*Official* New Zealand tour of India 2024

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Mitchell's form is a fair worry tbh. He's flown under the radar a bit as others have been struggling more, but he hasn't scored a Test ton since March 2023. And not just that, but he used to be a very safe pair of hands and he's clearly been having a case of the old dropsies of late. Worth keeping an eye on anyway as we do have some middle order options to call on.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

as much as I rate dazza this is obviously a regression to the mean situation, similar to Nicholls. He had a method which was very good at countering how bowlers were bowling in NZ/English conditions at the time, but he's fundamentally a 35-40 average player.

 

[thundaboult]

Mitchell's form is a fair worry tbh. He's flown under the radar a bit as others have been struggling more, but he hasn't scored a Test ton since March 2023. And not just that, but he used to be a very safe pair of hands and he's clearly been having a case of the old dropsies of late. Worth keeping an eye on anyway as we do have some middle order options to call on.

Mitchells always been sketchy in the slips. Yup his batting is a worry. But blundells gotta go definitely. Latham can't possibly keep that bad and has at least a few fifties this year compared to blundells 1. Southee will go next test most likely and be replaced by one of the bits n pieces "spinners".

 

[Frost]

I think mitchell spot is safe for now hard to drop a guy with a great away record because of a slump in form. It will be the same line up, maybe southee for bracewell.
Would of been interesting to see the nz bowlers defend that 107, I think they would have made it a little harder. Apart from some early new ball overs nz did it in a canter in the end.

 

[Days of Grace]

Bracewell has gone home for the birth of his child, hasn’t he?

 

[NZTailender]

Mitchell's form is a fair worry tbh. He's flown under the radar a bit as others have been struggling more, but he hasn't scored a Test ton since March 2023. And not just that, but he used to be a very safe pair of hands and he's clearly been having a case of the old dropsies of late. Worth keeping an eye on anyway as we do have some middle order options to call on.

The last 12 months haven't been pretty reading for most of our specialists. Phillips would benefit from batting higher, too.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Cool gives a chance to get Bracewell into the side

He and Phillips can alternate offspin/keeping duties over-by-over.

Ha.

Returning to NZ for birth of baby and will be replaced by Ish

 

[Days of Grace]

The next test is Thursday. Is it too late for India to request a bunsen burner?

 

[Frost]

The next test is Thursday. Is it too late for India to request a bunsen burner?

Is already going to happen. But that's fine. On a pitch that offered something for everyone the got hammered. They need spinning pitches if they want to come back into the series

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Is already going to happen. But that's fine. On a pitch that offered something for everyone the got hammered. They need spinning pitches if they want to come back into the series

Sodhi for Southee?

 

[SteveNZ]

Is already going to happen. But that's fine. On a pitch that offered something for everyone the got hammered. They need spinning pitches if they want to come back into the series

Depends on the right sort of weather, I presume? But yeah, I don't think there's any of us who expect India to plan to do anything other than prepare one that brings Ashwin, Jadeja and Kuldeep into it. And possibly even pick Axar, as well?

If so, you'd have to hope and pray it isn't Santner that we bring in for Southee, on the premise that he can bat a bit. Sodhi, Phillips and Patel gives us a nice variety, with Rachin if he has to bowl, too.

 

[centurymaker]

NZ are now 'slight' favourites to win this test series, believe it or not, mainly because Indian spinners have been rendered ineffective against the likes of Conway & Ravindra who both had intense training sessions at CSK ahead of the series on both red soil and black soil pitches against off spinners, conventional left armers as well as left arm wrist spinners. They came as ready to take down the spinners as anyone could be.

From India's POV, the biggest worry from the 1st test is not the batting but the bowling, which looked toothless during Southee Ravindra partnership as well as against NZ's top order. Besides that, Pant will likely miss at least the next test if not the rest of the series, which is a huge blow because of his ability against spin and being a left hander in a lineup full of right handers.

India made a number of blunders in terms of selection and decisions. Siraj now must make way for Akash Deep, who is more accurate and probing and better bowler against left handers too. Also Washington Sundar has been added to India's squad, which suggests that they may be considering to play Axar or Sundar in the next match. Perhaps Ashwin is not 100% as he looked well below his best. I wouldn't be surprised to see a change in the spin attack, otherwise there's no reason to add Sundar to the squad.

Unless India produces proper spinning wickets with nothing much in it for seamers, NZ are slight favourites to win. Also considering that the last test happens to be in Mumbai which always has assistance for seamers. Plus there's been monsoon rain all around this Pune and Mumbai region recently (though it has just cleared now) so I doubt soil/pitches can be made dry enough to prepare proper turners.

So don't be surprised if India loses this series. The way the TM has been going on about playing aggressive cricket has already proved costly as a number of batsmen have thrown their wickets. No team can afford to do that in Test Cricket where a single wicket can trigger a fatal collapse as we have seen. So I don't see things going that well. If India do win the next two tests- these would be very hard fought difficult wins.

 

[Flem274*]

If it's a bunsen I'd probably just give Rachin and Phillips more overs in Macewells absence. Sodhi's problem isn't turn and Santner never takes advantage of big turn.

The almost full time standard twirling from the batsmen will get the biggest boost imo. Also means we keep 3 quicks, which with our experience and injury record is a reasonable safety net.

 

[Frost]

Sodhi for Southee?

Yup, has to be. If not then same line up

 

[Frost]

Depends on the right sort of weather, I presume? But yeah, I don't think there's any of us who expect India to plan to do anything other than prepare one that brings Ashwin, Jadeja and Kuldeep into it. And possibly even pick Axar, as well?

If so, you'd have to hope and pray it isn't Santner that we bring in for Southee, on the premise that he can bat a bit. Sodhi, Phillips and Patel gives us a nice variety, with Rachin if he has to bowl, too.

Would rather Chapman than Santner tbh if it's on the premises of offering something with the bat

 

[SteveNZ]

Would rather Chapman than Santner tbh if it's on the premises of offering something with the bat

No doubt, but they're not going to go that way. Remember Santner got 60 odd in the dead rubber innings in the 2nd Test at Galle, and the camp were pretty buoyant about that performance under a limited amount of pressure

 

[Arachnodouche]

Is already going to happen. But that's fine. On a pitch that offered something for everyone the got hammered. They need spinning pitches if they want to come back into the series

Yeah, leaves a rough taste as an India fan tbh. Rather we got three bunsens to whip NZ than the situation now which will only serve to remind us how hopeless we are in swinging conditions. NZ can take the moral victory regardless of what happens from now on out but I think they have a real shot at a bit more than that. There is a big Phillips haul lurking on the horizon and in Rachin they finally have someone who can drive it home in these conditions.

 

[honestbharani]

They generally really need that fourth seamer for home games in NZ, so unless they can develop another batting all-rounder who bowls seam up to fill that CdG role I suspect it'll be four specialist quicks plus Phillips and Rachin a lot.

It'd be ideal to get more out of Mitchell's bowling given he's been a genuine first change bowler at times domestically but he's always looked horrible at Test level with the ball.

Yeah the fact that they have Mitchell, Rachin and Phillips is a huge help but even in NZ perhaps in the late season tests they may need the additional spinner.

 

[honestbharani]

Is already going to happen. But that's fine. On a pitch that offered something for everyone the got hammered. They need spinning pitches if they want to come back into the series

heard of bitter due to your team losing but why bitter **** after your team won?

 

[Days of Grace]

Does NZC or the BCCI release official highlights packages? I’ve only seen dodgy cut and slice efforts on YouTube.