1st Test: New Zealand v India at Auckland Feb 6-10, 2014

[JoeD]

Anyone know if ticket prices reduced for last session of the day?

 

[Meth]

Taylor gone. Sharma's picked up two wickets. India well and truly on top at 30/3

 

[edabomb]

It's a shame, because I do like Fulton's approach to opening the batting. And you can see a lot of potential for the Fulton/Rutherford pairing. The problem is that they keep on failing.

Yea - I also would have liked for Fulton to return and average 35 at a strike rate of 40ish for a couple years. His technique is just nowhere near tight enough. Neither of them are looking solid before failing - it is just a matter of time.

In years gone by it may have been fine to run with them - but now we have Ryder sitting on the sideline and a couple of other promising prospects.

 

[Meth]

Kane Williamson is a joy to watch

 

[Meth]

55/3 at lunch. India's session. Williamson has got a start at least.

 

[hineyrulz]

What's the pitch like boys a bit in it or have NZ just batted poorly???

 

[Rod]

The pitch definitely has something in it for the bowlers. Not a minefield by any means but India used it well enough. Rutherford and Fulton never looked comfortable as others have said. Rutherford should be perservered with for now but I'd be looking to move on from Fulton fairly soon. Taylor tried to drive a good length ball, bit of a poor shot but hard to be too critical of him.

Williamson continues to look class. Hopefully McCullum hangs around and scores some runs too.

 

[Meth]

Nice little partnership developing here

 

[Meth]

This is great watch, and McCullum's hyper-aggressiveness paid off in the ODI series for sure, but it makes me so nervous that he's going to get out playing a rash shot.

 

[Meth]

Top 50 from Williamson. Hopefully McCullum's is not far away

 

[Meth]

SHOT from Williamson to bring up the 100 partnership

 

[Meth]

There used to be a lot of talk about whether Williamson or Steve Smith was a better prospect. I think, quite obviously, Williamson has settled that one.

50 for McCullum

 

[jargan83]

Good partnership for NZ

3/173

 

[Pete Cash]

There used to be a lot of talk about whether Williamson or Steve Smith was a better prospect. I think, quite obviously, Williamson has settled that one.

50 for McCullum

Yeah Williamson with an average of like 18, 20 and 10 batting in Australia, England and south Africa respectively. So he can't play pace, bounce or swing.

You new Zealanders.

 

[Rod]

Williamson is class. But he still only averages about 36. He has the talent and I'm sure he'll eventually average 10+ more than that but he has a long way to go.

The main thing is he's improving and maturing at a rapid rate.

 

[Pete Cash]

They actually have pretty similar records. It is just cute when the kiwis start to pump up a player. Williamsons record in countries with a bit or bounce or swing or pace is not very good. The only countries he averages 40 plus against are Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Hardly fast bowling powers.

 

[Twizzle]

I tend to agree, he's made a 50 against the Indians at home

Smiffy made 2 tons in the ashes, not much of a comparison there

needs some time to make a fairer comparison

 

[Meth]

Yeah Williamson with an average of like 18, 20 and 10 batting in Australia, England and south Africa respectively. So he can't play pace, bounce or swing.

You new Zealanders.

Cute.

Had a lean tour to Australia in 2011. Only played 2 Tests. Didn't do well in South Africa in 2013, but nobody did. Has scored centuries v South Africa in Wellington and India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh over there.

Picked up his game recently, with plenty of cricket still ahead of him. His average is on the way up. Stats are better than Smith's.

It's hard to get a gauge on Smith considering he's pretty much only played against England.

 

[Pete Cash]

His average is better than Smiths by like ~1. Smiths average is also a little deflated from his first stint in the side (under Clarkes captaincy he averages a touch over 40 for example) so Smiths average is on the increase as well.

Smith is no superstar either but lets see Williamson do it in one of those three countries I mentioned before handing him the keys to the kingdom.

 

[Twizzle]

his rise to fame was in the sub continent where most people fall from grace, cemented his spot in the Aussie team over there

doesn't have a good technique Smiffy but the kid has some starch