2 Test series- NZ v Pakistan

[Meth]

Fresh from being slaughtered by India, it doesn't get any easier for us this Summer with series against Pakistan, Australia and South Africa in front of us and we seem to be in all sorts of trouble again.

Guptill- for the love of God, can we move on from him as a Test match opener at least? Averaging under 20 in his last 9 innings and that only looks as good as it does on account of a 72 on a road. Latham is established now. Let's move on. Not entirely sure who might get the gig, but I think I'd prefer to see one of the Otago openers out there with Latham at this stage.

Taylor- was awful in this series and, aside from brutalising Zimbabwe, has been for some time.

Who is batting 5, going forward? I''m happy enough with Neesham or Santner at 6, as long as we have a decent bat at 5 and I'm not sure that it's Rochi. What are our options? If we must have Guptill, maybe having him at 5 would be better?

 

[JJ]

Nah, Guptill's got to be gone - time to give a kid a go at #5, whether it's Smith, Nicholls, Young, Popli dunno. You're right on Taylor, a road against Australia and Zimbabwe (who even Guptill got runs against) have masked the fact that he's just looked gone

Suspect Rutherford will be back as opener - Hay's in the runs but that might be a step back - Raval seemed to be the next cab, but I am unconvinced, I think Ben Smith is the longer-term option

Guess for opener it comes down to Guptill, Rutherford, Raval - or longer shots Smith (my choice, just a question of when given he's young) , Hay or Brownlie if they're not looking forward (given they keep picking Guptill I guess they aren't)

#5 has to be from Nicholls, Young or Smith I guess, with Popli as the outsider - I like Neesham at 6, Santner at 8... Anderson just hasn't shown test batting yet

Just my feelings, no data to support - just casual observations

 

[Meth]

Yeah, I feel like its one of those situations where until we actually get rid of Guptill (at least) and maybe Taylor, we just won't offer someone the spot that they need to develop into the player that we need them to be.

Taylor will go down as one of the most frustrating batsmen- full of talent, so many innings of streaky runs ending in rash shots. Reading McCullum's autobiography, he is scathing of his leadership ability and communication in particular.

I'm not an Anderson fan- certainly not in Tests. I'm waiting to see something from Nicholls. Decent innings in South Africa, but unconvincing at the moment.

 

[Meth]

Day 1 of 1st Test likely to be a wash out

 

[Twizzle]

bummer

 

[Hutty1986]

Interesting series this one I reckon. If Pakistan roll NZ here, they will come to straya full of beans and primed to flog us 3-zippo. Even if they don't, they'll come to straya full of beans primed to roll us 3-zippo.

 

[Meth]

In some ways, there are parallels between NZ and Australia at the moment. That's frustrating because we're due to play soon and Australia look vulnerable, but we don't look like we're up to talking advantage.

We're having trouble with our openers.
Our batting revolves around one player.
Middle order weak
Our bowling revolves around 2 bowlers.

Similar problems.

 

[JJ]

Yeah there was a story in the paper asking which batsman in under the most pressure to get runs. It's Williamson because he seems to be the only one who can!

Time for Boult and Southee to perform or we're stuffed

De Grondholmme WTF???

 

[Twizzle]

In some ways, there are parallels between NZ and Australia at the moment. That's frustrating because we're due to play soon and Australia look vulnerable, but we don't look like we're up to talking advantage.

We're having trouble with our openers.
Our batting revolves around one player.
Middle order weak
Our bowling revolves around 2 bowlers.

Similar problems.

yep, sounds like us all right

 

[JJ]

yep, sounds like us all right

it does, except it's unusual for you, par for the course for us - we always have good talent at 6-9 in the order, and one class act in the top 4... just the way it tends to be

 

[Iafeta]

Safely negotiated day one...

 

[Iafeta]

Yeah there was a story in the paper asking which batsman in under the most pressure to get runs. It's Williamson because he seems to be the only one who can!

Time for Boult and Southee to perform or we're stuffed

De Grondholmme WTF???

I'd like to see De Grandhomme get more of a go in ODIs. He had a decent innings v Seth Efrika and their lollies.

Listening to Radio Sport, they think he will play ahead of Neesham due to his bowling. I see that as being similar to Mennie playing due to his batting. He's a bits and pieces medium pace trundler at best.

 

[Meth]

Yeah, both NZ and Australia seem to have a penchant for quasi-allrounders

 

[AlwaysGreen]

2/53. Ball doing a bit but not too much.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

An Australian like collapse from Pakistan. 4/56.

Colin de la van der grand der holmme with 3/16.

 

[Meth]

De Grondholmme WTF???

An inspired selection.

 

[hineyrulz]

The Gabba day night Test against the Paki's could last about 100 overs.

 

[Iafeta]

Not having a warm up match has hurt them. Good lengths though from Colin de Hadlee.

 

[JJ]

An inspired selection.

So it seems - 114/6 and he has 4 WTF

 

[JJ]

Lovely ball from Boult. too good for Aimer - 114/7