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*Official* New Zealand in Sri Lanka

SteveNZ

Cricketer Of The Year
Wish captains would show a bit more patience with Ajaz, he’s the kind of guy who really needs to settle into his work. Just bowled a maiden to Chandimal. Hope Santner justifies the change.
Dylan Cleaver wrote a thought-provoking piece yesterday (I'd highly recommend his substack newsletter) about spinners, and how badly we've failed with progressing them and using them. There were 199 Test wickets between the spinners on this tour: Michael Bracewell (24), Ajaz Patel (63), Mitchell Santner (53), Rachin Ravindra (10), Glenn Phillips (19) and Kane Williamson (30). Stead would call that depth, I'd call it a complete failure to pick and stick with the right people, or to sufficiently develop a top banana.
 

Moss

International Captain
Dylan Cleaver wrote a thought-provoking piece yesterday (I'd highly recommend his substack newsletter) about spinners, and how badly we've failed with progressing them and using them. There were 199 Test wickets between the spinners on this tour: Michael Bracewell (24), Ajaz Patel (63), Mitchell Santner (53), Rachin Ravindra (10), Glenn Phillips (19) and Kane Williamson (30). Stead would call that depth, I'd call it a complete failure to pick and stick with the right people, or to sufficiently develop a top banana.
I’ve read his substack pieces before, they’re quality. Will check this out.
 

Moss

International Captain
Dylan Cleaver wrote a thought-provoking piece yesterday (I'd highly recommend his substack newsletter) about spinners, and how badly we've failed with progressing them and using them. There were 199 Test wickets between the spinners on this tour: Michael Bracewell (24), Ajaz Patel (63), Mitchell Santner (53), Rachin Ravindra (10), Glenn Phillips (19) and Kane Williamson (30). Stead would call that depth, I'd call it a complete failure to pick and stick with the right people, or to sufficiently develop a top banana.
Looking back, that 2018-19 win in the UAE should have proved the value of developing specialist spinners with lots of work in FC, but I think it instead convinced Kane/Stead that they could save slow bowlers exclusively for the SC without thinking too much about their career trajectories. Wagner and CdG being very good support bowlers played its part too.

Meanwhile Southee is actually bowling very well here, seems to have taken it on himself to prise Karunaratne out. Full points for intent at least.
 

Silver Silva

International Regular
Yeah I think we are now in control of the match with this 50 run stand ..

These two need to kick on and get big hundreds
 

Silver Silva

International Regular
Karunaratne moves to 3rd on the most career runs scored at Galle :

1.Mahela Jayawardene
2382 runs in 37 inns @70.05

2.Angelo Mathews*
1943 runs in 51 inns @45.18

3.Dimuth Karunaratne*
1925 runs in 38 inns @55.00

4.Kumar Sangakkara
1921 runs in 39 inns @51.91

5.Dinesh Chandimal*
1604 runs in 37 inns @57.28
 

Moss

International Captain
In hindsight, picking two specialist spinners + ravindra and phillips was probably overkill. Henry would have been nice to have and he's gonna give you what santner does with the bat more often than not.
Something to ponder over I guess. Santner proved his value in Bangladesh last year, but those were square turners compared to the more classic subcontinent track this one is; there’s definitely assistance for a spinner but you have to consistently hit the right areas.
 

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