*Official* New Zealand in Sri Lanka

[DingDong]

I never said they wouldn't, that isn't the argument. McCullum's keeping is streets ahead of Haddin's and i'd guess Australia would want the better keeper. But, if they were selecting on batting alone there is no doubt they'd go for Haddin. Their test and FC batting records speak for themselves.

Haddin has made some centuries on Aussie and English roads but he's far from being a better batsman than McCullum.

 

[Smudge]

Can we please have a friendly discussion without resorting to abuse ok?

You stop telling people to pull their head in after they've discussed cricket (which is the whole point of this forum) and we might try that. Tell you what - you keep telling people to pull their head in and I'll keep reporting your posts.

 

[Polo23]

Can we please have a friendly discussion without resorting to abuse ok?

There wasn't much difference between the 2 bowlers at all. Murali had the added advantage of a super record behind him so batsmen don't take the chances they do with a bowler with a lesser record.

You only had to watch the game to see Patel was bowling rubbish, his high rpo reflects this. I'm assuming that you either didn't watch the game or you have absolutely no idea about cricket. I'm suggesting the latter, keep trying though, one day you might get a clue.

 

[DingDong]

You stop telling people to pull their head in after they've discussed cricket (which is the whole point of this forum) and we might try that. Tell you what - you keep telling people to pull their head in and I'll keep reporting your posts.

I'm sorry if I offended you at all.
It's obvious I'm being singled out for cyber bullying by some of the more older posters here.

 

[Polo23]

I'm sorry if I offended you at all.
It's obvious I'm being singled out for cyber bullying by some of the more older posters here.

Better tell your ISP then, i'm sure they will happily block this site for you.

 

[DingDong]

You only had to watch the game to see Patel was bowling rubbish, his high rpo reflects this. I'm assuming that you either didn't watch the game or you have absolutely no idea about cricket. I'm suggesting the latter, keep trying though, one day you might get a clue.

He created a lot of chances. Anyway, off spinners tend to go for a lot more runs than other types of bowlers. Most of the time they have to 'buy' their wickets. Compared to somebody like Murali Patel bowled badly but there aren't too many spinners in the world who will compare well to Murali.

 

[Polo23]

He created a lot of chances. Anyway, off spinners tend to go for a lot more runs than other types of bowlers. Most of the time they have to 'buy' their wickets. Compared to somebody like Murali Patel bowled badly but there aren't too many spinners in the world who will compare well to Murali.

I'm pretty sure about 4 posts ago you said Patel bowled as well as Murali, now you're back tracking and saying Murali bowled better? Make up your mind.

Patel created very few chances, the only time he looked like picking up a wicket was when he was either bowling to the tail, or the batsmen were trying to score quick runs (Kapugedera mistiming a lofted shot, Samaraweera gloving a reverse sweet, Sanga edging to slip after he charged down the pitch and tried to smack a 6).

Fact of the matter is he bowled poorly. You only have to look at Herath and Vettori to know how poorly Patel bowled.

 

[James]

Come on everyone - make an effort please. Stop all with the rubbish being thrown around, and understand that although people may have a difference of opinion, it doesn't mean the other person commenting is basically worthless with their thoughts and mean you can throw abuse their way.

I really hope this will be the end of it and it doesn't have to be taken any further.

 

[Polo23]

Haddin has made some centuries on Aussie and English roads but he's far from being a better batsman than McCullum.

Based on what? McCullum failed to make a century on these Aussie and English roads, so what is the difference?

Haddin's batting has been far superior to McCullum's in test cricket to date, and his FC career (in a much harder competition) is far better also. Have you got any statistics or facts to back up your claim, or is it just blind stupidity?

 

[Polo23]

Come on everyone - make an effort please. Stop all with the rubbish being thrown around, and understand that although people may have a difference of opinion, it doesn't mean the other person commenting is basically worthless with their thoughts and mean you can throw abuse their way.

I really hope this will be the end of it and it doesn't have to be taken any further.

If you're going to make a comment like "Patel bowled as well as Murali" or "McCullum is a better test batsman than Haddin" then you should have some sort of facts or figures to back it up no? If you don't then your opinion is going to get picked apart.

 

[James]

If you're going to make a comment like "Patel bowled as well as Murali" or "McCullum is a better test batsman than Haddin" then you should have some sort of facts or figures to back it up no? If you don't then your opinion is going to get picked apart.

There's been a fair few reported posts from people within this thread, and it's obvious as to why.

All I'm referring to is for people to settle down with some of their posts and rather than try and flame the situation and cause trouble to think more about it before pressing the the submit reply button.

