***Official*** West Indies in New Zealand 2013/14

[Flem274*]

We were saved by rain against South Africa. Gillespie and sometimes Martin were the only New Zealand bowlers to look threatening in that test.

The Basin hasn't had prodigious lateral movement for yonks now, well not consistently anyway. What it does have is a good wind at the bowler's back and good pace and bounce, and as usual the ball swings in the right conditions. From what I've heard Gillespie could be terrifying back in the day with a true Wellington gale at his back.

Chris Martin used to love this ground. He found some serious inswing and could get the ball to rise sharply from a length to the left hander from his height.

 

[BeeGee]

I recall there was plenty of rain involvement in those though?

Yep. Just like the game today.

 

[Prince EWS]

I recall there was plenty of rain involvement in those though?

Even be this the case, those first innings totals..

And Richard always pointed out, it's probably the weirdest Test venue in the world for swing though. Assorted players who rarely swung the ball anywhere else would randomly show up and have it bending around corners for the duration of the match, which regular swing bowlers would sometimes completely struggle. On the same day.

 

[hendrix]

Considering that the West Indies were bowled out for barely more than 200 in Dunedin in the first innings on a complete road with no support for the bowlers past 10 overs of the new ball, if this wicket has anything more in it than the Oval did - and it absolutely does - 300 runs on the board is a decent score.

350 would be nice though.

 

[hendrix]

What it does have is a good wind at the bowler's back and good pace and bounce, and as usual the ball swings in the right conditions.

There's not often much swing at the basin.

 

[ohnoitsyou]

There's not often much swing at the basin.

Its wind and weather dependant.

 

[Flem274*]

Southee only just turned 25 yesterday. Boult and Rutherford are 24, KW and Bracewell are 23, Anderson is 22 and Milne and Henry are 21. It feels like some of these guys have been around forever.

 

[Flem274*]

There's not often much swing at the basin.

There is in the right conditions. Remember Anderson in 2008 and Marto's many demolition jobs?

 

[hendrix]

There is in the right conditions. Remember Anderson in 2008 and Marto's many demolition jobs?

yeah.

Someone was saying that the southerly is the wind that brings swing.

In any case, I think there's enough seam movement there that Boult will be a handful. I actually wish we'd picked Bracewell in these conditions, but Anderson too could be threatening.

 

[Flem274*]

11:45am start

 

[hendrix]

Sodhi should definitely be batting above Southee, but this could be a fun few overs to watch.

 

[Bahnz]

I recall there was plenty of rain involvement in those though?

Yeah, the SA and England matches both would've been results, and the Pakistan match was only a draw because they had a 1-0 series lead, so they deliberately went slow on the final afternoon, rather than trying to chase a very gettable target.

 

[jonbrooks]

Bizarre batting by Ross Taylor

I don't understand why Taylor batted like that towards the end of the day yesterday. He could have blocked it out and been there this morning. I think another 150 or perhaps even 200 went begging.

 

[hendrix]

It did go begging and it was bizarre, especially after the composure he'd shown at a similar position in the first test. Hopefully he learns from it.

 

[Flem274*]

isky have cottoned on to us.

So dire. It's not as though I can buy sky so all they're doing is missing out on viewing figures. #entitlementcomplex.

 

[hendrix]

Big over. I'm of the opinion that these are bonus runs so this is great.

I'd like to see Watling put up a score but with 319 already on the board I don't mind giving Southee license to swing.

 

[hendrix]

God I love Watling. Look at that running.

 

[ohnoitsyou]

so predictable

 

[Flem274*]

God Southee. Such a number 10.

 

[Bahnz]

Utterly braindead.