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6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3195139 14-Feb-2024 15:51

thermonuclear:

I still think NZ has an opportunity to build a significant first innings lead here.

No doubt, but boy its turning. Von Berg is channelling is inner Warnie with that action out the back of the wrist.

We just need to get within 50 and we should get a lead, then next innings bowl GP.

Tired of the commentary saying we havnt gone in with a front line spinner, yet GP has the best Test and FC avg of the current 3 choices. I would like to see M Bracewell on a pitch like this too but hes in the t20s post that injury should be good.

Handle9

11391 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3195151 14-Feb-2024 16:42

Phillips bowls 5 overs an innings in first class cricket and takes 1 wicket a match. He’s not a frontline spinner.

thermonuclear

605 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3195155 14-Feb-2024 16:48

Here we go, really hoping Blundell can get some good runs in this test. Saw him score a hundred opening the batting at the Boxing Day test in 2019, he's been the man ever since. Has 4 test centuries, along with another 3 dismissals in the 90's and an 88no. Even with his lean time in the last twelve months, I think his average is still a couple of runs better than BJ Watling's.

Dochart

804 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3195206 14-Feb-2024 17:04

Another drawn series against SA most likely. I guess it’s not meant to be.

thermonuclear

605 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3195216 14-Feb-2024 17:20

On the basis of this, Cricket Australia may be wondering if they should send over their dirt trackers instead.

NZ need to try and reach parity on the first innings if they can and then reset for a one innings shoot-out. There's no shortage of batters in the NZ line-up with a point to prove second time around.

Dochart

804 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3195217 14-Feb-2024 17:22

Young was playing so well. I’m uncertain if he will be in the playing 11 for the Aus Test series.

thermonuclear

605 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3195218 14-Feb-2024 17:26

Dochart: Young was playing so well. I’m uncertain if he will be in the playing 11 for the Aus Test series.

In the context of the match, it was definitely an unnecessary brain explosion. On whether he makes the XI against Australia, I guess we will have to see how serious this injury is to Mitchell. I do wonder if it's a bit more serious than Stead, etc have been letting on.

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Dochart

804 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3195226 14-Feb-2024 18:01

That 70 run partnership that SA had after losing 6 wickets and not selecting Santner has been the real difference in this game. NZ are usually quite good at reading home pitches but recently they haven’t got the XI just right in the previous losses that we had against SA and Bangladesh at home. These losses have been due to the pitch deteriorating and becoming more spin friendly rather than pace bowler friendly and that’s unusual with NZ pitches. The last SA test that we lost at home was a used Hagley Oval pitch and the last Bang test at home was the spin friendly bay oval pitch. Both of those losses we ended up not picking an extra spinner.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3195233 14-Feb-2024 18:24

Nobody said Phillips is frontline but hes hardly the donky, he either takes wickets at an avg lower than the others or he doesnt, he does and at ~2 wickets an innings in Test so far at avg 17. Horses for courses and Southee didnt even give it a try. Not bowling him to left handers could have cost us 50+ runs, given how well Dane Peet bowled. FC he bowls more like 9 overs at avg 37, not a lot less than Rachin (3 overs an innings) and performing better, because that is what he has dedicated too after not enjoying the gloves part time. That is very handy. He is selected as the all rounder this Test, bowl him when it suits and it suited.

Glenn Phillips Profile - Cricket Player New Zealand | Stats, Records, Video (espncricinfo.com)

NZ in huge trouble, any more than 170 and I think we are in for a repeat of 2 years ago. Its a spinners paradise, given only 8 wickets were taken in 12 tests prior by spin and KJ saying the aim was for not producing an unplayable pitch, its looking quite the opposite right now.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3195710 15-Feb-2024 12:01

Lol O'rourke does a Wagner, for Wagner to catch. Van Tonder fell for the obvious ploy, but it was right on the money. With him and KJ in the team its going to be uncomfortable for other teams.

edit: Geeze O'rourk at that one on the Helmet badge, perfect bouncer which very few batsmen would have gotten over the top of the ball. You can see the work the Hadlee's and co have put into this young man. He reminds me of Pat Cummins, which I know is high praise.

NZ ideally need to keep Sa lead to under 150, 200 max, 250 and I think Sa have it outside a Williamson miracle.

That grass has now burnt off and its a belter of a batting wicket, or it looks. But will likely start turning off the surface by the time NZ bat again. Hopefully it holds up though, long enough for NZ to score the deficit or block out a couple of days. I think it will be good for batting tomorrow.

If only NZ went in to the Test with a real turner of the ball like Sa have (or bowl him at least) ;-p

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3195716 15-Feb-2024 12:21

Jeepers, spitting cobra pitch suddenly, O'rourke is our future. Now if only we can get sears to bowl with the same consistency, then perhaps Matt Fisher (another high 140s youngster)

edit: eeek now one to Bedingham, if there was a man under the lid, onside, would have been another.

thermonuclear

605 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3195718 15-Feb-2024 12:22

Great catch from Blundell, O'Rourke looks the goods from this very limited sample size.

thermonuclear

605 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3195720 15-Feb-2024 12:24

TeaLeaf:

Jeepers, spitting cobra pitch suddenly, O'rourke is our future. Now if only we can get sears to bowl with the same consistency, then perhaps Matt Fisher (another high 140s youngster)

Yeah, but they can't all play. You already know my view on who's holding up the conveyor belt in the seam dept.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3195724 15-Feb-2024 12:26

thermonuclear:

Great catch from Blundell, O'Rourke looks the goods from this very limited sample size.

Yes, never easy thick inside edge for the WK. I felt the same about O'rourke having only seen limited amounts but it was clear he had "something", the question was, can he convert " special". Only 15 FC matches from memory, so I don't blame you for those thoughts.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3195729 15-Feb-2024 12:29

thermonuclear:

Yeah, but they can't all play. You already know my view on who's holding up the conveyor belt in the seam dept.

Yep, Fisher is a long way off, and getting guys to bowl the channel consitently is not easy, if their natural instinct is to go chasing wickets.

Get somebody in close, thats 3 uncontrolled ballooned fends that would have been caught. Two of which were from Bedingham who is their best batsman and possibly the second best natural talent in either team, I hope we dont regret putting a man in close on the on side.

Edit: 6 overs in, I say just try Wagner in the rotation to bowl very similar, despite the lack of speed.

Southee is hedging his bets too much here, we HaVE to bowl them out cheap to have a chance.

Now Rachin is getting belted, I think these two have realised there is not much turn for Rachin, like most of the first innings wickets, it was batting error, thats what will get them out, no demons from Rachin.

Oh GP on.

Good to hear Rigga say "he is more than a part timer than Ravindra". But ideally you want him on with the left handers. also these two are the agressors in Sa, really need GP bowling to the next man in.

Yep, Rachin went for 12 the prior over, now GP with some looseners belted for 9. Southee no backing his pace bowlers with a ball that isnt overly old.

Uggh, Rachin now belted again. Tim, think Tim, think.

That was bizarre, it turned off a half volley, Id be chucking it up there seeing that and have some more catches on the offside.

Oh no Rachin another 4, this is getting away from NZ.

Gp belted again but Phillips with his speed in the field saves a certain four.

Im nervous because for me this is the winning/losing of the test.

and again Rachin belted to the Boundary with even GP not able to chase that one down. Would love to know GP's 50m sprint time.

GP now honing in on the perfect line/length. Thats 11 dots in a row now.

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