***Official** Sri Lanka in New Zealand

[_Ed_]

McCullum didn't help himself by walking before it was given... Did look out to me though.

Shocking drop there by Silva, really should have got Astle out there. Vaas deserved that wicket too so bad luck for him. Astle's looking uncomfortable, but if he survives this period of play he'll be extremely hard to get out.

 

[TT Boy]

That was ridiculous fielding from the Sri Lanka's there, Atapattu should have taken it. Astle riding his luck big style, McCullum was rather unfortunate if only because the LBW had Astle's name all over it. As I type Astle is going El Loco on Malinga...

 

[TT Boy]

Good move in promoting young Ross Taylor. Did not look to happy against Murali in the first 20/20 and it would be tough ask for any batsman let alone a youngster to come on and face the off spinner especially with his penchant of the sweep not looking the most sensible of shots to play. Gives him time to settle and build an innings, doesn’t need to throw the bat, Astle is doing that just fine at the moment…

 

[Matt52]

Good move in promoting young Ross Taylor. Did not look to happy against Murali in the first 20/20 and it would be tough ask for any batsman let alone a youngster to come on and face the off spinner especially with his penchant of the sweep not looking the most sensible of shots to play. Gives him time to settle and build an innings, doesn’t need to throw the bat, Astle is doing that just fine at the moment…

Actually Ross Taylor has always batted no3 in one dayers. He was dropped down the order previously, so he is just back in his regular spot. Did seem a bit at sea against Murali in the 20/20 though.

 

[Macka]

McCullum out, apparently the decision was a shocker.

It was plumb: middle stump out of the ground, 2 cartwheels.

McCullum should not be opening. He has no middle game whatsoever. He's either hitting fours and sixes, or he's slashing outside of off. He can't (won't?) turn the strike over with singles.

Look at how Astle does it. Fourteen ODI centuries opening the batting, he puts the bad ball away and can turn the strike over. Granted, Astle had a bit of luck this innings, but at least he has backup plans. McCullum just looks too one-dimensional.

When will Bracewell learn? If you want players to open, they need to bat there domestically. ODI openers are just as much specialist positions as Test openers. Great to see Taylor batting at at 3, where he bats domestically for Central.

In saying that, if they're serious about McCullum opening long term, they should give him the 5 games to do it at least. I'd love to be proven wrong.

 

[Matt52]

It was plumb: middle stump out of the ground, 2 cartwheels.

McCullum should not be opening. He has no middle game whatsoever. He's either hitting fours and sixes, or he's slashing outside of off. He can't (won't?) turn the strike over with singles.

Look at how Astle does it. Fourteen ODI centuries opening the batting, he puts the bad ball away and can turn the strike over. Granted, Astle had a bit of luck this innings, but at least he has backup plans. McCullum just looks too one-dimensional.

When will Bracewell learn? If you want players to open, they need to bat there domestically. ODI openers are just as much specialist positions as Test openers. Great to see Taylor batting at at 3, where he bats domestically for Central.

In saying that, if they're serious about McCullum opening long term, they should give him the 5 games to do it at least. I'd love to be proven wrong.

I dont know if he should be opening or not, I guess we will have to wait and see. But I think he is a better option than Vincent who is more a middle order player or Fleming who has done well opening but still seems better to me at 4.

He does open at domestic level for Canterbury with Papps. Astle bats 3. He opened all last season when available for Canterbury, Im not sure about the year before, but he has been a domestic one day opener for 2 seasons now.

Taylor starting to open up...

 

[Tim]

jeez Taylor is good. Great to see genuine talent coming through the ranks.

 

[Tim]

can you believe it. Astle run out by a deflection to Jayasuriya's hand.

 

[MoxPearl]

gutted

 

[Tim]

Yeah apart from that skier earlier, he didnt look like getting out any other way.

 

[_Ed_]

I hope they keep Astle opening even when Fleming comes back.

 

[Tim]

McCullum
Astle
Fleming
Taylor

?
or

McCullum
Astle
Taylor
Fleming

 

[MoxPearl]

nice way to bring up the 200

 

[Matt52]

McCullum
Astle
Fleming
Taylor

?
or

McCullum
Astle
Taylor
Fleming

Definitely you second option there. Taylor has always batted three, and Fleming has said that he loves batting at 4. Gutted I cant watch this . Im listening on Radio over the internet because i'm overseas. Taylor is much more of a natural hitter than fleming so should come in with the early feilding restrictions. Fleming is more of a placer or a timer of the ball and so suits the middle overs more than Taylor.

 

[_Ed_]

McCullum should not be opening. He has no middle game whatsoever. He's either hitting fours and sixes, or he's slashing outside of off. He can't (won't?) turn the strike over with singles.

That may be true at the moment, but with his incredible speed between the wickets I believe he has the potential to learn and become effective at turning the strike over. Hope so anyway.

And it's a hard choice for who bats 3 and 4 when Fleming comes back. Taylor's doing great at 3 today so it'd be tempting to leave him there, but on the other hand it might be better to have a different style of player (and a left-hander at that) in Fleming separating the big hitters a bit (although of course he's becoming a more powerful hitter now too).

 

[_Ed_]

J Marshall lbw Vaas 0 (1)

Perhaps bringing an end to the James Marshall comeback.

 

[Turbinator]

Vaas misses out on a hattrick!

Wow, the game has really turned around now.

 

[NZTailender]

I'd rather McMillan than James Marshall. Thank God James will be out when Fleming returns.

 

[nightprowler10]

How was Marshall out and this guy wasn't?

 

[Neil Pickup]

I thought you were supposed to score quicker during the slog overs?