And the NZ middle order continues its lack of form, with its greatest exponent of its form Blundell, next in....

As long as they can keep scoring runs and Latham gets another 30 odd, they should get 500. Bang will have to bat exceptionally well to avoid the follow on the closer NZ get to 500.

My pick is KJ and Wagner on this pitch, KJ getting a bouncer and seam off a good length and Wags getting seam banging in with the heavy ball. Expecting Southee and Boult if they have swing will take a couple of wickets in the opening 12 overs. Really depends on which variety of Kookaball they get with no clouds today.

Exceptional innings from Latham on a wicket most would struggle on. Even though its browning off, I think will be enough in it for NZ, along with signs of inconsistent bounce.

Conway now nearing an average of 70 over 9 innings, I dont see him dropping below 60 any time soon.

Dochart: 500 is looking unlikely from here.

Might be lucky we got a century and a double otherwise in strife again. Cannot expect TL and DC to do that every game, that's the problem. We often have 2 or 3 nice contributions then a run of single digit guys, it just seem that's Kiwi Cricket

I was at the game yesterday. Bangladesh bowled far too short for the pitch conditions. Looks like the length today is the proper length for the pitch.

Like said before here I would get them in as quick as possible and if needs be have a 2nd bat (which will get Taylor another innings).

NZ last 7-10 years has very much not been a team who only score the runs at the top 4 and then a few at the bottom, quite the opposite. That is part of why they have been soooo successful and why Watling is probably more of a loss than Taylor.

I think Ross last 2 tests hes just been out there for a hit, if it comes off it does, if it doesnt oh well, Im ok with that. Today definitely.

I expect our top 4 to score 70% of our runs, thats what they are there for in any team. But I also expect out 5, 6, and 7 to be able to avg 40+ in case the top 4 miss out.

Very faint edges for Nicholls and Mitchell, it happens, they can score 100 on any other day. You always need 6 batsmen who can score centuries as its the nature of cricket some of the top 4 will miss out. You then ideally want a batsman who can bowl a bit in that 5/6 ie Mithchell/GP sort, and a WK at 7 who can anchor the middle to tail should the top and middle fail and lastly a bowler who can bat a bit at 8 (KJ). 

I think NZ last 7-10 years has definitely been a team who can score deep, not just the top order. Thats why Watling is so hard to replace with a WK who avgs just above 30 at FC. NZ avg'd above 40 to #8 for nearly a decade. 

What NZC need to do now is realise that is why they have been so successful, world records down the batting order etc. How do you replace Ross and Watling. IMO they have carried Nicholls to a large extent so you could throw him in there with them imo. That is 3 players from 4-7 averaging above 40 (for a large part of their careers). Conway clearly fixes Ross, how do you fix the WK so the team can carry Nicholls, or do you replace both Nicholls and Blundell. 

Another point is, we have struggled to find another opener who can average 40+ long term to go with Latham, and Conway is IMO going to average well above Ross or even Kane in the short career he has, so in some ways we have become a better top 4, in fact possibly becoming the best top 4 in the game. But we still need 5, 6 and 7 who can all average above or around 40.

For me that is GP, Mitchell, Fletcher/Cleaver. Would also like to see KJ apply himself in this test as he is a much better batsman than of late.

Jas777:

 

I was at the game yesterday. Bangladesh bowled far too short for the pitch conditions. Looks like the length today is the proper length for the pitch.

 

Like said before here I would get them in as quick as possible and if needs be have a 2nd bat (which will get Taylor another innings).

 

Yep 100% agree both point. Was obvious they were not use to the bounce and pace, with CCH being one of the fastest/bounciest in the world. They only had 25% in the full where they needed more like 75%. 

I agree, NZ need to get out bowling on this deck while its offering something, bowl them out, hopefully below follow on and if need be top up the runs, rinse and repeat.

TeaLeaf:

 

Yep 100% agree both point. Was obvious they were not use to the bounce and pace, with CCH being one of the fastest/bounciest in the world. They only had 25% in the full where they needed more like 75%. 

I agree, NZ need to get out bowling on this deck while its offering something, bowl them out, hopefully below follow on and if need be top up the runs, rinse and repeat.

 

Not sure about being one the fastest but is one the bouncier ones.

With Mitchell I would have thought as he was always going to play in this game they would have given him an inning in the Otago v Canterbury game on the 3rd as he hasn't had a bat since last test in India. But probably a bubble thing I guess.

Jas777:

 

Not sure about being one the fastest but is one the bouncier ones.

 

With Mitchell I would have thought as he was always going to play in this game they would have given him an inning in the Otago v Canterbury game on the 3rd as he hasn't had a bat since last test in India. But probably a bubble thing I guess.

 

Dochart: I hope Blundell gets a century today.

Now commentary is stealing my word, intent (in relation to it being the difference between making a score or not).

Blundell has avgd only 12 since that century at the MCG a few years ago. Does this 50 negate that? You bet it will in the eyes of Larsen and NZC, if Nicholls can score 170 dropped 6 times and get off the naughty list, Im sure a 50 for Blunders will have him under the replacement radar along with Nicholls. Both have played plenty ebough to make observations around their games and whether that is considered good enough consistency or not for NZ.

Good positive declaration from Tom, his best captaincy move in his matches as captain. Bang on when I said yesterday, 500-550, 1 hour before tea. Very good batting from NZ to get into that position quickly.

Dochart: The intent was good from Blundell today. I hope to see more contributions of his lower order batting in the future. Who knows maybe today was a one off but I wouldn’t be worried for Blundell yet.

Nicholls on the other hand as had too many chances to perform. I would like to see him replaced by either GP, Cleaver or Chapman. We need a number 5 to perform consistently at home but also away. GP or Chapman could be a good option at No 5 as they have experience playing outside NZ.

Chapman is not test level. Cleaver would need to be wicketkeeper as not good enough as batsman only.

If Nicholls had a sustained period in domestic cricket he will put up the same numbers as those who are being called to replace him. Seen it before so many times

Boults speed is up, he always looks his best when nearing 140, he also looks similar to Latham, angry/determined.

Id say after NZ letting Bangers get off the hook with the 3 wickets they should have claimed/taken/not over stepped, which ultimately cost them the match in the 1st test after the bangers made them pay for it, NZ is out to prove a point by smashing them off the park.

Southee, he has such beautiful seam presentation. 

Leave some for KJ and Wags boys, nah, let them bowl the 2nd innings out.