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

[hendrix]

Work makes watching cricket very difficult, although the internet and Jeremy Coney are god-sends. Brilliant start to the series for New Zealand though. Any predictions on what the pitch might do? It turned into an absolute road against England, from memory getting more and more road-like as the test wore on. Is there a risk of the same thing happening here? And is this test doomed to a draw, which can be prevented only by one side falling apart completely?

It will turn into a road, and won't break up much. But it would still be some ask for a draw to be played out, IMO.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Work makes watching cricket very difficult, although the internet and Jeremy Coney are god-sends. Brilliant start to the series for New Zealand though. Any predictions on what the pitch might do? It turned into an absolute road against England, from memory getting more and more road-like as the test wore on. Is there a risk of the same thing happening here? And is this test doomed to a draw, which can be prevented only by one side falling apart completely?

This west indies pace attack was very seam and bounce dependent, none of them are known for doing much through the air except Sammy, who is clearly badly out of form with his bowling. Southee and Boult should be able to nip a few out early at least.

 

[hendrix]

it's an absolutely glorious day in Dunedin. Perfect batting conditions really.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

it's an absolutely glorious day in Dunedin. Perfect batting conditions really.

effing horrible day in Hamilton. Perfect definitely-legal-cricket-stream watching conditions.

 

[Flem274*]

When is it not a terrible day in Hamilton?

 

[Meridio]

Well that was unexpected. Looks like there's just a little bit in the pitch this morning.

 

[Flem274*]

Damn, through the wide open gate.

Reckon Sammy was patiently explaining to his other bowlers to pitch it up in the shot after that wicket?

 

[centurymaker]

Sammy's picked up another wicket and hence has secured his position for the next series as well :P

 

[hendrix]

Dunno if Anderson will do much from here but there's still Watling and Sodhi coming

 

[wellAlbidarned]

For all the criticism of sammy's pace he's still done a ****load more than the rest of the attack

 

[wellAlbidarned]

When is it not a terrible day in Hamilton?

 

[Flem274*]

Depends if they can keep it up consistently enough to trigger Anderson's compulsive driving. If they drop short and allow him safely to pull, hook, swat, punch and cut Anderson will score runs. Shillingford bowling a lot of overs will be more beneficial to Anderson than full fast bowling too.

 

[Flem274*]

dusntworkbro

 

[Beamer]

Well that was unexpected. Looks like there's just a little bit in the pitch this morning.

Pfft. Love how much some New Zealanders are making of that. The new ball has deviated slightly. That McCullum dismissal nipped back a tiny bit, but not much. It will be the same deal for us. Your bowlers will get much more swing, but get through the new ball and this is an absolute road, glorious for shot-making.

Not saying it will be a cakewalk for our batsmen, but this pitch really doesn't have much in it.

 

[Flem274*]

I think we should wait until both sides have done some batting before judging the pitch, but I suspect there is more there than the West Indies found. It doesn't matter how much of a lawn the pitch is if you're bowling 12 different lengths and both sides of the wicket with a scrambled seam. This pitch is much gentler than was made out prior to the start of the game, but there was a bit to use in the first session yesterday and the West Indies wasted it. Putting the high score down to the pitch being a road is making excuses for a poor bowling effort.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

dusntworkbro

SUCCESS z

 

[hendrix]

Pfft. Love how much some New Zealanders are making of that. The new ball has deviated slightly. That McCullum dismissal nipped back a tiny bit, but not much. It will be the same deal for us. Your bowlers will get much more swing, but get through the new ball and this is an absolute road, glorious for shot-making.

Not saying it will be a cakewalk for our batsmen, but this pitch really doesn't have much in it.

Nah we all know it's a road, it's just that they haven't really bowled in the right areas until this morning to find anything.

 

[Beamer]

I think we should wait until both sides have done some batting before judging the pitch, but I suspect there is more there than the West Indies found. It doesn't matter how much of a lawn the pitch is if you're bowling 12 different lengths and both sides of the wicket with a scrambled seam. This pitch is much gentler than was made out prior to the start of the game, but there was a bit to use in the first session yesterday and the West Indies wasted it. Putting the high score down to the pitch being a road is making excuses for a poor bowling effort.

At no point have I tried to claim that the bowling was anything other than poor and also poorly selected. I'm just pointing out that the batsmen have been hitting good length balls for four as well, effortlessly hitting though the line. This is something that some seem to have missed....

 

[hendrix]

At no point have I tried to claim that the bowling was anything other than poor and also poorly selected. I'm just pointing out that the batsmen have been hitting good length balls for four as well, effortlessly hitting though the line. This is something that some seem to have missed....

I agree with this. Rutherford in particular won't be able to do this on more competitive wickets. I still think it's a 350 par wicket given how poor the top order batting from both these teams is

 

[wellAlbidarned]

At no point have I tried to claim that the bowling was anything other than poor and also poorly selected. I'm just pointing out that the batsmen have been hitting good length balls for four as well, effortlessly hitting though the line. This is something that some seem to have missed....

Gabriel and Best both have awful seam presentation though, and Sammy is slow enough to adjust. So it's not really surprising that that's been happening. The vast majority has still been smacking crappy deliveries though, haven't seen that much wogging through the line.