**Official** Pakistan in New Zealand (3 tests)

[Zinzan]

Usual NZ 2nd innings capitulation coming, Pakistan to win by 5-6 wickets for mine

 

[AaronK]

Could be Manchester all over again for New Zealand. They had the game all but won yesterday before Flynn's costly drop. In regard to Flynn, not sure how long New Zealand can keep faith with him. Its now 26 test innings no centuries, that isn't good enough for an international number 3.

Huge pressure on Taylor here, probably doesn't know whether to stick or twist. Might be just better off playing his natural game given the way Aamer is bowling.

i was exactly thinking about that.. history repeats itself lol

yes.. Flynn looks pretty average but the NZ camp has been bean hit by injuries lately.. once Aaron Redmond is fit, he could easily replace Flynn..

that is where i liked umar akmal yesterday.. he came to crease with soo much pressure on him.. he played his natural game.. infact, both akmal brothers are very exciting to watch if they get going.. i remember kamran akmal playing his 100 against india in Karachi..what a hand he played on that match !!!

 

[Zinzan]

Haha, Taylor in premeditated mode already, wild swing & miss across the line after having a few dot-balls. You really have to question Taylor's mental strength sometimes.

 

[Howsie]

Broom ffs.

 

[Athlai]

Haha, Taylor in premeditated mode already, wild swing & miss across the line after having a few dot-balls. You really have to question Taylor's mental strength sometimes.

Tends to do extremely well in hard situations, probably been asked to take it to the Pakistani bowlers to relieve a bit of pressure.

Think Ryder would be more suited to that kind of thing though, Taylor takes a bit longer to get his eye in.

 

[Zinzan]

Haha, not sure it carried, but this guy Farhat must be the worst 1st slip I've seen at International level.

 

[straw man]

yes.. Flynn looks pretty average but the NZ camp has been bean hit by injuries lately.. once Aaron Redmond is fit, he could easily replace Flynn..

I don't think Redmond is very good but at the very least he would provide us with a 5th bowler while Ryder and Elliott are injured.

 

[AaronK]

Haha, not sure it carried, but this guy Farhat must be the worst 1st slip I've seen at International level.

lol hah.. some guy was calling for Misbah just to field in the slip the other day during cricinfo commentary lol pretty funny.. ya.. it is ironic..Jonty Rhodes back in 06 during his short stint with pakistan as fielding coach called Farhat as a best fielder..

 

[AaronK]

I don't think Redmond is very good but at the very least he would provide us with a 5th bowler while Ryder and Elliott are injured.

oh ya.. how can i forget Ryder.

 

[straw man]

Ryder at 3 anyone? Anyone at all?

I really don't like the idea as Ryder is one of the few we have with the patience and ability to bat long periods. I want him to sit down at 5, protected from the new ball and eventually average 45 to 50.

But you're right, there's only so long this situation with the top 3 can be tolerated and Ryder at 3 probably would work better than what we have now.

 

[Uppercut]

Could be Manchester all over again for New Zealand. They had the game all but won yesterday before Flynn's costly drop. In regard to Flynn, not sure how long New Zealand can keep faith with him. Its now 26 test innings no centuries, that isn't good enough for an international number 3.

Huge pressure on Taylor here, probably doesn't know whether to stick or twist. Might be just better off playing his natural game given the way Aamer is bowling.

Was thinking exactly that. Would be a serious failure to lose from here, but they need someone to turn things around for them like the Akmals did for Pakistan.

 

[Athlai]

Broom ffs.

Doesn't even play for 3 for Otago.

 

[Prince EWS]

Ryder at 3 anyone? Anyone at all?

Skippy tbh.

 

[TT Boy]

I don't think Redmond is very good but at the very least he would provide us with a 5th bowler while Ryder and Elliott are injured.

So Elliott was picked for this test as a specialist batsman?

 

[straw man]

Timmeh is 0 from 25 - fighting the good fight


A run!

 

[_Ed_]

Doesn't even play for 3 for Otago.

True. So who are our options? Looking at who batted 3 in this round of the Plunket Shield...

T.Astle
A.Kitchen
S.Haig
B.Patton
N.Parlane
M.Parlane

Oh dear. The cupboard's a bit bare, isn't it? Kitchen and Patton could turn out to be Test class, but I definitely wouldn't go for them yet.

 

[Athlai]

So Elliott was picked for this test as a specialist batsman?

Yep was thought to have deserved a chance after his great ODI success.

 

[Athlai]

True. So who are our options? Looking at who batted 3 in this round of the Plunket Shield...

T.Astle
A.Kitchen
S.Haig
B.Patton
N.Parlane
M.Parlane

Oh dear. The cupboard's a bit bare, isn't it? Kitchen and Patton could turn out to be Test class, but I definitely wouldn't go for them yet.

An opener playing at 3 perhaps?

 

[_Ed_]

So Elliott was picked for this test as a specialist batsman?

Yeah, a really baffling selection. Would have rather had Tuffey - would have probably scored as many runs as Elliott did in the first innings.

 

[Athlai]

Yeah, a really baffling selection. Would have rather had Tuffey - would have probably scored as many runs as Elliott did in the first innings.

Vettori 6, McCullum 7, Tuffey 8? Dunno about that, Bond and Tuffey are decent number 9s but not good enough for 8.