 

[Polo23]

There's been a fair few reported posts from people within this thread, and it's obvious as to why.

All I'm referring to is for people to settle down with some of their posts and rather than try and flame the situation and cause trouble to think more about it before pressing the the submit reply button.

Alternatively you could see a troll/multi for what he is and press the ban button.

 

[Hurricane]

I'm pretty sure about 4 posts ago you said Patel bowled as well as Murali, now you're back tracking and saying Murali bowled better? Make up your mind.

Patel created very few chances, the only time he looked like picking up a wicket was when he was either bowling to the tail, or the batsmen were trying to score quick runs (Kapugedera mistiming a lofted shot, Samaraweera gloving a reverse sweet, Sanga edging to slip after he charged down the pitch and tried to smack a 6).

Fact of the matter is he bowled poorly. You only have to look at Herath and Vettori to know how poorly Patel bowled.

I agree with you about his first inning bowling. His 4 wickets while not cheesy weren't reflective of good bowling. He was just in the right place at the right time.

But I thought he grew in confidence in the second inning. I liked his response to Dilshan after he got smacked for four - he threw the next one up there and said dare you to do it again and Dilshan couldn't.
With Sangakkara and the other top order players ...Patel was actually creating some false shots - some might be an exaggeration. One or two false shots (no more than that) - where the batsman went to play a forward defence and popped it up but we had no one in close to catch it. Then Sangakkara decided to smack him for six. And got out - but I thought that dismissal was a result of Patel not giving him any freebies in the previous couple of overs.
So I felt like his 2fer in the second inning was well deserved and both were quality batsman that he got out.
I don't think 2 wickets in an inning is enough to say he was a standout performer though.

I think Patel needs more variations though and needs to get smarter. Although he had more resillience in the 2nd inning he usually gets flustered after he gets smacked. And yes Vettori and Herath bowled better.

 

[Polo23]

You're right, he did bowl better in the second innings (as he should have, given the pitch was more worn) but to say he bowled "just as well as Murali" is laughable. He bowled better, but i'd still say he was a fair way away from what i'd term good. Maybe i'm just being harsh because I expected so much more from him on this tour.

 

[Brett Dale]

Patel is not near the class of Vettori, the problem with the Blackcaps is not Patel but the attitude of players like Oram, its like he is doing New Zealand a favour by playing for them, he doesn't seem to have any honor in playing for his country, there is no pride there for him.

 

[straw man]

O'brien should never have been picked for the second test, I wouldn't have picked him for the first either tbh.

That's crazy talk . O'Brien was our best seamer for most of the last year to year and a half. He does the hard jobs like bowl upwind and is generally very reliable. An automatic pick for the first test in SL.

There's half an argument that he could have been dropped for Tuffey for the second test, but I don't think it would have made much difference. O'Brien came back pretty well (don't forget he had the stomach bug too) and Tuffey is a pretty similar bowler really. Tuffey's advantage over O'Brien would be the swing he often generates, but would probably have struggled to get that in Colombo.

 

[Hurricane]

I want to make a post about Watling maybe taking either Flynn's spot or Mcintosh's spot. If Flynn's spot my thought is that Watling would open and Guptil would drop to number 3.

Vettori has said changes are basically unlikely in one of his interviews yesterday he said that no one from the A side was breaking down the door and that we might persist with the current group. I felt like Watling was knocking on the door at least. But in looking at the First Class record over the past 3 years Watling is the least distinguished of the three. So maybe the current selections make sense??

Anyways the more I look at it the harder Glenn Turner's job looks to me.

First-class Batting in Each Season by BJ Watling
Born 9th July 1985
Season
2006-07 37.60
2007-08 30.28
2008-09 34.50
Overall Career Avg 28.13


Flynn
Season Born 16th April 1985
2006-07 (New Zealand) 8.60 played 5 innings.
2007-08 (New Zealand) 60.27
2008-09 (New Zealand) 45.00
Flynn Overall Career Avg 33.26

Mcintosh Born 4th December 1979
2006-07 (New Zealand) 29.42
2007-08 (New Zealand) 42.23
2008-09 (New Zealand) 44.00
Overall Career Avg 33.35

 

[Migara]

3. Mccullum's keeping. He was better than PJ IMO

You must be joking IMO.

 

[Flem274*]

You must be joking IMO.

Just ignore DingDong.

 

[Uppercut]

Alternatively you could see a troll/multi for what he is and press the ban button.

What kind of ingenious troll suggests that (shock horror) Brendon McCullum is a better batsman than Brad Haddin in a New Zealand tour thread?

DingDong's been around for ages. He takes the piss a bit but he's completely harmless.