1st Test: New Zealand v Sri Lanka at Dunedin on Dec 10-14, 2015

[ANTiLAG]

Andy Flower is the most underrated great test cricketer I can think of

He is right up there with the great test underateds. I think the underrating of Flower is due in part to perpetuate the 'Gilchrist invention' story.

Younis Khan does not get anywhere near enough adulation. The man is a freak. His second innings performances are incredible. He will bat to win or save a test in a second innings under enormous pressure. Better than Lara or Laxman at it. But he gets no love and is ranked well below Hayden and the great Australians, Sehwag, Inzi, Tendulkar, Dravid and MoYo. He still gets runs in the first innings at 55, but his personal second innings average of 53 is incredible. To break that down his 4th innings average is over 60 with 5 centuries. 49 in the third innings with 3 centuries. And in the first team innings he still puts out an average of 54.

And he has runs against everyone. Australia, South Africa, England, India, Sri Lanka new New Zealand. Last three years he has averaged 54, 67, and 61. Still never hear a murmur about him. His average for the last 11 years is over 60. Younus who? Noone in the history of test cricket has a higher 4th innings average (min qual 1000 runs) and noone has more centuries than his 5. Not Boycott. Not Gavaskar. Not Ponting. Definitely not Tendulkar. Younis who?

I find the manner in which he is underrated quite astonishing. I also think Sangakarra is a little underrated. I do not believe he is in the tier below Ponting, Tendulkar and Lara. I think he is every bit their equal, if not better when considered for his batting record sole and not as a keeper batsman.

 

[JJ]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/949661.html

Bizarre start to the tour for the Sri Lankans, outplayed by an inexperienced Presidents XI, and a drug cheat sent home...

The way most tours are constructed these days touring teams have very little time to acclimatise, if we're on our game they're in for a tough time in the tests

 

[JJ]

f**king hell Latham!!!

56/1

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

Don't know what to make of Latham. He so often gets a good start and from that POV as an opener does a good job of blunting the new ball, but he continually gets out just as he should be kicking on.

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

On the other end of that spectrum, looks like Guptil is coming up with his every so often good innings to keep himself in the "credit".

 

[JJ]

Latham's the goods imo, he's been getting out at the wrong times recently, but best opener we have by a long way

Guptill's shit, I'm afraid... bully of bad bowlers

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

I like Latham and agree he's our best opener. Needs to convert more though.

Guptil is a good ODI batsman. He has decent natural instincts and is fluent. It's like he puts his head in a different space when playing test cricket as if he thinks he has to play a certain way. It's never worked for him.

 

[JJ]

Guptil is a good ODI batsman. He has decent natural instincts and is fluent. It's like he puts his head in a different space when playing test cricket as if he thinks he has to play a certain way. It's never worked for him.

He warrants a spot in the ODI team, no question - but even there his record is bloated by performances against poor teams (and for some reason England) - he simply isn't very good against quality attacks in any form of cricket

 

[Lego_Man]

50 for KW - normal service resumed after a crap Adelaide test.

 

[JJ]

197/1 Guptill 97*, Williamson 71*

 

[JJ]

Nice shot for the 100

 

[jargan83]

Pitch has to be flat as a tack for Guptard to score a ton. Couldn't even manage it on our flat decks!

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

Needs flat decks and crap bowling in tandem.

First test century since 2011.

 

[Twizzle]

50 for KW - normal service resumed after a crap Adelaide test.

dunno, I thought it was a good test

 

[JJ]

For all the talk about the speed of McCullum, Williamson took about the same number of balls to get to 30

Cricket's a funny game, Williamson makes one mistake and is gone, Guptill makes 20 and is still there, and no doubt now will be for the next 18 mths

 

[Twizzle]

you version of Watson

 

[Lego_Man]

dunno, I thought it was a good test

For him i mean.

I thought it was a good test.

 

[vvvrulz]

Flawed as he may be, Guptill is still the best option we have.

 

[Pete Cash]

For all the talk about the speed of McCullum, Williamson took about the same number of balls to get to 30

Cricket's a funny game, Williamson makes one mistake and is gone, Guptill makes 20 and is still there, and no doubt now will be for the next 18 mths

It evens out in the end. In our game the west indies have bowled about 2 good balls all day and one was to smith that got him out. They bowled absolute tripe to marsh and he has a century.

Latham is only a kid but has concentration issues. I like him though he looks a talent

 

[JJ]

Flawed as he may be, Guptill is still the best option we have.

No he's not