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

[Athlai]

But I thought Raval didn't exist.

Myths are usually based on some truth.

 

[Flem274*]

don't think it's all that bad for pakistan really. just had no practice. we know azhar, YK and misbah range from world class to ATG in YKs case. pakistan bowled really well yesterday.

they'll bat better next game. only change i would make for their batting is asad or YK to #3 and the young bloke there down the order a bit.

the jacket in for rahat.

 

[Gnske]

Myths are usually based on some truth.

And I was the first to ever see the truth without ever seeing it for myself.

Let the record stand that I was the first ever to shill for Raval when everyone else assured me he was a myth/didn't exist/was bad.

Just goes to show I really know my cricket.

 

[BeeGee]

A pretty good day for NZ sports fans.

 

[Zinzan]

Poor Colin really doesn't enjoy the interview lark does he.

Credit to the selectors, I'd never have picked de Grand in a million years.

Raval on the other hand, makes us wonder why we had to suffer as long as we did with Guptill.

In spite of what Athers & Kippax said, he looks like a proper Test opener to me.

 

[Flem274*]

so does lord colin get a long run now?

dropping neesh to begin with was weird since he came out of india with some credit but i guess they saw the deck and wanted the accurate medium pace of CdG?

 

[Flem274*]

andrew fernando used to be pretty terrible but these are pretty good

In he came, a modest hero in Colin de Grandhomme, operating off a mid-sized run-up - shorter than a spearhead's, longer than an Australia innings

For much of Friday, de Grandhomme was more a strongly-worded letter than the booming sound of thunder

Colin de Grandhomme: New Zealand's new workaday hero | Cricket | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[Athlai]

And I was the first to ever see the truth without ever seeing it for myself.

Let the record stand that I was the first ever to shill for Raval when everyone else assured me he was a myth/didn't exist/was bad.

Just goes to show I really know my cricket.

Nah ICC has been calling it for years

 

[Athlai]

Nah ICC has been calling it for years

Hay debut imminent

 

[James]

Hope for Pakistan's chances in the 2nd Test that Misbah can make it back in time and all goes ok with his father in law.

Good win for the Black Caps but the same concerns remain with the batting. Would you guys make any changes for the 2nd Test?

 

[Zinzan]

Hope for Pakistan's chances in the 2nd Test that Misbah can make it back in time and all goes ok with his father in law.

Good win for the Black Caps but the same concerns remain with the batting. Would you guys make any changes for the 2nd Test?

It's likely to turn more in Hamilton. Not sure Tastle can keep a fit Santner from returning, and then the question would be in they play the 2nd spinner at the expense of de Grand, although can't see that after his debut.

 

[NZTailender]

Hope for Pakistan's chances in the 2nd Test that Misbah can make it back in time and all goes ok with his father in law.

Good win for the Black Caps but the same concerns remain with the batting. Would you guys make any changes for the 2nd Test?

Going by comments in this thread, drop Latham for Woodcock and Southee for Andrew Ellis.

 

[BeeGee]

so does lord colin get a long run now?

dropping neesh to begin with was weird since he came out of india with some credit but i guess they saw the deck and wanted the accurate medium pace of CdG?

I don't mind the selectors picking horses for courses with the all-rounder slot (they do it with the bowlers). Actually, it wouldn't take much of an improvement with the bat for Neesham to challenge Nicholls for that 5 spot, then the selectors would have all kinds of options.

 

[James]

I don't mind the selectors picking horses for courses with the all-rounder slot (they do it with the bowlers). Actually, it wouldn't take much of an improvement with the bat for Neesham to challenge Nicholls for that 5 spot, then the selectors would have all kinds of options.

Exactly what I was thinking too. Throwing Neesham in the middle-order gives Williamson so many options with the ball and Neesham has after all shown a lot more at international level than Nicholls anyway.

 

[Athlai]

Raval
Latham
Williamson
Taylor
Nicholls (if Santner is still injured otherwise Neesham)
CDG
Watling
Astle/Santner
Wagner
Southee
Boult

 

[CharlesLara]

I don't mind the selectors picking horses for courses with the all-rounder slot (they do it with the bowlers). Actually, it wouldn't take much of an improvement with the bat for Neesham to challenge Nicholls for that 5 spot, then the selectors would have all kinds of options.

True, but Neesham has done absolutely NOTHING to suggest he's improving his batting, fitness issues aside. It's still baffling to me how everyone seems to want Jimmy to be THE GUY, yet since that tour to the Windies, he's hardly played long form cricket for any length of time, which is a worry. I still don't think he's defensively sound enough to bat 5. Can we get him facing at least 100 balls consistently (which is what you want from your 5), a dashing 40-60 is NOT what this current NZ side needs, cause we have a whole domestic scene full of them.

 

[Bahnz]

It's likely to turn more in Hamilton. Not sure Tastle can keep a fit Santner from returning, and then the question would be in they play the 2nd spinner at the expense of de Grand, although can't see that after his debut.

Depends which clay they play on. If it's the fun clay the spinners aren't likely to come in to play before the match ends.

Hard to be too enthused about this win. Glad we snapped our losing streak, but beating a hideously under prepared opponent in conditions that weren't really great standard for the first half of the match is a pretty compromised win. With Taylor looking passed it, BJ struggling and Williamson being only very good at the top, our batting is looking as weak as it has at any time since the Marshall twins were playing test cricket. Still pleasing to see three bowlers rally well when Pakistan had us under pressure a bit in the 3rd innings.

 

[Rootfan]

Good that all blacks and the cricket lads both did well. Good day. There was definite improvement from the India series.

 

[Bahnz]

Ross Taylor in doubt for second test against Pakistan with eye problem | Stuff.co.nz

 

[honestbharani]

Hope for Pakistan's chances in the 2nd Test that Misbah can make it back in time and all goes ok with his father in law.

Good win for the Black Caps but the same concerns remain with the batting. Would you guys make any changes for the 2nd Test?

What is the story there? I had no idea he was in doubt for the next test...

Exactly what I was thinking too. Throwing Neesham in the middle-order gives Williamson so many options with the ball and Neesham has after all shown a lot more at international level than Nicholls anyway.

And why not play Neesham at 5 and Santner at 6 if the track might be suitable for spinners next test, esp.if it is indeed true that The Great Man may not be of much help on those kind of pitches. Especially now that Taylor seems to be out of the next test.