***Official*** West Indies in New Zealand

[sirjeremy11]

I don't think he is injured, just trying to nurse himself through to maybe make a push at the World cup, but mainly prolonging his test career. Mind you, Shane Edward Bond isn't helping him much with that.

 

[Sir Redman]

Interesting. Legal, but still interesting.

Just a (genuine) question for those bowlers out there: How much does swing have to do with the ball, and how much does it have to do with the conditions? Also, how much could a ball of similar age to the lost ball differ from the lost ball when it comes to such things?

From what I've seen, conventional swing relies heavily on the conditions while reverse swing depends entirely on the ball. Today, for instance, was a completely clear day and yet Bond was still getting the ball to reverse swing.

 

[RolledOver]

Wi team seems to have mastered the art of loosing.

Congrats to Kiwis thier team deserve the victory.

As for Windies, it happen to be JUST another defeat

 

[Nate]

Great stuff by the Kiwis. Bond is simply amazing. And well done to Vettori as well.

 

[marc71178]

Totally get your point. However, if that's the case, why isn't India v England the lead story?

Because of the world records?

 

[Loony BoB]

Astle for front line bowler! In the past two years, as of today, the non-Bond/Vettori bowlers from the last test...

                 O       R      W    BBM     Avg    SR
NJ Astle         121.1   318    12   6-62    26.50  60.58
JEC Franklin     331.5   1253   41   6-159   30.56  48.56
CS Martin        492     1774   51  11-180   34.78  57.88
SB Styris        148     471    9    3-88    52.33  99.00

 

[Jono]

What a gun!

 

[sirjeremy11]

Astle for front line bowler! In the past two years, as of today, the non-Bond/Vettori bowlers from the last test...

                 O       R      W    BBM     Avg    SR
NJ Astle         121.1   318    12   6-62    26.50  60.58
JEC Franklin     331.5   1253   41   6-159   30.56  48.56
CS Martin        492     1774   51  11-180   34.78  57.88
SB Styris        148     471    9    3-88    52.33  99.00

Have to say, in the Aussie tests here last year (particularly Auckland), he was the only bowler that seemed to be troubling Ponting (who was on fire at the time). I think Astle is only rated as a "dibbly dobbly" type bowler, when under certain conditions he swings that ball like an SoB. That would also be why he has bowled the least of the three, under certain conditions (again), he would be pretty ineffective. He usually manages to keep it pretty tight in tests though.

 

[Loony BoB]

Under a lot of certain conditions, Martin and Franklin are pretty ineffective, too.

 

[sirjeremy11]

Under a lot of certain conditions, Martin and Franklin are pretty ineffective, too.

Yeah, but they still bowl in them because they are selected as "bowlers". Martin is pretty ineffective in most conditions...

 

[sirjeremy11]

Sarwan out of the series!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/other_international/west_indies/4803852.stm

Bad news for the Windies.

 

[NZTailender]

That's a big blow. And a pity because I like Sarwan

 

[Ming]

Have to say, in the Aussie tests here last year (particularly Auckland), he was the only bowler that seemed to be troubling Ponting (who was on fire at the time). I think Astle is only rated as a "dibbly dobbly" type bowler, when under certain conditions he swings that ball like an SoB. That would also be why he has bowled the least of the three, under certain conditions (again), he would be pretty ineffective. He usually manages to keep it pretty tight in tests though.

Astle needs to be used more in ODIs. He was doing a good job in the last ODI before he got taken apart abit in the last over in the death. I'll be tempted to say he's a better option as a 5th bowler than Styris at the moment, simply because he lands it consistently on a good line. If those two can make up 10 overs, and assuming a fit Oram is bowling first-change, we could have a very deep batting lineup.

 

[Dick Rockett]

From what I gather, with Astle there are injury concerns over his bowling - he's had problems with his knees in the past. It seems to be a question of how good he feels on the day.

 

[Ming]

No, it's not. If he's not fit, he wouldn't even be bowling.

 

[Dick Rockett]

Hardly. Anyone who's had a long term injury knows that some days it feels ok, some days it doesn't.

 

[Ming]

I have not heard anyway, where it has said that Astle has not been bowled more because of his knee injury.

 

[sirjeremy11]

New Zealand with an unchanged line up. Ridiculous. Martin should have been gone. Maybe Mills will play?

 

[NZTailender]

Unchanged squad. Ie, 13 man squad, so don't rule out Mills yet.

Edit: Misread what you typed, but yeah, I hope Mills plays. And somehow, I still think Franklin over Martin.

 

[Isolator]

So Vincent's still not in? Bloody ******** stuff.