2nd Test: New Zealand v West Indies at Wellington, Dec 11-15, 2013

[JJ]

Boult is destroying the West Indies, do we have a genuine spearhead?
Time for him to start playing other formats too.

Not a spearhead in Bond kind of way... but certainly he's the best bowler we have, and I think a quality test bowler who will only get better - with Southee a very useful opening attack - the third pace bowler is the issue.

I am more than happy with him just playing tests tbh...

 

[JJ]

193 all out.. do we make them follow on? Have we ever made a team follow on twice in a row before, perhaps Sri Lanka when they started?

 

[JJ]

hmmm. making them follow on... interesting...

 

[vvvrulz]

Not a spearhead in Bond kind of way... but certainly he's the best bowler we have, and I think a quality test bowler who will only get better - with Southee a very useful opening attack - the third pace bowler is the issue.

I am more than happy with him just playing tests tbh...

He's not at the Bond level yet, but he bowls with genuine pace and swing. I don't see why he can't develop into the long term leader of our attack.

Having 'test match specialists' doesn't really do it for me either, a quality bowler can handle all formats and we don't have the luxury of depth. Mills is pretty much finished so I want to start seeing Southee and Boult lead our ODI attack.

Couldn't care less about T20.

 

[vvvrulz]

hmmm. making them follow on... interesting...

I like it, the West Indies didn't even get to 50 overs and the bowlers are fresh this morning.
Might as well get in there and have a second crack, not really in danger of losing with a lead of 245.

 

[JJ]

He's not at the Bond level yet, but he bowls with genuine pace and swing. I don't see why he can't develop into the long term leader of our attack.

Having 'test match specialists' doesn't really do it for me either, a quality bowler can handle all formats and we don't have the luxury of depth. Mills is pretty much finished so I want to start seeing Southee and Boult lead our ODI attack.

Couldn't care less about T20.

Just wary of injury - he started with a few

 

[vvvrulz]

Just wary of injury - he started with a few

Yeah that's a pretty valid point given our lost history of fast bowlers breaking down.
This is a chance for Wagner to prove himself as our third seamer, if he fails here that should probably be it for him.

 

[hineyrulz]

Boult is all class, throw in Southee and NZ have two promising quicks. Just need someone to back them up.

 

[shiznit]

Boult is all class, throw in Southee and NZ have two promising quicks. Just need someone to back them up.

I'm hoping in Sodhi we get a quality leg spinner to complement them.

 

[JJ]

I'm hoping in Sodhi we get a quality leg spinner to complement them.

Yeah, I am not sure if I am glass half full, or glass half empty...

We have half a bowling attack (Boult and Southee) and half a batting lineup (Williamson, Taylor and Watling).. Add Ryder to the batting and we inch closer...

But serious reservations about openers, #s 5 and 6, third pace bowler, and spinner... certainly Sodhi and Anderson shoing promise, but tther caveat is who they're showing it against

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

I like the look of both Sodhi as a bowler who can bat and Anderson as a batsman who can bowl, BUT, they're both very young and we've had too many players in the past who started their careers with a bang and then died in the arse for various reasons (Vincent, Marshall, Sinclair, Guptill as a test player at least etc.) to be anything but cautiously optimistic.

Biggest fear is that both players have been thrown in too early and when they come up against a strong side they may struggle/take a confidence hit.

 

[Twizzle]

how is Ryder recovering ?

 

[JJ]

how is Ryder recovering ?

He's playing, and playing well - 80 odd today I think

 

[vvvrulz]

Yeah, I am not sure if I am glass half full, or glass half empty...

We have half a bowling attack (Boult and Southee) and half a batting lineup (Williamson, Taylor and Watling).. Add Ryder to the batting and we inch closer...

But serious reservations about openers, #s 5 and 6, third pace bowler, and spinner... certainly Sodhi and Anderson shoing promise, but tther caveat is who they're showing it against

I think we're a bit better than that.
At full strength, our gaps are as follows:

<openers>
Williamson
Taylor
Ryder
McCullum
Watling
Southee
Boult
<third seamer>
<token spinner>

7 out of 11 places are pretty much solidified, that's a good enough nucleus to threaten most teams in the world. We at least have numerous candidates for the remaining spots.

I have no issue with McCullum being hit and miss if he is batting at 6 or 7, but he can't be relied on to do the bulk of the scoring.

 

[vvvrulz]

we've had too many players in the past who started their careers with a bang and then died in the arse for various reasons (Vincent, Marshall, Sinclair, Guptill as a test player at least etc.) .

Other than Guptill those three got shafted by the selectors especially Sinclair. A few bad games and they're dropped, then chucked back into it expecting miracles, dropped again. All of them needed an extended run at the top in their preferred batting position.

Guptill had this and failed, so they moved on and that's fine.

 

[JJ]

3 down.... I am not watching at the momemg though, is Boult ok, seems to not be bowling?

 

[vvvrulz]

Wagner is bowling beautifully apparently but with no reward.

 

[vvvrulz]

Boult gets 10, West Indies lose by an innings.
My god they are disgraceful.

 

[JJ]

Boult gets 10, West Indies lose by an innings.
My god they are disgraceful.

don't give a shit on the latter... we've played some pretty good cricket - and Boult and Taylor are showing that they can (as they should against this lot) dominate...

Excellent for Boult, I've been saying for years that he's the goods... there seemed to be this fetish (still is) to get Wagner in the team, and I assumed that would mean only 1 left armer... pretty clear now that if there's only 1 left armer playing, it's Boult

 

[vvvrulz]

don't give a shit on the latter... we've played some pretty good cricket - and Boult and Taylor are showing that they can (as they should against this lot) dominate...

Excellent for Boult, I've been saying for years that he's the goods... there seemed to be this fetish (still is) to get Wagner in the team, and I assumed that would mean only 1 left armer... pretty clear now that if there's only 1 left armer playing, it's Boult

Based on his second innings spell Wagner still hasn't lost his place in the side for mine, especially when his likely replacement (Bracewell) is flakier than him.

We played some good cricket but the West Indies are atrocious, can't afford to get carried away.