Gotta play your shots mateObviously Southee and Jamieson’s batting is basically irrelevant to their selection, but I just can’t comprehend what is going on behind the scenes or with the coaching when they so obviously get out in totally inexcusable ways. Is anyone actually passing on the basic cricket commonsense they aren’t applying? Has anyone pointed out they’re doing something wrong?
I wouldn't play Ajaz at Lord's, not sure how Nottingham and Edgbaston play. One of them can go out for Ajaz there, potentially. I like the extra batting given how unreliable our lower order is. No it's not their 'job' per se, but as TH says - I can't cop the approach. We're playing four sloggers from 8, which once in a while might work out but it was disgraceful when a set batsman like CdG was in during the first dig, and didn't look much better when trying to hold out for a draw today. It might be well against the odds to bat out a session and a half on the last day, but you can very well guarantee those odds are zero when you try and hoick most things.Think that's an unnecessarily stacked batting lineup with Conway and Kane in the XI. Would drop one of Mitchell or Colin for Ajaz (presuming he's fit).
It was low and slow at Kanpur. No fear of being hit, a fear our 8 to 11 have is of stuff above waste height.Disappointing when you compare the disclipine we showed in saving that 1st test in India under much more difficult batting conditions:
Latham 52 off 146
Somerville 36 off 110 (nw)
Williamson 24 off 112
Blundell 2 off 38
Ravindra 18* off 91
Jamieson 5 off 30
Ajaz 2* off 23
Someone argued better than I could that it is more a timing thing. A lot of things were timed exactly right around the WTC final - Kane was fit, Ross still had one major knock in him, Devon had just debuted and looked a million bucks, Jamieson was in beast mode, Wagner had a bit more pep in him and Boult/Southee were doing their thing as well. Move forward 9 months and we have the wrong guy opening, Kane out, Ross gone, Nicholls batting higher than we want, limited output from our WK/batsman, Jamieson lost his spark, and Wagner not being as able to blast people out on flat ones (which often negated the need for a spinner) plus CdG also being down on pace/was injured.I think NZ are having what I wanna call the Strauss' England syndrome. Almost all pieces fall together to a ridiculous extent and they become the best in the world but just as they start to take their foot off the pedal a bit it all starts falling apart.
That's alot of pressure to put on that young batter. For now anyway, doubt he would of changed the results, KW might of though. Saf have always had great bowling depth.I remember the OTT reactions here to both India losing to RSA away and then the first test loss here by RSA, especially by couple of usual suspects who are still salty about SC and India for some reason. The fact is, RSA were battling very heavy odds the first test but once they got a hang of things, they were much tougher opponents and this happened in both these series. More than anything else, I think both India and NZ expected much lesser resistance and were a bit found out when RSA played better than what IND and NZ expected, perhaps. The fact that RSA have won without their best batsman and bowler from the series win against India makes it even better.
I think NZ are having what I wanna call the Strauss' England syndrome. Almost all pieces fall together to a ridiculous extent and they become the best in the world but just as they start to take their foot off the pedal a bit it all starts falling apart.
I don't think anyone's droppable from the fast bowling unit and add to that Henry's ascend has added to the problem whom to rest. I think the best way forward is keep the quarlet, add Henry to it and maybe Lockie if fit or Ben Sears. Rotate these bowlers based on form and conditions. Stick with Ajaz and Ravindra as spin options, give them consistent opportunities. If CDG plays Ajaz should be playing or if Ravindra is playing then play with 4 fast bowlers. No other way around as I can see it. And be patient, the players if given reasonable opportunities will settle down and play their game. If they are in and out it's hard to find rhythm. Also release the players if they're not needed at least they could play some sort of cricket. Use local players for 12th and 13th man duties. There's already very less cricket being played at the moment and they need to be playing consistently to be able to perform.Someone argued better than I could that it is more a timing thing. A lot of things were timed exactly right around the WTC final - Kane was fit, Ross still had one major knock in him, Devon had just debuted and looked a million bucks, Jamieson was in beast mode, Wagner had a bit more pep in him and Boult/Southee were doing their thing as well. Move forward 9 months and we have the wrong guy opening, Kane out, Ross gone, Nicholls batting higher than we want, limited output from our WK/batsman, Jamieson lost his spark, and Wagner not being as able to blast people out on flat ones (which often negated the need for a spinner) plus CdG also being down on pace/was injured.
At the moment the problem is that we have a lot of unequivocally test-standard players, and a lot of other promising options -- but we can't really trial them out because we don't play enough tests. If we could get 5 more tests in the year ahead then we could rotate through the bowling attack a lot easier, and (presuming we are all but out of WTC running) give a few other players a chance.I don't think anyone's droppable from the fast bowling unit and add to that Henry's ascend has added to the problem whom to rest. I think the best way forward is keep the quarlet, add Henry to it and maybe Lockie if fit or Ben Sears. Rotate these bowlers based on form and conditions. Stick with Ajaz and Ravindra as spin options, give them consistent opportunities. If CDG plays Ajaz should be playing or if Ravindra is playing then play with 4 fast bowlers. No other way around as I can see it. And be patient, the players if given reasonable opportunities will settle down and play their game. If they are in and out it's hard to find rhythm. Also release the players if they're not needed at least they could play some sort of cricket. Use local players for 12th and 13th man duties. There's already very less cricket being played at the moment and they need to be playing consistently to be able to perform.
Very good point... these 2 match series' leaves a lot to desire. Fed up with these 2 match series.At the moment the problem is that we have a lot of unequivocally test-standard players, and a lot of other promising options -- but we can't really trial them out because we don't play enough tests. If we could get 5 more tests in the year ahead then we could rotate through the bowling attack a lot easier, and (presuming we are all but out of WTC running) give a few other players a chance.
I mean, I only said he was their best batter in that series against India, which is a fact.That's alot of pressure to put on that young batter