Dochart: Comeback. When your 45/5 most teams would have lost but now 33 runs from 22 balls is doable.

After the first test and the LBW plum not given then then the controversial LBW NB, and now 2 LBWs in 2 balls clearly missing given out, our home umpires have had some howlers. I agree with Mills, hitting top of the pad when player is up off his heels should always be missing.

Dang losing the toss again with showers day 4 and 5, I think NZ could have finished this Test within 3-4 days if they had won the toss.

Edit: NZ finally showing intent, to score. Cant wait to get out, and they arent, brilliant opening batsmanship, letting the bad balls go and pouncing on the bad ones. Highest opening partnership prior was only 37 here.

With Ind losing that test (as Favs) in SA, that might leave a gap still for NZ. Drawn one, lost 2, need to win this one definitely to have a chance.

Im surprised we only had 3 tests vs Bangers this year, I know we have Holland and SA (which will also count to the WTC). But thought we had more room for a decisive (if we win this match), 3rd test. I guess history has just shown it not to be necessary.

I know they have changed the WTC to make it fairer for smaller nations like NZ that do not play anywhere close to that of Ind and Eng and even Aus, but do all these wins to Aus at home vs Eng count? I trying to figure out what the change that was made exactly is.....

Bangers not looking quite as chirpy when they were going up for a wicket when it was just being left by the batsman through the keeper haha. 

If NZ get 200-0 here, they could still win within 3.5 days. 

Latham standing up, must have felt the weight of captain losing to Bangers in NZ and his record as captain. Hes taking his chances and scoring, just like bangers did first test, but NZ are doing it again on the green top not the concrete pitch day 2 of bay oval. I dont expect this pitch to turn that brown until late day 3, so should still be some in the pitch for NZ when they bowl, but if they score 500 it wont matter. 1st innings avg is around 250 from memory on this one, so 500 would be insanely good. Nicholls and Mitchell home ground, Nicholls goes pretty good here oddly.

If we threw Fletcher into keeper to replace Blundell in this squad Id be happy, I said Mitchell would be played. But I hope we go GP next time there is a need for a few overs of spin, he is a far better middle order batsman who can bowl better spin imo than Rachin. 

If NZ top order take the eye off Blundell (carry him), I think thats a bad thing for the squad development as we have two better batsman keepers scoring runs in all 3 formats.

Funny when Baz asked Macca "then why wasnt Mitchell picked over Rachin in test one then?" Macca "well Im not the selector am I" rofl.

Clearly looks a much stronger side with Mitchell avg above 50, admittedly early on, but test cricket is his caper imo, more so than t20.

Edit: Wow Will Young has been feeding Latham who is going at SR85 and nearly 100 already, out of nowhere Will smacks one down the ground for 4 to bring up his 50. This is where Will can cement himself as the ONLY opener for NZ with a Century. His AVG is ok and already plenty 50s, he needs a big one. So when Latham gets out, he then needs to become the aggressor and have Conway play a similar role as he does with Finn Allen and feed Young the strike. If NZ keeps playing cricket as partnerships, they can still beat any team in the world. Thats what they have lost.

NZ were far too complacent expecting to take the wickets and frustrated by the absurd level of bad luck, today they are making it happen, where Bangers seem to have not handled the attack being taken to them on a green pitch that you would expect 2-3 wickets in session 1. Now they are starting to look dejected, if that continues, by the time Conway gets in, it could be all over. Fantastic batting intent from NZ on a GREEN pitch.

If NZ keep at this rate thats 320 for the day, should be 500 1 hour after lunch. That would be enough for me, Id be putting bangers in given the chance of showers day 4 and 5, 125 overs to bowl Bangers out on what should still be offering NZ some seam, should be plenty within 3 days imo. But likely if they get to 500 they will declare around 550, but they may escalate run rate if they are 450/4 etc. Bangers need wickets and fast or NZ are setting up a win on a pitch they should be on the back foot.

Edit: And there it is haha. Young goes. Dang, A wide gets him out, how often it happens. Another 50, that 100 is coming, he shows such dominance in defense with technique 2nd to only Kane with super soft hands seeing edges always drop short and then when the ball is there to be hit, he can fang one like a tracer bullet. Far too good not to be scoring centuries. Love our opening combo, both have been the only consistency since India (outside Latham in the first bang test) 

11inns 5x50s for Young, brilliant, and to score one on a green top even more impressive. Good mixture of defense and offense.

