3rd Test: Pakistan v New Zealand at Abu Dhabi Dec 3-7 2018

[Bazal]

Former NSW eleventh string spinner Will Somerville gets his maiden test wicket, much to the apparent disgust of Mickey Arthur in the stands.

 

[Bazal]

Former NSW fifteenth string spinner Somerville cleans up with 4/75 on debut. Inspired selection!

 

[JJ]

Again we somehow keep ourselves in it, really goood IMO

Ajaz and Somerville are not players that were on the test radar

 

[Meth]

Williamson, Taylor, Nicholls and Waitling are key to securing a draw here.

 

[edabomb]

Williamson, Taylor, Nicholls and Waitling are key to securing a draw here.

I don't think the draw is in the game here. Our batsmen haven't showed any ability to bat that amount of time this series, and we have a ridiculously long tail. Our best hope is to set them 200-250 to win and bowl them out.

 

[Meth]

I don't think the draw is in the game here. Our batsmen haven't showed any ability to bat that amount of time this series, and we have a ridiculously long tail. Our best hope is to set them 200-250 to win and bowl them out.

Yeah, I hear you. I guess I'm setting my hopes on us batting all day today (lol), accumulating some runs through Taylor and Williamson and then having Waitling play some patient cricket to crank up the time pressure on Pakistan. Don't get me wrong- I'd love a win- I just can't quite see it happening.

 

[edabomb]

Yeah, I hear you. I guess I'm setting my hopes on us batting all day today (lol), accumulating some runs through Taylor and Williamson and then having Waitling play some patient cricket to crank up the time pressure on Pakistan. Don't get me wrong- I'd love a win- I just can't quite see it happening.

Yeah I think we'll struggle to run through them for under 200 this time around as their middle order has hit form, so would prefer us batting into a position to draw rather than that scenario.

The more optimistic view is that our batsmen are due. Unfortunately the two back in the shed were the most due of any of them

 

[JJ]

Williamson, Taylor, Nicholls and Waitling are key to securing a draw here.

think they're key to a win... decent lead and Pakistan could crumble... been a really good series... time for Williamson and Taylor to stand up

Edit: to be clear, I don't expect us to win, very unlikely

 

[JJ]

Former NSW fifteenth string spinner Somerville cleans up with 4/75 on debut. Inspired selection!

In our defence there were literally no fit spinners left in NZ... can you make the same argument for vice-captains?

 

[Timbo]

A mate of mine played schoolboy First XI cricket against Somerville in the early 2000’s. I’ve gotten ten texts this morning about the ton he scored by hitting him onto the roof of the pavilion.

Well, he’s in Abu Dhabi playing test cricket and my mate’s in his office staring at a spreadsheet so who’s the real winner here?

My mate is. Because he didn’t cop out and play for New Zealand.

 

[Twizzle]

I've played against quiet a few fist class cricketers over the years and was surprised at the very little difference in class. Still got wickets and made runs, pace being the main difference with the bowlers but a lot depended on the pitch. If its a flat pitch I found the quicker bowlers easier to score off.

The biggest difference that I noticed was the sledging, we always had a bit to say but much of it no more than banter, but at their level its very aggressive and personal and certainly took it very personal losing their wicket to a bush cricketer.

Never lived in a city and certainly never had the urge to want to play a higher level of cricket like grade cricket. Cricket is a good pastime for me but that's all it is as long as it didn't interfere my surfing.

 

[JJ]

A mate of mine played schoolboy First XI cricket against Somerville in the early 2000’s. I’ve gotten ten texts this morning about the ton he scored by hitting him onto the roof of the pavilion.

Well, he’s in Abu Dhabi playing test cricket and my mate’s in his office staring at a spreadsheet so who’s the real winner here?

My mate is. Because he didn’t cop out and play for New Zealand.

LOL - ouch, at least Somerville can claim to be a Kiwi though - he's no Nathan Fien, or dare I say it Clarrie Grimmett

 

[Meth]

A mate of mine played schoolboy First XI cricket against Somerville in the early 2000’s. I’ve gotten ten texts this morning about the ton he scored by hitting him onto the roof of the pavilion.

Well, he’s in Abu Dhabi playing test cricket and my mate’s in his office staring at a spreadsheet so who’s the real winner here?

My mate is. Because he didn’t cop out and play for New Zealand.

nah, I don't think your mate is the winner in this. He know's Somerville's name- I doubt Sommerville knows his. Wish him all the best of luck with the spreadsheet

 

[JJ]

Sommerville is no twizzle either lol

 

[Bazal]

In our defence there were literally no fit spinners left in NZ... can you make the same argument for vice-captains?

Mate I love former NSW nineteenth strong spinner Will Somerville. He's come out and bowled better than the genuine options people talked about like Sodhi. What an underdog story!

The man deserves a movie.

 

[JJ]

Mate I love former NSW nineteenth strong spinner Will Somerville. He's come out and bowled better than the genuine options people talked about like Sodhi. What an underdog story!

The man deserves a movie.

twizzle bowls better than Sodhi

 

[Bazal]

I've played against quiet a few fist class cricketers over the years and was surprised at the very little difference in class. Still got wickets and made runs, pace being the main difference with the bowlers but a lot depended on the pitch. If its a flat pitch I found the quicker bowlers easier to score off.

The biggest difference that I noticed was the sledging, we always had a bit to say but much of it no more than banter, but at their level its very aggressive and personal and certainly took it very personal losing their wicket to a bush cricketer.

Never lived in a city and certainly never had the urge to want to play a higher level of cricket like grade cricket. Cricket is a good pastime for me but that's all it is as long as it didn't interfere my surfing.

They obviously weren't very good first class cricketers... I've played against lowly futures league players and the step up to their level is massive.

My finest achievement in the game (in my opinion) is a half century against two Comets bowlers, not even their genuine quicks, because even those guys were so far above the rest of the blokes in the top few grades.

I could hardly even see the ball when I faced Nick Winter, and I have no idea how you're supposed to get Jono Dean out apart from hoping he f**ks up. And these guys aren't even gun players.

 

[Timbo]

A guy I played club cricket with and who was an excellent park cricket batsman got to face Ellyse Perry as part of a promo once. Reckoned he could barely get the bat on the ball.

 

[Twizzle]

They obviously weren't very good first class cricketers

so you know them ?

 

[Bazal]

so you know them ?

I know plenty of not very good cricketers, so it's possible