Black Caps vs Bangles
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So far so good navigating the Bangles sans Rosco. From what I gather they were expected to go OK on this tour and we've given them a sound spanking in all aspects. Good to see, given we face Aus and SA next.
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I had no idea this game was even on today which in many respects sums up their tour. Things aren't looking too promising for them come test time that's for sure. I just hope the BCs don't get too overconfident, S.A. and Oz are a different stratosphere to anything these guys can put up.
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Bangladesh have been very good, really. Competitive in basically every game and in most of them were winning at some point. It's kind of tough because if they had snagged a game you would be worried about how we were traveling. Bangladesh have made large strides forward - just can't win in New Zealand conditions at this point.
Of the 25 series we have hosted against Asian opponents since 2008 we have only lost 4 of them. We lost twice against India in 08/09 and twice against Pakistan in 10/11. Bangladesh have done about as well as Sri Lanka/Pakistan have in recent tours in the shorter stuff. I expect them to get done in the tests but in Bangladesh it would be another story.
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This is what Sri Lanka served up this time last year:
- ODI losses with 29 and 41.3 overs to spare. In one of them Guptill hit 90 off 30 balls after Sri Lanka was bowled out for 120.
- A T20 loss where we chased down 146 with 10 overs remaining. We probably would have 260 batting first.
They did actually end up winning one game (an ODI) but lost everything else.
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On the subject of cricket it looks like Stuff are doing what we on here did last year and overall I guess they do ok but theres a few "WTF" moments ( standard, it is Stuff after all )
Nathan Astle played one of the best innings I've ever seen "live" ( well, ball by ball on TV ) but whilst he walks into an ODI selection theres no way he gets in a test team ahead of Ross Taylor, Stephen Fleming or Andrew Jones ( anyone who doesn't have a 3/4/5 of Williamson, Taylor, Crowe has rocks in their head )
More love on there for Cairnsy and Fleming than there was on the fern ( rightfully so in my opinion )
Bruce Taylor as a third bowler ? very, very bold call.
Usual suspects Turner, KW, Crowe, BMac, Paddles, Vettori and Bond make everyones top team, rightfully so.