**Official** Pakistan v New Zealand in the UAE 2014

[smash84]

well done NZ so far. Batting second they have kicked the **** out of Pakistan.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Naw wanted for maximums from 6thee. Really disappointing knock.

 

[Athlai]

That was the best southee test innings yet.

 

[cnerd123]

3 scores of exactly 50 this innings. Odd. Even McCullum got out right after reaching his double.

Incredible performance though. Would love to see an innings win here for NZ.

And Craig WAG. Genuine allrounder.

 

[kiwiviktor81]

We have occasion here to go for the highest score ever in an innings, breaking the record set earlier this year.

The golden summer for New Zealand cricket is stretching into a small dynasty.

Good to see that our guys are capable of getting massive hundreds when they are set. Williamson in particular seems to be a batsman who never tires.

Mark Craig is on for a very rare all-rounders double of a 7fer and a 50 in consecutive innings.

 

[kiwiviktor81]

Also, where do BCs fans now rate us on ability to play spin? It's been a notorious weakness of ours, but we've just scored 600 in a series where all of our top four scored centuries against a Pakistan that just destroyed Aussie with spin on spinning wickets. Zulfiqar Babar, the opposition player who worried me the most here before the series began (more than Younis even) has got 0/135 this innings.

 

[smash84]

NZ have been quite impressive from the second test onward. Very well played and Baz reminds me a bit of Stephen Fleming (in terms of bringing a real spine to the team). Although their awesome display has been overshadowed by the off field tragedy.

 

[BeeGee]

So, any chance McCullum might remain as opener beyond this series? Probably none, but it would be the greatest thing ever if he decided he could be the new Shewag and just stayed there.

My second dream scenario would be if Craig improved his batting to the point of being able to be selected as a No.7 batsman (with Watling at 6). There's certainly some potential there. Then we could play a four quick attack at home and still have a spin option, or play two spinners away from home and still have three quicks.

Neither are likely to happen, but it's nice to dream.

 

[Prince EWS]

So, any chance McCullum might remain as opener beyond this series? Probably none, but it would be the greatest thing ever if he decided he could be the new Shewag and just stayed there.

My second dream scenario would be if Craig improved his batting to the point of being able to be selected as a No.7 batsman (with Watling at 6). There's certainly some potential there. Then we could play a four quick attack at home and still have a spin option, or play two spinners away from home and still have three quicks.

Neither are likely to happen, but it's nice to dream.

Given how good Watling's batting is, Craig at seven would genuine option if not for the fact that Neesham and Anderson exist. You can definitely still maintain an attack of four quicks and a spinner without weakening the batting like that.

 

[OverratedSanity]

A well informed source in the PCB told PTI on Saturday that after the news of Hughes death in a Sydney hospital become known early Thursday morning the New Zealand players were reluctant to continue with the series.
“Understandably some of their players informed their management they were badly disturbed and shocked by Hughes death and were not in a state of mind to continue with the tour,” he said.
The source said that initially the PCB itself had decided to have a one hour’s delay to the start of the second day’s play in the third Test presently being played in Sharjah.
“But when the manager of the Pakistan team, Moin Khan contacted the board officials with the news that the New Zealand players were reluctant to even continue with the series, the senior PCB officials had to speak to their counterparts in New Zealand,” the source said.
He said it was only after the PCB pointed out to the CNZ that the board would suffer huge financial losses if the series was abandoned that they then convinced their players the series must go on.

After Phillip Hughes? death, New Zealand players wanted to abandon UAE series | The Indian Express

That last line makes me pretty sad.

 

[Binkley]

This test has forced my exile to the spare room, where I am only able to follow the game via Cricinfo. So can someone who watched day 3 tell me how the pitch is wearing? 630 says roady roady road, but Cricinfo seemed to report the ball misbehaving much more often than that score would indicate.

 

[Kippax]

The game goes on - Mumbai Mirror

According to sources, some of the New Zealand players were threatening to pull out of the whole tour. There were heated arguments between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and New Zealand Cricket (NZC) officials. PCB officials are believed to have threatened NZC of consequences similar to the West Indian withdrawal from the tour of India last month. But in the end, it was decided that the game must go on.

 

[BeeGee]

Given how good Watling's batting is, Craig at seven would genuine option if not for the fact that Neesham and Anderson exist. You can definitely still maintain an attack of four quicks and a spinner without weakening the batting like that.

Yeah, but I don't really rate Neesham or Anderson's bowling that highly. My true ulterior motive is to have a home bowling attack of Southee, Boult, Wagner and Henry, while still having a spin option. Anyhoo, it's all pie in the sky stuff.

 

[ohnoitsyou]

I would have been stoked if we made 400 on this pitch. Theres big turn on offer for the leggie and a bit of variable bounce.

 

[Kippax]

Yeah, but I don't really rate Neesham or Anderson's bowling that highly. My true ulterior motive is to have a home bowling attack of Southee, Boult, Wagner and Henry, while still having a spin option. Anyhoo, it's all pie in the sky stuff.

Henry's form has sort of vanished in these first couple of months of the new NZ season. Ever since that Surrey commentator said he' be an exciting signing for any county, it's all looked a bit uncharacteristically ragged. A bit of a poor man's Milne atm.

Trying to hold his own with Dougeh, McClenaghan and Donaldson in the gym would be onerous, might make him a bit worse before he gets better.

 

[Kippax]

Yeah, Milne and Henry. You've even been told you need to funk it up by perfecting a fast legspinner. You've both been clearly regimented into Operation White Ball.

 

[hendrix]

Kippax I didn't see much of Corey Anderson's innings and I hear he hit another six out of the stadium. Could you please upload it?

 

[Kippax]

Nah sorry, this Test isn't going into the vault.

 

[Kippax]

 

[Immenso]

When I was watching live yesterday, Zulfiqar was being hidden so didn't see him bowling live. Seen the days highlights and he look like he was bowling like a tentative mouse.

Different from day 2 when he bowled normally but Baz attacked him, today both he and Talha looked liabilities.