*Official* Pakistan v New Zealand in the UAE 2018

[Bahnz]

which is more than what his competitors (latham, broom, santner, whoever else we threw in) ever did against world class attacks, and he was in his first few tests doing it.

I get that you're frustrated with Latham not pushing on. We all are. But comparing him with guys like Broom and borderline tailenders like Santner is daft. As is the idea that he should be dropped. Latham has at least a decent record against every country he's played against save South Africa (and I know you're not one to hold it against a batsman for not making runs against South Africa). He's made tough valuable contributions to a number of NZ wins even whilst failing to live up to our expectations. He's also still very young - if Nicholls isn't the finished product, then neither is Latham.

Also, since when was Latham a competitor for Nicholls? They have completely different roles in the side.

 

[straw man]

And it's not like no-one has been critical of Latham either, literally the best and only real opening option since Richardson retired, Baz notwithstanding. He has huge temperament issues which get brought up regularly on here when he fails. He has also had decent away tours to England and Australia and averages more overseas than at home, which can't be said of Nicholls. Broom and Santner are irrelevant, one for being rubbish and a fill in and the other because he's an all-rounder. Did anyone ever say Santner>>>Nicholls purely as a batsman?

Yeah the Latham-Nicholls comparison only goes so far when Latham is an opener and, at the time people were complaining about Nicholls being brought into the side, there were other options for his middle order spot but there were no alternatives to Latham as opener.

Latham's career as a test opening batsman hasn't progressed tremendously though, whereas Nicholls deserves plaudits. I thought the below was very well stated.

Now when I watch Nicholls bat I quite like it. I feel he has a plan, and I know he won't Lathamise himself after a few too many dot balls, he has grit, he knows his game. I also know he can miss one by 4 inches early on .... but he doesn't make me nervous like some of them.

He has a batsman's mind, I can relax and watch him bat knowing he's in charge of his own destiny up to the limits of his talent.

 

[The Hutt Rec]

Nicholls has some way to go. I'd like to see him actively setting up a win or dominating an attack. Back against the wall knocks are one thing, but sometimes (ideally, all of the time) you've got to be the team putting the others against the wall.

He did that in the first test against England last season ... and arguably first test vs Pakistan.

 

[NZTailender]

Yeah exactly, he hasn’t blown anyone out the water from the get go, but compared to most of the numpties who get a call up he’s been great. I’ve always been a fan from those early series, and am enjoying watching him continue to develop and become more consistent. He’s got an excellent temperament.

Bollocks. Amongst the **** show that was his debut test (where we lost by an innings) his gritty 134 ball stay was praised as a breath of fresh air and we hoped we'd see more of it. The he followed up with single digit scores vs Aus and failed to cash in vs Zimbabwe. Then he made two fighting scores in yet another absolute toweling vs South Africa and people frothed again, but he never really did anything more of note until he nearly scored 100 at home vs Bangladesh - which along with his 145 vs England were really the only two times he'd actively contributed to the team win in a significant way until the last test in Abu Dhabi.

 

[NZTailender]

He did that in the first test against England last season ... and arguably first test vs Pakistan.

Yeah there are three instances where I can think he's contributed fairly majorly to a win (see my other post).

 

[NZTailender]

Yeah the Latham-Nicholls comparison only goes so far when Latham is an opener and, at the time people were complaining about Nicholls being brought into the side, there were other options for his middle order spot but there were no alternatives to Latham as opener.

Latham's career as a test opening batsman hasn't progressed tremendously though, whereas Nicholls deserves plaudits. I thought the below was very well stated.

I don't disagree, but Latham has a tougher job. It doesn't excuse him but it's not like we should discard him. At worst he's a let down - he could achieve so, so much more than he does. He has the technique - almost a left handed Williamson - just needs Nicholls temperament.

 

[Gomez656]

Cong Yasir 14 wickets for 184 third best by Leg break bowler in test cricket



Please note X denote =4-5-8 ball overs below





JC Laker 68.0 27 90 19
SF Barnes 65.3 16 159 17
ND Hirwani 33.5 6 136 16
RAL Massie 60.1 16 137 16
M Murali 113.5 41 220 16
J Briggs 33.3x4 16 28 15
GA Lohmann 25.3x5 11 45 15
C Blythe 38.3 10 99 15
H Verity 58.3 23 104 15
RJ Hadlee 52.3 13 123 15
W Rhodes 30.2 3 124 15
Harbhajan 80.1 26 217 15
FR Spofforth 64.3x4 33 90 14
AV Bedser 55.5 23 99 14
W Bates 59.2x4 28 102 14
Imran Khan 52.2 11 116 14
JM Patel 61.3 23 124 14
SF Barnes 61.5 17 144 14
MA Holding 53.4 15 149 14
A Kumble 51.0 13 149 14
Herath 55.2 5 184 14
Yasir Shah 57.2 10 184 14
Vaas 57.2 8 191 14
Grimmett 96.2 28 199 14
CA Walsh 36.0 15 55 13
SF Barnes 37.4 14 57 13
Underwood 48.5 25 71 13
MA Noble 33.4 7 77 13
JJ Ferris 54.2x5 27 91 13
Qadir 73.0 27 101 13
IT Botham 48.5 14 106 13
Spofforth 60.0x4 25 110 13
Fazal M. 75.0 28 114 13
Muralitharan 66.4 26 115 13
ST Gabriel 36.4 10 121 13
MH Mankad 71.2 30 131 13
J Srinath 46.0 10 132 13
Ntini 47.5 10 132 13
WYounis 56.0 15 135. 13
R Ashwin 41.1 7 140 13
K Rabada 39.4 8 144 13
Herath 56.2 14 145 13
B.Reid 61.0 20 148 13
Herath 49.0 10 152 13
NM Lyon 69.2 18 154 13
AW Greig 69.1 17 156 13
SF Barnes 80.1 22 163 13
HJ Tayfield 66.5x8 22 165 13
M Murali 76.0 13 171 13
CV Grimmett 93.0 41 173 13
A Kumble 64.3 12 181 13
HJ Tayfield 74.0x8 26 192 13
Harbhajan 68.2 15 196 13
MG Hughes 73.1 16 217 13
AA Mailey 76.2 9 236 13
Richardson 110.3x5 39 244 13
JC White 124.5 37 256 13

