thierry henry
International Coach
So O’Rourke has nicked off Karunaratne, Mathews (twice), and Kamindu, and currently has 0 wickets and two of those guys are still batting
It's particularly galling because he got his contract extension on the back of a thoroughly middling performance at the 2023 World Cup by NZ's greatest ever ODI side (a performance largely carried by a player two separate sources have suggested Stead does not have a good relationship with). Since then NZ hasCan we just fire this muppet of a coach. He has well and truly run this team into the ground
Yeah there’s time to turn it around of course, but just not looking like a side needing to square the series - team selection, fielding and overall discipline.Day 1 of the second test of a 5 test tour and the wheels are already coming off in a big way. This is shaping up to be a very chastening experience for NZ's leadership group.
Yeah, really cool to have a guy coming in and seizing the initiative like he has these 2 tests. Adds heft to a lineup which otherwise relies heavily on the usual suspects. Pointer to NZ on what moving Phillips up the order may achieve.Kamindu is pure class. Cashing in again. Great player.
Can't drop players as good as him. With decent fielding it could've easily been 260/6 today and we'd able to put some pressure on. Instead it looks like 550 after the 1st inningsKamindu is pure class. Cashing in again. Great player.
Tbf it's not like NZ is stacked with top level spin bowling talent. Sodhi has been given a million chances in tests and never really come good. Santner did alright on NZ's last tour of Bangladesh which is why he got the gig here, but those were square turners were all you had to do was land the ball in the right place and wait for something to happen. Phillips in all honesty probably has a decent claim to being the best spinner in the country on recent form.Looking as an outsider, it seems an illogically balanced team from a bowling perspective. Quite why you feel the need to have neither fish nor fowl Santner there I don't know. He's never had a good record as a bowler, but seemingly only provides support batting as well, a 'no rounder' as I've seen this forum describe such a player. Then you have Southee who is clearly on his last legs as a player. I can't say that I know so much about who looks promising as a batsman who is not part of the current squad, but the overuse of support spin seems nuts, Galle or otherwise as this Sri Lankan batting lineup appears to be more than capable of smacking this lot to kingdom come.
What on earth were they thinking batting him 7 against us. More daft they had a keeper in the top 3 too.Kamindu is pure class. Cashing in again. Great player.
He just looks like he has more time than anyone else in the side, reminds me of Sanga and Mahela in a good side as they just looked a class above.What on earth were they thinking batting him 7 against us. More daft they had a keeper in the top 3 too.
Get experience in a hard place to bat is likely to yield better results. So that was probably the only logic.
He's on 873 in his 13th innings, has the opportunity to equal the Don as second fastest to 1000.
I thought the same.Sri Lanka’s day imho
SL have a decent shot at making Finals too. If they go onto win this game which looks likely.Looking forward to that series , I think for the first time we go to South Africa having a better batting line up pedigree wise than the South Africans.
Still a small chance England can do it, although having lost the last Test against Sri Lanka, the highest % of points we can reach is 57.9, which is less than what Australia are currently on, but they have the BGT coming up and a tricky looking tour to Sri Lanka. Fail to win any and I think that’s just about it for us. Sri Lanka have given themselves a right chance, if we don’t make it hope they do, although it won’t be easy against Australia and away in SASL have a decent shot at making Finals too. If they go onto win this game which looks likely.
I reckon they need to win 1 test in SA at least (can be done looking at venues and current form) and then all comes down to BGT and Australia tour of SL.