Dochart: Dropping Pant at 7 will cost us.

i cant get over all those huge dragonflys buzzing around 

Matt Henry is such an insta pic in this NZ squad, he is in that Hadlee/Mcgrath channel of uncertainty near every delivery.

Poor O'rourke didnt have enough wickets left for the other 5fa, but certainly similar to Henry with his line/length consistency but at pace. Not quite as many 5fas as KJ when he exploded onto the scene, but hes in the team much younger. Hes still going to have an incredible first 5 test start to his career, likely avg below 19 and I think he can keep that up with more tests on green tops at home.

Well played and bad luck Conway, I said last innings his 60 odd at ~SR90 was the kind of bat on ball he needed, 91 at SR87 is exactly how he needs it, fast and furious, could this be the start of a come back.

If NZ can put on another 120, this should be theirs, another 250 would be better, but with Mitchell and Blundells form I dont hold too much hope for that.

Either way we should get advantage day 3/4 for Phillips and Patel with the spin and hopefully Orourke/Henry blowing the frowth off the top of the beer start of the last innings.

TeaLeaf:

 

Well played and bad luck Conway, I said last innings his 60 odd at ~SR90 was the kind of bat on ball he needed, 91 at SR87 is exactly how he needs it, fast and furious, could this be the start of a come back.

 

Would have loved to see him get a 100! That was a very needed knocked for him and I'd say that will boost his confidence quite a bit. Hopefully no issues with those hands.

outdoorsnz:

 

Would have loved to see him get a 100! That was a very needed knocked for him and I'd say that will boost his confidence quite a bit. Hopefully no issues with those hands.

 

Yep, 3rd time Ive been down the out in the 90s with Conway. But, thats 150 runs in two innings. The point that is strikingly obvious to me is his shot selection. In fact thats what got him out and why hes had so many bowled or LBW from him in this slump, often playing across the line, which is a really bad choice to good line and length. If its short you can pull the ball, if its a bit leg side you can clip the ball leg side, but often he has tried that to a ball hitting middle stump half way up. With spin its definitely tougher and I expect him to struggle (all of them) in the second innings if it dries up and starts to turn.

But the other part is he is playing at his speed which is a faster SR than most, even more than Ross Taylor, and it suits him. It feels like when he goes out with a positive mind set to score and fast, he tends to middle it.

I think Rachin should play 3 and Young 4 without Kane. I guess the thinking is Young has more experience opening in Tests, but the guy has never had a cemented spot. I was hoping to see him go on for a big one with Conway, not to be, but in Ind 30 odd is a handy score. We will need one of the top 4 to stand up in the 2nd innings (depending on how much of a lead we get).

Henry 2024 has 28 wickets in 5 tests at avg 14 (wow). This test is likely to improve that with the 5fa. He has a 9 wickets haul in a match, I hope he can get a 10fa, but usually a 10fa happens when you get like 6-8 in the first innings. Still, he looked good.

What an unexpected day of test cricket all round. What the heck was Sharma thinking winning the toss and deciding to bat in those conditions as the home captain. And, Latham saying they would have batted too if he had won the toss. Just bizarre.

Fair play to Conway, I wouldn't have picked him in this side. I could be cynical and suggest perhaps the innings had one eye on his IPL paymasters and keeping in the frame there. His batting looked to be very T20 in nature. However as they say, it's not how but how many, and he's delivered for the team. If he can continue to churn out the runs like these last couple of digs, it will help the side immeasurably.

Henry and O'Rourke are quality, nothing more to be said I think. With Sears and hopefully Jamieson to add to the attack, there are NZ's four seamers for the next few seasons. Southee got his one wicket for the test, time to retire from test cricket and concentrate on the short-format stuff if he wants to continue. Though Henry, O'Rourke, Sears, and Jamieson would do me there as well.

Blundell dropping a sitter, not good. I'm coming around to your viewpoint, TeaLeaf. Time to look at other options I think. Hopefully NZ can push on and get a commanding lead, though I wouldn't discount India piling on the runs in their next bat and the weather is just as likely to have the final say in this match.

Dochart: Need a lead of 350-400 runs to win this test match. If Blackcaps have to bat a second time I don’t fair our chances of winning. It’s going to be a minefield if we have to bat again.

that would be ideal, but its turning a lot already, GP and Patel could be in for wickets, but I expect our two seamers will knock the top off.

Id be happy with 300 minimum. GP looked like he had the bowlers, ugggh. But just cant trust Blundell period. Hes ok on flat tracks in NZ. Gotta find a better batsman WK....

Too many starts from NZ batsman with two good scores, big ask from the Tail to get Rachin to 150 etc

Rachin classy way to bring up 50.

Edit: Class Century. That will get his avg back above 40. I hope he gets to high 40s, NZ had so many players up around 50 in their golden era.

That was a delightful way to spend a couple of hours on a Friday evening, Ravindra was sublime to watch.

Bhumra with the new ball after lunch might thwart the entertainment.

At some point this week I've gone to bed and woken up in a parallel universe.

One in which the Australian and English women both get turfed out of a World Cup before the final.

One in which India get rolled for next to nothing at home after choosing to bat.

One in which Tim 'Bradman' Southee can actually bat!

That innings from Ravindra was top drawer. He was already the top or second top scorer for NZ by volume of runs over the last twelve months. He sometimes seems a little inconsistent as you might expect from a player new to the side, but he has delivered several times over the last year for NZ when he's needed to.

This is a test match that will stick in the mind for a long while, regardless of the result.

Yes indeed, not just Rachin, Southee showing that if he applies himself he is better than normal tail, he could have been a 20-30avg batsman but youth and no expectation he just went for it.

Rachin made hay while Southee stuck around, we could have been all out without him reaching 50.

If Mitchell and Conway (and replace Blundell) could get their form back. Only takes 2-3 good innings.

Speaking of quality, Melie Kerr has had something to say about their new assistant coach, Craig McMillan.

White Ferns star Melie Kerr has credited new assistant coach Craig McMillan as one of the driving forces behind their form reversal at the T20 World Cup.

Speaking with SENZ's Scotty & Izzy, Kerr says McMillan - who joined the squad on a two-year deal in July - deserves massive plaudits for the rejuvenating presence he's brought to the squad both on and off the pitch.

"I absolutely love (McMillan), he's been outstanding," Kerr said.

"I think when he came into this group, it's exactly what we needed. He has this positive energy where he encourages you but he also demands excellence and he expects greatness from you."

Too bad we can't pay him the money he wants and get him back in the Black Caps set-up again as head coach.

thermonuclear:

 

Too bad we can't pay him the money he wants and get him back in the Black Caps set-up again as head coach.

 

yeh agreed. He was understated in that role. Not a fan of amelia kerrs personality, surprised to hear her say something so team focussed but yes, its a disgrace hes not mens coach. there might be more to it ie less time required, time with family etc.....

this pitch looks like gorgeous grass, nice ground all round.

Well played by Pak beating Eng in a classic lowish double innings affair.