Black Caps in India

[Paekakboyz]

Kane was saying day 2-3 should be the best conditions. But fully agree that if we don't get a decent lead we'll have them taking advantage of conditions and have to chase the game on a day 4 and 5 pitch.

[Mokey]

Wagner picks up the last Indian wicket, India all out for 318.

We are now batting, Latham and Guptill opening, 16/0.

[MN5]

Gee that Jadeja has had a pretty handy start to his test career. a first class batting average of 43 including a triple century sure as shit ain't bad either. He's certainly bowling pretty early though......

[nzzp]

@reprobate said in Black Caps in India:

good fightback after a poor start, but we are still fucked i reckon - losing the toss on this pitch was pretty much game over.

Yeah, you'd think that chasing anything over 200 will be tough in the fourth innings. Assuming we roll them for 400, that means we need to score 500 here to have a crack. And you wonder who will do that - possible if Kane settles in and gets a 200, but it is hard to see the top 6 putting together 350 runs.

I'm ever optimistic, though!

P

[Mokey]

Black Caps 71/1 at lunch. Guptill out for 21 (lbw Yadav). Williamson on 21, Latham 25.

[TeWaio]

Guppy's test average is now 29.49

[nzzp]

@TeWaio said in Black Caps in India:

Guppy's test average is now 29.49

That's higher than mine by 29.49

[TeWaio]

Latham caught a short leg, but the ball was pinned against the helmet grille while he juggled it so not out! Lucky

[No Quarter]

Wow that's a lucky break for Latham. Hits it onto his foot, fielder takes the catch but before he had control it hit the grill of his helmet invalidating the catch. Not sure I've ever seen that before!

[nzzp]

And a new rule I didnt know - if the ball hits a helmet anywhere, it's not out! Latham played the sweep onto his pad, fielder juggled but it hit his helmet, and 'not out'

weird.

[TeWaio]

8th 50 for Latham now

[TeWaio]

And a fifty for KW. Partnership is 94, looks hard to bat out there though, lots of chances.

[Mokey]

Nice 50 for Latham. Good innings sprinkled with a bit of good luck. Kane gets his too! NZ 130/1.

[Mokey]

Kane's 50 came up off just 78 balls too. That is moving along at a brisk clip.

[Mokey]

@TeWaio said in Black Caps in India:

Guppy's test average is now 29.49

He shouldn't be in the test team. That is not nearly good enough for an opener.

[JK]

Hard going out there but our boys are hanging tough.

Run rate has slowed right up and chances are becoming more frequent.

Big test for us here

[gollum]

@Mokey said in Black Caps in India:

@TeWaio said in Black Caps in India:

Guppy's test average is now 29.49

He shouldn't be in the test team. That is not nearly good enough for an opener.

Stats to the rescue!

Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

Last 10 years 3 NZ openers have managed 30+ - Baz, Latham & Bell (30.62). Everyone else sub 30...

So yes, I agree, but its about average for us... maybe above average

[gt12]

@gollum Those stats go both ways. Clearly, we haven't had many good openers during the last 10 years. Keeping him opening isn't going to help that?

[TeWaio]

Problem is it feels like he's talented enough to average 40 batting at 5 or 6, and get them at an 80 strikerate.

But then who else opens?!

[gollum]

@gt12 said in Black Caps in India:

@gollum Those stats go both ways. Clearly, we haven't had many good openers during the last 10 years. Keeping him opening isn't going to help that?

Yeah I think so too - well I don't think he should be opening or at 5, you can't bat 5 & be rubbish against spin. And he is rubbish v spin.

I think those stats highlight that its going to be incredibly rare for a NZ opener to step up from first class to tests & be ready - only Latham really in 10 years. So whoever steps up will need 15 odd tests at least.

So ideally pick young & give them 20 tests to bed in. The poms have had similar issues since Strauss went & they've now opted for a 19 year old with a very very tight technique (nicknamed Baby Boycott).