3.5 is quite generous, considering he was also quite sloppy behind the stumps, blowing quite a few chances there too.Stuff
i.stuff.co.nz
Tom Latham: 155 runs at 25.83 (SR 91.17); Nine catches
The biggest underperformer in the squad, Latham scored just 155 runs, 121 of which came in two innings, against Afghanistan (68) and the Netherlands (53). The first of those was crucial, coming after the Black Caps lost three wickets while adding one run against a team that turned out to be a semifinal contender. Otherwise, he provided little. 3.5
This kinda makes me think that even though Indian bowling was not at its best, it was still quite good. Much better than NZ's for sure.Hell, even Mitchell scored his 134 at "only" 112.
This sums it up perfectly for me. Some want to make it seem like making a mountain out of a mole hill...it's not a mountain. Even if they'd lost, it'd be one reason not the main one. Kohli is a superstar. Best ever. But his ego is rampant and he, in a very slight way, disadvantaged his team by slowing down for a milestone. And whilst Santner bowled ok, he also faced Ferguson who was bowling shite. Then the very next ball after 100, he wipes across the line for 2 then 4 which he hadn't done for five overs.I don’t think it was ever a thing for Kohli, but it’s visibly happened what, 3 times in the last month? That’s why everyone immediately focussed on it again.
It’s really no big deal as long as he’s peeling off hundreds for fun again, but not acknowledging that he did slow down slightly for the milestone is a bit of head in the sand thinking.
Mitchell 9 for me, when you score 2x tons v the likely eventual winner at home, and no one else in the tournament scores a single one against them, that is meritorious.Stuff
i.stuff.co.nz
Tom Latham: 155 runs at 25.83 (SR 91.17); Nine catches
Conway and Boult- All those T20s in the off season possibly dulled their edge a bit. They both actually looked in decent rhythm (Conway generally got starts before falling, and Boult apparently induced a very high number of false starts, more than Shami if CI is to be believed). Wonder if they were both going through the motions a bit, non-stop cricket can do that to you.Mitchell 9 for me, when you score 2x tons v the likely eventual winner at home, and no one else in the tournament scores a single one against them, that is meritorious.
I wouldn't have Conway at 6, either. 5 at best as he didn't fire a shot after the first game
I think if Neesham had played, SF would have been a lot closer. His knock against AUS in league stage was very good.Massive respect for KW for doing everything to overcome the ACL injury, making the world cup and batting well. Was let down badly by his senior bowlers, so not going to blame him too much for poor efforts in the field, but again he and the management paid the price you feel for putting too much faith in Southee and Ferguson coming into the tournament. Hope he can be back for one last shot in 2027.
Possible, but India’s death bowling in Mumbai >> Aus death bowling in Dhararmsala.I think if Neesham had played, SF would have been a lot closer. His knock against AUS in league stage was very good.
Play him as a batsman. Chapman hardly bowled .Possible, but India’s death bowling in Mumbai >> Aus death bowling in Dhararmsala.
Also if Neesham would’ve bowled in Mumbai you can add 15-20 runs to India’s score IMO, ha ha.
I agree, but for whatever reason Neesham is that kid who “always gets overs” when he’s in the team, but Chapman and Mitchell do not.Play him as a batsman. Chapman hardly bowled .
There's just one demigod for cricket in India, the others are mere mortalsThe first cricketing demigod was Tendulkar, and Kohli is the newest one. (Dohni also has demigod status in many ways).
Yeah, this is a bit of a weird one.I agree, but for whatever reason Neesham is that kid who “always gets overs” when he’s in the team, but Chapman and Mitchell do not.
This is an insightful post and it speaks to the difference between East and West to a great degree also. All Team First platitudes aside, ppl in our part of the world value individual achievements far more than in the West because the pyramidal structure of society here has never truly gone away despite eighty years of democracy and more recent globalization; we've simply had various proxies take over the positions vacated by the royalty of old. As opposed to the West where every **** is an individual™ first and foremost, we still look to the masthead for direction and inspiration. India values a Tendulkar and a Kohli century - or indeed Modi flaunting his sherwani at the UN - almost as much as a win for the side; you can scoff at it all you want but if it makes people by and large happy and if it mitigates the bitterness of defeat to a simple "**** it, at least Cheeku got his 50th" sort of ambivalence, then technically Kohli far from being selfish is actually "playing for the country".Kohli carries a lot of pressure on his shoulders to achieve the feats required of a demigod. The first cricketing demigod was Tendulkar, and Kohli is the newest one. (Dohni also has demigod status in many ways). Indian crowds want to see Kohli score centuries. India wants to see Kohli score centuries. So he nails the chances to do so. Kohli scoring centuries is as much a team requirement as India winning tournaments.