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

[straw man]

Tayrol doing what Tayrol does best

 

[Athlai]

Lol Taylor.

I'm a big fan of Umar Gul.

DIdn't like him when I first saw him a few years ago but he has really grown on me.

 

[Zinzan]

Why the hell are the commentators gushing over Taylor's 6 like that, he's looked all at sea in a crucial Test match where they should be trying to see off the new ball & plays what to me looked nothing more than a premeditated slog across the line, just happened to get hold of it

 

[Zinzan]

Good to hear Waqar point out what a Muppet Taylor would have looked had he missed that

 

[Prince EWS]

Same can be said of the debut of pretty much every single player we have.

Well yeah, exactly. Picking someone who has done SFA in First Class cricket and then being surprised when they only average 30 odd early in their career is ridiculous, though. Flynn's a project player - there's not really a case to drop him for a different project player IMO as he hasn't been that bad, and there's no-one around with a case to be picked as anything other than a project player at #3. Flynn's Test average is actually better than Watling's First Class average, for example, so you'd just be taking yet another punt - you might as well stick with the punt you already made and see if it has something to it.

Flynn's not Test standard at the moment but no-one should be surprised. Dropping him for someone else who isn't Test standard at the moment, being surprised when they only average 30 or less after 14 games and replacing him with someone else is pretty pointless - the idea was obviously that Flynn would improve as he went along or he wouldn't have been picked in the first place.

I suppose what I'm trying to say is that while Flynn's performances have been unacceptable as 'the finished article', he wasn't selected as the finished article and he hasn't been so diabolical as a project player that he should be dropped for another project player. I'm sure everyone here knows I'd love Sinclair to get recalled but it's not going to happen.

 

[straw man]

Would probably go with Fulton, Sinclair dare I say it may even be in line for a recall untill Ryder and Franlin are fit. As for openers Watling seems to be around the team.

Fulton's (lack of) foot movement is a problem batting at 5 and would be even more of a problem back at 3, even though he bats there for Canterbury. It definitely seems like he's gotten lazy and is happy to get away with the minimum amount of footwork that will allow him to score runs in the domestic comp.

 

[Polo23]

Why the hell are the commentators gushing over Taylor's 6 like that, he's looked all at sea in a crucial Test match where they should be trying to see off the new ball & plays what to me looked nothing more than a premeditated slog across the line, just happened to get hold of it

For the same reasons you are having a go at him. Incredible shot given the situation. The fact is he got a hold of it, which is what made it amazing, had he missed it I think everyone would be ripping strips off him big time. But that's cricket.

 

[Howsie]

I wonder if Taylor would have been killed had he been bowled when he played that shot, horrible.

Edit: Ohh, Taylor should buy a lotto ticket tonight.

 

[Uppercut]

Mohammed Aamer looks like sledger's avatar today IMO with his hair flopping in front of his eyes.

 

[Craig]

Taylor, pull your head in mate. Aise from you, only Vettori and to a lesser extent McCullum will actually do something.

 

[straw man]

Pretty much every one of Taylor's successful innings has moments like this:

12.5
Mohammad Aamer to Taylor, FOUR, very risky and Taylor was really lucky the fielder at mid-off was fielding well in front, he checks his lofted drive and the ball just clears Asif's reach

And suddenly we're 40/2

 

[Uppercut]

Haha what the hell was that from McIntosh? So odd watching such a turgid player hit such a glorious stroke.

 

[_Ed_]

McIntosh is woefully inadequate in some areas, but he's got some fabulous shots.

 

[Craig]

McIntosh has woken up.

 

[straw man]

Well yeah, exactly. Picking someone who has done SFA in First Class cricket and then being surprised when they only average 30 odd early in their career is ridiculous, though. Flynn's a project player - there's not really a case to drop him for a different project player IMO as he hasn't been that bad, and there's no-one around with a case to be picked as anything other than a project player at #3. Flynn's Test average is actually better than Watling's First Class average, for example, so you'd just be taking yet another punt - you might as well stick with the punt you already made and see if it has something to it.

Flynn's not Test standard at the moment but no-one should be surprised. Dropping him for someone else who isn't Test standard at the moment, being surprised when they only average 30 or less after 14 games and replacing him with someone else is pretty pointless - the idea was obviously that Flynn would improve as he went along or he wouldn't have been picked in the first place.

I suppose what I'm trying to say is that while Flynn's performances have been unacceptable as 'the finished article', he wasn't selected as the finished article and he hasn't been so diabolical as a project player that he should be dropped for another project player. I'm sure everyone here knows I'd love Sinclair to get recalled but it's not going to happen.

Exactly, for the top 3 spots we have two categories of players. Project batsmen like you mention and the other type is older (often tried-and-failed) journeymen batsmen kicking around the domestic competition. Today we have two of the latter and one of the former.

I guess there is the third category in which Ryder sits - someone who has had some success further down the order but may be able to do a decent job of adapting to opener or 3.

Though as far as project batsmen goes, Flynn was also batting further down the order until recently and was promoted based on temperament rather than technique.

 

[Athlai]

Taylor made me start drinking and McIntosh plays some gold. Crazy day.

 

[Zinzan]

For the same reasons you are having a go at him. Incredible shot given the situation. The fact is he got a hold of it, which is what made it amazing, had he missed it I think everyone would be ripping strips off him big time. But that's cricket.

Brainless shot to play in a test in that situation no matter if you wish to defend him or not. There's no excuse for playing premeditated shots in a Test match unless your team is safe & you're looking to get quick runs or maybe when batting with a tail-ender, not when you're 2-20 with a 100 run lead

 

[Craig]

Or WTF do I know? Taylor clearly has taken a leaf out of Umar Akmal's book.

 

[Athlai]

Brainless shot to play in a test in that situation no matter if you wish to defend him or not. There's no excuse for playing premeditated shots in a Test match unless your team is safe & you're looking to get quick runs or maybe when batting with a tail-ender, not when you're 2-20 with a 100 run lead

Agreed and from the look on Taylor's face he agrees too.

 

[_Ed_]

Will be interesting to see how the spinner bowls here. The ball is in terrible condition, so he might be quite effective.