is quite a good batter. But his stats don't show it. He scored 91 as a night watchman for canterbury at the start of the season.

And remember Vettori has a test 90 to his name. But I think his batting has got worse since then,

 

[Tim]

Well done Stephen Fleming, currently 221*..battling in high heat & batting on a turning pitch against Murali & the like, I think he's finally turning the corner.

396/4 currently & Styris did the job in the middle order.

 

[Tim]

NZ now 471/4 with Fleming 262*.

Oram just got out for 33, a good innings & if the Keeper & the bowlers can add another 100 runs or to whatever Fleming wants to declare at then they'll be happy.

 

[anzac]

oh wow - NZ declare at 515/7, with Fleming 274 n.o. representing his highest Test score by 100 runs, his best first class innings to date and the highest test score by any of the current / recent Test squad!!!!! Truely a magnifisant Captain's knock under these circumstances & a devastating blow to SL.

just to contrast yesterday 207 from 93 overs = run rate of 2.2, today 308 runs from 81 overs = run rate of 3.8 on a turning SL wicket!!!!!

Styris compiled a patient 63 & must now be considered an automatic test selection for his batting alone. Oram made his highest Test score with 33.

Muri's figures were 2/140 - a brilliant effort by the Kiwi batsmen, & just to make it even better Tuffey traps Attapatu LBW in the 1st over!!!!!

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine such a scorecard after 2 days of the 1st Test!!!! Here's hoping the bowlers now come to the party as they have a decent total to attack. I hope the rest of the batting contributes throughout the rest of the series and we are not reliant upon Richardson, Fleming & Styris all the time.

 

[krkode]

Mama Mia! I would've thought Fleming would like to go for the biggie (300)... :wow:

Absolutely superb!

His career average has just pumped up 2.3 runs!!