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

[jcas0167]

I think a better jonbrooks criticism might be that it is a bit of an indictment on the team coaching and development that two debutants with very little hype around them made their peers look very ordinary.

In the last 2 years, has any batsman or bowler in the national set up improved?

Wagner, right? That's it, as far as I can tell.

Guptill, he's been a stand-out in Plunket Shield.

 

[Zinzan]

A Blocky post with keywords "Taylor", "Lazy", and "Hips" is dangerous territory

Least he's away from the 'Thighs' this time to complete the meme.

 

[Flem274*]

still managed to get in a mcgoldrick moan about her personal life

he's just jelly he'll never get there imo

 

[Black_Warrior]

What's disappointing about 2016 Amir is that his line is so off radar. Very few of his deliveries are hitting the stumps or thereabouts. The 2010 Amir was constantly coming at you, making you play and moving the ball both ways. Here, even his outswingers are so wide outside that no one's going to touch them. His incoming deliveries are straying on the legs and getting flicked easily.

That being said, he still has the most control among all the Pak seamers and is ideal bowler for Misbah's UAE team..he bowls according to the field, cuts down on loose deliveries and run scoring opportunities and gives back the control to his captain. It's just that this is not the exceptional Amir we saw in 2010 and that's what's disappointing people.

Now given that it's a control issue, I do think it's something he can regain with work.

 

[Victor Ian]

Grandhomme is the best looking cricketer for NZ after Fleming and Vettori.

I see a bit of Hadlee in there. Perhaps simply by way of the mo.

Has The Grand Hommie got a nickname yet?

 

[Agent Nationaux]

Groundhog

 

[hendrix]

 

[BeeGee]

About a week ago he lost the shoot-off to Gup. Just shows you.

Yeah, I still find that really weird. Raval is in the squad for the Africa tour, left out of the squad for the India tour, then he's in the starting XI for the Pakistan series.

Anyhoo, it's hard to be critical of the selectors after their success with the CDG selection. I hope CDG makes some runs today, he must be feeling on top of the world right now.

 

[smash84]

CDG, the latest among a long line of debutants who will screw pakistan

 

[vcs]

Pakistan were well in the game at 40/3. They'll need 2-3 wickets before NZ cross their score, and they'll still be in it. First session should be OK for bowling.

 

[honestbharani]

Yeah.. Pak bowling will always be alright and keep them in the game. But their batsmen keep letting them down.

 

[Moss]

Anyhoo, it's hard to be critical of the selectors after their success with the CDG selection. I hope CDG makes some runs today, he must be feeling on top of the world right now.

Also they've been sensible over the number five spot in giving it to Nicholls here, after the Ronchi move did actually work in India. While I don't think Nicholls looks the part, glad they resisted the temptation to stick with Ronchi, given these conditions.

 

[listento_me]

Babar Azam at no. 3 is just odd. Shouldn't the experience of Asad Shafiq have gotten him the gig? He was at number 3 recently too. Weird choice and I think Pakistan paid for it. I'll get to watch some of the test tonight but like typical Asian sides, Pakistan are getting undone with basic swing, seam and accuracy.

 

[Bijed]

I think the perception was that Shafiq was struggling at 3 - I didn't actually see any of the games he played recently to comment, but he got a pair so presumably wasn't having the greatest time. Possibly he's just struggling in general, though.

 

[Tom Flint]

Did anyone see the grandhomme interview at the end of the day? Strange character

 

[vcs]

Nothing brings me greater satisfaction, in cricket, than seeing a bloke with a mo doing extremely well.

LOL it's truly a thing of beauty.

Why can't one of the Indian cricketers look like that instead of all growing their generic hipster beards?

 

[SteveNZ]

Did anyone see the grandhomme interview at the end of the day? Strange character

He's not a strange character at all, just absolutely hates doing media and feels uncomfortable doing it. No more popular guy in a team environment than Dutchy

 

[Howe_zat]

who wants to be on commentary

 

[Tom Flint]

He's not a strange character at all, just absolutely hates doing media and feels uncomfortable doing it. No more popular guy in a team environment than Dutchy

Iv no doubt he's a great bloke away from the media. But it was still a strange interview to give after taking a sixfer on his international debut. All the best to him!

 

[Chubb]

He's not a strange character at all, just absolutely hates doing media and feels uncomfortable doing it. No more popular guy in a team environment than Dutchy

Yes he's really just a white Zimbabwean. Without wishing to stereotype it does seems to be a shared character trait.