*Official* Pakistan v New Zealand in the UAE 2018

[The Hutt Rec]

Neesham must be eyeing up CDG’s spot, I think.

 

[straw man]

haha did we really ****ing drop wagner on a deck with variable bounce

Yeah have a feeling we will regret that - who is going to create something when Pakistan have two batsman at the crease on fifty each? Southee is going to have to bowl well and get some reverse like Hasan Ali.

Also hope Ajaz enjoys his return to Abu Dhabi - there's spin there for him to exploit.

 

[straw man]

Impressive from Watling to bat 180 balls, and mildly pleasing to see Somerville stuck with him towards the end (after I went to bed). Watling's going to be buggered batting that long in the heat and then keeping (and then probably batting again from 25 overs into our second innings).

Would love another 30-40 runs and to age the pitch another 20 overs at the same time, if that's how long it takes us to get them.

 

[Days of Grace]

Whatever the form of the allrounder, I feel that the selectors would really want 5 bowlers in the side, and rightly so.

 

[straw man]

What do we reckon the home side is for the summer?

What we'll probably see:

Latham
Raval
Williamson
Taylor
Nicholls
Watling+
CdG
Santner
Southee
Wagner
Boult

Just looked up the SL series and the first test is less than two weeks away! Can't see Santner being match-fit enough so Ajaz comes in for him.

I don't see the need for huge changes tbh. De Grandhomme does make the side at home and the only other one there who's struggling is Latham, though I wouldn't drop him yet. Are we really considering Will Young an opener now? I hope not.

Only other point is that Ferguson needs a test debut some time this summer.

 

[Athlai]

SL Series

Latham
Raval
Williamson
Taylor
Nicholls
Neesham
Watling+
Santner
Southee
Wagner
Boult

IMO

 

[NZTailender]

Just looked up the SL series and the first test is less than two weeks away! Can't see Santner being match-fit enough so Ajaz comes in for him.

I don't see the need for huge changes tbh. De Grandhomme does make the side at home and the only other one there who's struggling is Latham, though I wouldn't drop him yet. Are we really considering Will Young an opener now? I hope not.

Only other point is that Ferguson needs a test debut some time this summer.

I want to see how Ajaz goes in our home summer. de Gradnhomme has been a bit of a beast at home so it makes sense he stays however for our long-term development you feel like he's becoming a bit of a weight rather than benefit. Latham scored a 50 in the last test and has been in OK form but the way he gets out is worrying. I wouldn't want him to think he's undroppable. Young has been opening in the A series with good results but I don't actually want him to open. Break him in at 6 and then when Ross retires (after 100 tests?) he can move to 4 (or 5 if Nicholls moves up).

 

[Mike5181]

Neesham must be eyeing up CDG’s spot, I think.

I don't think we have the depth of talent to discard someone just because they've proven themselves incapable of scoring runs in UAE conditions. Neesham didn't do anything with the bat or the ball last time we were here, and I've seen no indication his bowling has improved to a point where it's even serviceable at test level.

 

[straw man]

Young has been opening in the A series with good results but I don't actually want him to open. Break him in at 6 and then when Ross retires (after 100 tests?) he can move to 4 (or 5 if Nicholls moves up).

Agree

I don't think we have the depth of talent to discard someone just because they've proven themselves incapable of scoring runs in UAE conditions. Neesham didn't do anything with the bat or the ball last time we were here, and I've seen no indication his bowling has improved to a point where it's even serviceable at test level.

Also agree. I'd bring Neesham into the ODI side tomorrow at number 6 (replaces Nicholls) but needs to perform for longer at FC level before another test chance. I don't think his bowling is ever going to improve significantly so he needs lots of runs.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

I'd like to see how Somerville and Ajaz bowl this week before thinking about a side to play Sri Lanka. CDG must surely still be safe in the test team for NZ conditions though. If he were to be replaced I'd be tempted to go with D Bracewell at 7, rather than Neesham at 6. Long-term I think a 6-7-8 of Seifert (wk)- Nathan Smith - Michael Rippon (Jamieson at 9) would be pretty exciting.

Here are the stats from the NZ A v India A series if anyone is interested

Cricket Records | Records | India A in New Zealand unofficial Test Series, 2018/19 - New Zealand A | | Batting and bowling averages | ESPNcricinfo

and NZ A v Pakistan A

Cricket Records | Records | Pakistan A v New Zealand A unofficial Test Series, 2018/19 - New Zealand A | | Batting and bowling averages | ESPNcricinfo

 

[Immenso]

First innings history of Abu Dhabi:

Team records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo

 

[straw man]

I'd like to see how Somerville and Ajaz bowl this week before thinking about a side to play Sri Lanka. CDG must surely still be safe in the test team for NZ conditions though. If he were to be replaced I'd be tempted to go with D Bracewell at 7, rather than Neesham at 6. Long-term I think a 6-7-8 of Seifert (wk)- Nathan Smith - Michael Rippon (Jamieson at 9) would be pretty exciting.

As primarily a bowler or batsman?

I would prefer easily half a dozen others to Bracewell as a bowler and many more as a batsman. Would be far better off not picking an all-rounder if Bracewell was next on that list, imo. His 5 wickets against India A weren't all that exciting either - Ferguson's were far better.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

As primarily a bowler or batsman?

I would prefer easily half a dozen others to Bracewell as a bowler and many more as a batsman. Would be far better off not picking an all-rounder if Bracewell was next on that list, imo. His 5 wickets against India A weren't all that exciting either - Ferguson's were far better.

As an allrounder

 

[straw man]

no-rounder

 

[BeeGee]

I prefer a slow BJ to a quick BJ

 

[straw man]

good fifty, Watling

 

[OverratedSanity]

Excellent double Cowan.

 

[The Hutt Rec]

Watling must be damn close to making this list, anyone know where you can find minutes batted? Records | Test matches | Batting records | Slowest Fifties | ESPNcricinfo

Great stuff from BJ, hugely important innings.

 

[Blakey]

His average has just hit 40.64. As a keeper.

 

[veganbob]

Do people really still want santner in the test team?? Seriously?
Id give ajaz atleast 3 home and away years (15 tests rougly) before even considering santner again.

Don't think santners ever taken more than 3 wickets in a test innings.. from memory.
His batting is also weak trash. Honestly feel southee plays more important innings than him in tests.