Dochart: It’s nice to see NZ openers performing consistently so far. Latham and Young are probably our best openers that NZ ever had.

Dochart: I think Young got out a couple of times in the 70’s and 80’s which is still good. So far Young has scored 3 50’s in this series so definitely a more consistent batsman than Nicholls.

I can’t wait for GP, Chapman or Cleaver to replace Nicholls and Blundell in the squad.

TeaLeaf:

Dochart: I think Young got out a couple of times in the 70’s and 80’s which is still good. So far Young has scored 3 50’s in this series so definitely a more consistent batsman than Nicholls.

I can’t wait for GP, Chapman or Cleaver to replace Nicholls and Blundell in the squad.

Nicholls will be hard to remove from the selectors eyes as he has good technique, and it seems no matter how streaky his scores it saves him from dropping. 

I think you want a wicket keeper always in modern test cricket who can score runs and fast runs, its often the difference in winning and losing, Golcrhist really was the one who made that point obvious winning many tests on the last day with Aus 6 or 7 down. 

1. Latham
2. Young
3. Williamson
4. Conway
5. Glenn Phillips (spinner)
6. Mitchell
7. Fletcher
8. KJ

Now that is a very strong top to mid-tail, with everyone outside KJ likely to average above 40, which is what we had with Watling and Taylor.  I hope that becomes obvious to the selector.

Tommy gun another century opening, he will finish our greatest opener, hes not there yet but at this rate no issue now equal with John Wright for centuries. 

Dochart:

Do you reckon Williamson will ever go further down the order. I feel like Conway is a better No 3 than Williamson. I know Taylor went down the order cause Williamson was a better batsman compared to him. I thought Williamson might do the same with Conway, let him bat No 3 and Williamson bat at No 4.

IMO Nicholls will perform on this wicket as he has no pressure on him now. 

Once one of these two are out, then the next batsman just forms another partnership looking to score, im hoping Ross gets a bat and in soon enough to score 100. But if a couple of wickets fall in clumps, Nicholls usually performs when there is no pressure on him. Home ground. As much as I have a number of players I want to see at 5 and tour due to Nicholls being very inconsistent overseas. But if he doesnt fail today, that will cement him in the minds of the selectors. Which frustrates me, they dont look at the big picture and what would be the batting line up that will consistently score 400+. For me you need to avg 40+ to #7 and have an all rounder at #8 like KJ and some bowlers who can tonk 30 or 40. 

Not sure what it will take to remove Blundell from the team either.

Id like to see us use Ben Sears in the Netherlands games and see the likes of GP, Cleaver and Fletcher be given a chance in the middle. 

Essentially I do not think this is our best 6 batsman and keeper, I think #5 and #7 WC are the issues of not being able to string partnerships. Its better with Mitchell, but not quite there. Also Blundell has been far from looking like a specialist keeper since moving to 6/7. Which if we carry him he has to be perfection. I do not think Fletcher or Cleaver are that far behind in keeping and are far far better batsmen.

NZ should be declaring by about lunch at this rate.

Conway makes that 5x50s in this innings, 3 from Latham, 1 from young.

If Conway makes 84 he is one of only 4 other players to make 600 runs in their first 5 tests, the likes of Bradman. Also now holds another record to do with first innings scores. NZ very lucky he came here and not Aus. They got Marnus, we got a fair few SA quality players though.

If Conway plays 7-8 years and keeps this average up he will end up the modern eras best player to have played 50+ tests. Just food for thought. it does kind of make sense to put him in opening and put young to 4, but cant see it happening, but how do you not play your best batsman at 4.... I think he will get plenty of chances to keep the average up and score the likes of triple centuries. So probably best to not fix what aint broke. But put another similar batsman like GP in behind him and NZ are then looking more like a team of run scorers. Add the likes of Mitchell and a Keeper averaging 42 in FC like Cleaver and you have a team imo who will consistently score 400+ and will negate the loss of Taylor and Watling. I just hope the selector has his eyes wide open and not just hoping the fact blundell is in the team is good enough. He just isnt a run scoring keeper and he just isnt so amazing at keeping that you would carry him for that. Not imo. 

Edit: Now hold record most runs 1 wicket down in NZ all time. IMO get to 300, see off new ball, then put the foot down and progress this game into a hugely strong position of 500 within 1.5 days. NZ must be aware of the rain possible day 4 and 5. Might only see 3.5 to 4.5 days of play. So NZ need to aim to bowl Bangers out twice within 120 overs if possible.