***Official*** Pakistan in New Zealand 2016/17

[smash84]

I was thinking before yesterday's play that it all seems a bit too easy to expect us to quickly & easily beat Pakistan 2-0 in a series since we have only ever won 1 home series against them in 1985 & series wins against them just don't come that simply for us. And sure enough, yesterday saw Pakistan sneak themselves right back into the Test.

Given the strides they made yesterday, and considering the history between these 2 sides, I hope I'm not considered to be ghambiring too much to be extremely wary of a NZ collapse and a 5-6 wicket win to Pakistan.

Just has that feel about it. KW will find some weird way to get out, maybe a strangle down the leg-side.

Now see if Smali can out-ghambir this fact based gambhir.

there is no such thing as fact based gambhiring, your gambhirer you....

 

[Zinzan]

But going back to what I've said before, I think you play one or the other, they operate better without one another for many reasons,

You haven't managed to prove this theory at all though. All you've done is coincide it with one Test when Boult isn't playing & Southee happened to get some nice shape that we haven't seen for a while.

Boult wasn't great in India '16 & SA '13, the two series Southee missed either.

You confusing correlation with causation based on 1 Test innings of bowling.

 

[Zinzan]

there is no such thing as fact based gambhiring, your gambhirer you....

There is when I do it Bud.

 

[listento_me]

AMir has been bowling masterfully since his come back and it's sad the number of catches they have dropped off him. Before the start of this innings, I think the number is 10 or 11.

So he decided to take the fielders out of the equation lol

 

[SteveNZ]

The massive issue for Boult comes when the ball isn't swinging, because he hasn't worked on a gameplan in any shape or form to be a penetrating bowler during that period. Natural variation would work reasonably well for him if he had more control but ever since that back injury he's been a scatter gun and doesn't ramp up the pace as much as he used to. He's had a couple of spells recently that show signs of getting back to his best.

But going back to what I've said before, I think you play one or the other, they operate better without one another for many reasons, but mostly due to the fact that the opposition don't get away on us due to loose bowling with both of them chasing the miracle swing ball. If you do play them both, have one come on as first change to back up the efforts of the other, while you have a better line/length/seam bowler plug away at the other end - you might even get some value out of Henry doing this role.

So honestly, in Team Blocky you're not playing Southee and Boult in the same side? You don't at all rate Henry, so what - Wagner takes the new ball? Who else plays?

 

[Blocky]

They haven't played enough without one another, the real test for me is when they're in conditions that suit them so India is off the table, the only bowler in NZ that India suits is Neil Wagner, because he can bowl to a plan and also gets the ball to reverse quicker than other bowlers, therefore he's a double threat.

South Africa '13 showed up for me that Boult needs to add more to his game than just the swing, he only got to bowl two innings due to how badly we got beaten over there, he was decent enough in the first innings he bowled but was tonked around the park in the second innings because his one trick wonder was found out by a pretty solid South African batting line up.

I'm not using "statistics" to back my case, I stated before this test started that Southee would undoubtedly have a better performance than he's had recently in the absence of Boult, that's on the basis of analysing the game and looking into factors that aren't shown up always in statistics. I think the NZ bowling attack will always do better in the absence of one of these guys.

 

[Blocky]

So honestly, in Team Blocky you're not playing Southee and Boult in the same side? You don't at all rate Henry, so what - Wagner takes the new ball? Who else plays?

Wagner isn't a new ball bowler, although he should get the cherry before it's 20 overs old.

If Wheeler gets himself setup right, I'd have him in the squad, he bowls a better length than Henry, can seam and swing it and can operate in the channel reasonably well.

 

[smash84]

can't see how NZ can lose this from here though

 

[Blocky]

AMir has been bowling masterfully since his come back and it's sad the number of catches they have dropped off him. Before the start of this innings, I think the number is 10 or 11.

So he decided to take the fielders out of the equation lol

He's slowly getting that pace back and getting back to his best, I still rate him as highly as Starc, and think he'll start to prove me right over the next few seasons.

 

[Howsie]

You're not using statistics because they would blow your theory out of the water

 

[Blocky]

Now of course, of NZ International Cricket at home starts to be played with a Duke ball, you operate with both of them because you'll get enough value out of their swing bowling and the fact that they're next to unplayable with it when they're on song... but in the absence of the Duke ball and the recent trend the Kook has to stop swinging after 15-20 overs, you effectively neuter your entire bowling attack because only one out of your three main seamers remains threatening in those middle overs before the ball reverses/new ball is available.

 

[hendrix]

Now of course, of NZ International Cricket at home starts to be played with a Duke ball, you operate with both of them because you'll get enough value out of their swing bowling and the fact that they're next to unplayable with it when they're on song... but in the absence of the Duke ball and the recent trend the Kook has to stop swinging after 15-20 overs, you effectively neuter your entire bowling attack because only one out of your three main seamers remains threatening in those middle overs before the ball reverses/new ball is available.

You do actually have a point here.

If 2/3 pace bowlers are swing bowlers, and it's a Kookaburra, you are gonna need them to be pretty damn incisive for it to make sense.

The thing is, whether swing, seam or pure pace, I'm not sure we have other legitimate contenders until the likes of Duffy/Ferguson/whoever is actually putting together regular performances and staying healthy.

 

[listento_me]

He's slowly getting that pace back and getting back to his best, I still rate him as highly as Starc, and think he'll start to prove me right over the next few seasons.

I think Starc is better simply because he is more advanced in his career but I agree with the rest. Amir is starting to sling his action a bit more too, going back to himself at 18/19 where he has the ability to swing the ball in at pace.

Imagine, being conservative with the count, Amir should have had 4 wickets in the last innings and 84 wickets overall with an average that would probably be hovering around 27/28 right now. nOt only do those numbers look good but psychologically AMir would have been in a more comfortable place.

Ask any bowler, when fielders can't back you up, you lose a lot of confidence.

 

[Blocky]

I think it's a case of building a bowling attack, rather than selecting those that perform the best at domestic cricket.

 

[listento_me]

And a bit off topic but Pakistan can't be serious about taking the two Khan's to Australian. Warner will eat them up.

 

[Zinzan]

Yeah, I've never understood why NZ don't use a Duke at home since it would seem to suit our bowling attack better.

 

[Blocky]

Ultimately if one of these two don't go on and ton up in these conditions, there is something seriously wrong with the application/mental strength of our batting.

 

[Blocky]

Yeah, I've never understood why NZ don't use a Duke at home since it would seem to suit our bowling attack better.

I'd give it two seasons at first class then bring it in, the reality is that when the ball is moving at pace, our batsmen are all bunnies with exception to Williamson and Watling.

 

[Woodster]

Latham has played a couple of sweet flicks off his legs this session when the bowler has erred too straight. Good to watch, and Kane Williamson is, well, he's just Kane Williamson isn't he......the guy is a joy to watch.

 

[Blocky]

Sweepstakes...

NZ Score: 320 A/O

Score Latham gifts a wicket to the leg spinner on: 55.
Score Williamson goes into his shell, puts himself under pressure and loses his wicket on: 76.