 

[straw man]

Since the squad doesn't have ready made replacements, I would like to drop CDG and Sodhi and bring in all three of Southee, Somerville and Blundell for the final test please.

12? Go the whole hog and play all 15.

Jokes aside, it's a real poser which is why we'd like some hypothetical hybrids of the above three.

Replace the batting that CDG was supposed to provide with our by-default reserve batsman of Blundell? Who knows if he has it in him to score runs here.
Lose CDG's new ball bowling too, well Southee could do a similar and presumably better job.
Could drop Sodhi to make room for Southee.
Now missing a second spinner.
Kane would need to be fifth bowler in this scenario anyway, not ideal.

Could drop Sodhi for Somerville instead and Wagner would need to open the bowling.

Could decide Blundell isn't enough of a reserve batsman anyway, bring in Southee and Somerville and maybe Somerville can provide a bit of batting.
In these conditions though, you need proper batting chops to score runs and Somerville's 'bit of batting' very likely doesn't have it.

Could revisit assumption to drop both of CDG and Sodhi.

Don't think there are any solutions here that look right - big compromises whichever way we go.

 

[NZTailender]

If Blundell were brought in, would he get the gloves, and give Watling a bit of a rest hoping that it'll improve his batting?

 

[Gomez656]

CDG bowls really good when others struggle for single wicket 22 overs 39 runs Couple of wickets at one stage

 

[Bahnz]

The next test doesn't start till Monday next week. Send an SOS to NZ, haul Will Young over there on the first plane from Auckland to Dubai, and give him a debut batting at 6. Two spinners (Sommerville for Sodhi), and two seamers - Boult and Wagner is my first choice but it's not easy because we need quicks who can make the first 20 overs of the new ball count. Given Wagner got bowled into the ground at Dubai I'm almost thinking it's worthwhile giving Southee a go.

 

[Bahnz]

If Blundell were brought in, would he get the gloves, and give Watling a bit of a rest hoping that it'll improve his batting?

Yeah, you'd assume so. Would make it easier for Watling to bat at 6 anyway.

 

[the big bambino]

But what was the point of it?

Just comes across as an irrelevant pathetic childish whinge.

Can almost hear this as autistic screeching in soprano.

 

[Howsie]

The next test doesn't start till Monday next week. Send an SOS to NZ, haul Will Young over here on the first plane from Auckland to Dubai, and give him a debut batting at 6. Two spinners (Sommerville for Sodhi), and two seamers - Boult and Wagner is my first choice but it's not easy because we need quicks who can make the first 20 overs of the new ball count. Given Wagner got bowled into the ground at Dubai I'm almost thinking it's worthwhile giving Southee a go.

Once we went one up in the series that is the XI we should’ve gone with, Southee, Boult, Patel and Sommerville. de Grandhomme has proven he isn’t up to it with the bat over the course of this tour. But no Larsen decided he’d bring 1000 fast bowlers over to the UAE and no batsman. ****ing idiot.

 

[Immenso]

Once we went one up in the series that is the XI we should’ve gone with, Southee, Boult, Patel and Sommerville. de Grandhomme has proven he isn’t up to it with the bat over the course of this tour. But no Larsen decided he’d bring a 1000 fast bowlers over to the UAE and no batsman. ****ing idiot.

But, tbh, If Young wasn't back at home scoring a century v India A then I wouldn't be banging the drum to pick him.

But, agree the squad balance is hopeless. But I'm happy for Will Young personally that he is now back at home playing some actual cricket.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

he's always copped far too much criticism because he's ugly and we haven't been told he's a wonderkid like kane, ross, latham, santner were marketed as with varying degrees of accuracy.

nicholls is a bloody good player and has been for quite a while. he's not kane, he's not ross, but he's good and one of the best batsmen to play for us since fleming retired (kane, ross, baz, ryder, watling the only ones better)

We had a certain bespectacled left-hander with an even uglier technique who took a few wickets and did some captaincy who was also better, but agree with the rest of the post.

 

[Days of Grace]

No S.O.S. will be sent out. That would be Larsen admitting he was wrong. We will go with the same XI, maybe one change, in the third test. Larsen will rate us giant underdogs, plucky kiwis in the 1990s post-Hadlee. He's got a loser mentality because he comes from a losing era. Any result other then a loss will be seen as a massive bonus. Lose and it will all be forgotten about when Sri Lanka roll over for us at home.

 

[harsh.ag]

What are you guys on about? CdG was the best pacer in this test for NZ. This was your best XI (bar Sodhi).

 

[Athlai]

CDG is a hack, he’s supposed to be a batting allrounder, not a specialist new ball bowler that’s worse than Southee.

 

[harsh.ag]

CDG is a hack, he’s supposed to be a batting allrounder, not a specialist new ball bowler that’s worse than Southee.

Drop Boult for Southee then. At least CdG takes wickets.