*Official* New Zealand vs Sri Lanka- White Ball Tour of SL- November, 2024

[ataraxia]

Did anyone else see Sodhi at mid-on to the free hit? He wasn't walking in and just planted his feet ready to run backwards. Might as well tbh.

 

[thierry henry]

yeah that didn't look 143

I dunno, pretty much everything has been 137+ and he looks brisk. It’s all fairly academic at this level where skiddy 140ish isn’t worrying anyone really. Just nice to know he’s very much ‘quick enough’

 

[thierry henry]

Duffy bowling a random pile of **** tbh.

 

[Starfighter]

It’s all fairly academic at this level where skiddy 140ish isn’t worrying anyone really

Worried a lot of Australian batsmen against Pakistan.

 

[thierry henry]

Avishka has looked really uncomfortable facing Smith apart from when Smith has fed him short balls and slower balls. Unfortunately Smith has sort of wasted a promising first few overs by unnecessarily trying variations.

 

[thierry henry]

Worried a lot of Australian batsmen against Pakistan.

International level batsmen*

 

[Bahnz]

Nice to hear that Smith isn't the 127kph domestic bully some feared he might be. Remember reading earlier in the week that one of his coaches reckons he's added a decent amount of pace in the past couple of seasons. Of course that's not going to take you far if you can't put it in the right areas. Hopefully he can loosen up a little and get it right.

I do worry that a poor showing over here will be used as an excuse to persist with Southee in tests, when Smith's never been that flash in limited overs cricket.

 

[ataraxia]

Macewell the international bowling all-rounder is very funny.

 

[Howsie]

I dunno, pretty much everything has been 137+ and he looks brisk. It’s all fairly academic at this level where skiddy 140ish isn’t worrying anyone really. Just nice to know he’s very much ‘quick enough’

Russell Arnold thought watching him warm up on the practice block he looked like he had some proper gas. Given Duffy his hitting his normal pace id say it’s legit.

Smith at 140 plus is a different beast. How Tim Southee is keeping his place ahead of him averaging about 100 the last year whilst bowling at about 125k an hour I have no idea.

Henry, O’Rourke, Foulkes and Smith. With Duffy as the back up

 

[Bahnz]

Wouldn't be hugely surprised if we only see 2 or 3 more overs of pace all innings.

 

[thierry henry]

Initial impressions are also that Smith isn’t as short as he’s been made out to be. Like yeah he’s always going to be in the ‘skiddy’ category, but he appears to probably be taller than Wagner, for example.

 

[Howsie]

Damn, Tim Robinson has some terrible numbers in every form of the game. Haven’t seen much of him at all but what makes him so special to be getting games for New Zealand?

He’d have the worst stats I’ve ever seen, especially this century to make it as a specialist batsman.

 

[thierry henry]

This is a classic Santner spell, seems so canny and in control but every once in the while the batters just have a bosh and it comes off, and so he ends up going at 5ish RPO with no wickets

 

[Bahnz]

Damn, Tim Robinson has some terrible numbers in every form of the game. Haven’t seen much of him at all but what makes him so special to be getting games for New Zealand?

He’d have the worst stats I’ve ever seen, especially this century to make it as a specialist batsman.

Was in electric form in last season's super smash until he got injured. Also did ok in Pakistan earlier this year if memory serves. I think it's fine that he's picked for these de facto A tours in t20's, but there's no reason he should be playing in ODI's.

 

[thierry henry]

Robinson and Hay both had tough paper rounds, either one could turn up at my office tomorrow and say they’re the new 48 year old 3rd tier manager we’ve hired externally from the private sector and I wouldn’t bat an eyelid.

 

[ashley bach]

111-1 @SillyCowCorner1

 

[thierry henry]

Commentators keep talking about the tricky pitch but I’m not really seeing it. Not sure our XI is strong enough to test the theory though.

 

[thierry henry]

I’ve noticed that despite a seemingly longer and faster run up Sodhi seems to be bowling slower and slower. Like barely 80kph, and he’s a big guy. Wonder if it’s something off in his action.

 

[Moss]

Looking too comfortable out there for SL. The absence of a Ferguson/Milne in the middle overs can be a problem. Golden arm Phillips will come on at some point I imagine.

 

[ashley bach]

177-1 @SillyCowCorner1