Pakisean levelled the seris with a 141 run win over NZ. NZ scored 263, Taylor 97. Asif 23.5-9-67-5. The Pak. bowlers outstanding again, but once again a poor batting display. The two teams are very even, and Yousof and Taylor are still the key to holding their batting line ups together.
NZ must make changes. I would like to see How, Watling, Guptill, Taylor, Broom. But will they go this far?? And bring in Southee and Patel.
I still question Vettori’s attacking captiancy skills. Why not bat, winning the toss. Give the batsman a chance to start. And his continued negative field placings. Even he is bowling to flat..give the ball more air!!!!
India are back at no1 where they belong!!!! But now are away for the next two years, its crazy!!!!They won by a innings and 24 runs.SL making 309. Sangakkara 137, Khan 21-5-72-5.
Still will India remain no1 with so many away tests??
WI at last some hope!!!!Aust. made 439, Benn bowling oustanding 53-8-155-5.WI 0/23. If they can get 300 + today, and who knows. But a draw is most likely. It was good to head a very good Aust. batting line up.c
Just another Blogtown NZ weblog
Basin Reserve Test thoughts
So, guess what, we lost! Big surprise that. It’s rather depressing to think that whenever we’re in a situation like we were. Bowl first and do it reasonably well, setting the game up then oh no now we have to bat. Oh gees, what’s going to happen now. Well, Asif and co happened to come across McIntosh\, Guptill and co and mayhem ensures. Game over. Two days of formailities and over before tea on day 4. Oh well it least it saved me the cost of a day 5 ticket I suppose. In fact today was rather nice, doing nothing, enjoying the johnsonville sunshine, the washing etc.
We haven’t made big changes because that’s stupid going into a must win game. The deck is good at Napier and I believe our top order deserve one last chance. I really like Vettori’s words on this. He has made it clear he is boss, the batting is unacceptable, there are others out there (whether the right ones is debatable).
Watling for Fulton. Fulton looked the most out of sorts, but still deserved 1 last chance in my book. Watling I have never actually seen (i dont think). Is he is form? Do the fans of him including obviously Vettori realise his hundred against Auckland was made in an ugly contrived non-game caused becuase: a) the auckland weather and b) auckland were last desperate for the chance of 6 pts.
Now, I’m going to eat my humble pie, change my mind and say, wait for it…. Mathew Sinclair should have been picked. Fulton has been hopeless and I don’t know about Watling. Still it would seem Guptill will go down to 3 and that may be good for him.
I agree about Vettori’s captaincy. Yes he can be negative but when we fail like we did in this test sometimes it can be tough being aggressive.
Not sure about the teams been very even. They were when we had Bond. Now without Bond, they have a better bowling attack and despite there own batting issues they are still better then us there too. Ok their fielding is crap but not as important. The local conditions have evened the teams as well remember, Overall it would seem Pakistan are the better side and we will need to play very well to beat them sans Bond. That we didn’t come close do doing in the 2nd test.
Ok I’m still not done. What a good test match, Aust v WI. Chris Gayle has answered his critics the best way…with a bat! A great hundred and they are a chance. A draw is most likely and weather may play a role I hear but still respect has been earnt back and that is possibly the most important thing to get out of the game.
Now I’m done. Happy reading.
Wow great comment!!!! Oh I wish I could answer in full!!! But hopefully they can do something on the 17th.
Sorry I think its gutless not to drop McIntosh and Flynn. Vettori said changes will be made. One is not changes!!!! He was out voted, and they have taken the easy option. But saying that Guptil is a 3, and Flynn a 5, so we hope it works.
Watling is the “goods”. He WILL score runs. And he’s from South Africa!!!!
I don’t agree, I think the two teams are very even in the overall picture. Bond just gave us the edge.
Gayle was awesome. He’s so good when he wants to be??!!!!