NZ v Pakistan 2022/23
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Frustrating watch, the end of Pakistan's second innings. Bracewell was bowling an excellent line, but it was consistently way too full. Every ball could be smothered on a pitch that was offering a small amount of turn and a small amount of variable bounce.
If he'd bowled the exact same line but on a length or slightly back of a length, we've had chances to take wickets long before we did.
It's not so much about being so accurate that the batsmen hesitate about going forward or coming back, it's about ensuring they play off the back foot as much as possible, giving every opportunity for a variation in spin or bounce to beat the bat. On the odd occasion he misses it slightly full, it should be in that magical block hole area anyway.Very frustrating seeing the ball tossed to Bracewell every second over, and no one (that I saw) asking him to change a plan that clearly wasn't working.
Others have said he's not an international cricketer. I think he has the skills to bowl in a match like this - he's accurate, turns the ball, and can vary speed pretty well - but his tactics will need a tickle-up if he's to progress.
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Anyway, that's a really good performance, and only a couple of wickets away from victory. Pakistan only just hung on to save that match, which is not the outcome I was expecting going into it. Spin is not really our strength, great to see Ish getting some wickets by not overly surprised we weren't as threatening as you'd hope. Ajaz was largely ineffective which is probably the biggest disappointment given his recent success against in India, if he could have at least grabbed a couple in the 2nd innings then it would have been all on. The team can take a lot of confidence from that performance though.
Oh, and Kane is just amazing.
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Positives out of the test
Batting was very good,Kane,Latham,Conway were excellent,Good signs from Mitchell and Sodhi did a great job at 8.We missed a couple of chances in the field but pretty good.
Sodhi really good with the ball,Patel and Bracewell very disappointing.Southee tried hard not much in the pitch for him.
I don't see Bracewell as a test player he gets in bad positions all the time when he bats in test matches and he can not read a googly he gets done every time..
Really he doesn't turn the ball he got some perches out of the rough to LH but didn't look threatening at all too full or lost his line and length which I have all seen before from him.I would replace him with Phillips for the 2nd test.He can roll his arm over just as effectively as Bracewell gun fielder and his attacking style batting will unsettle the Pakistan spinners 20 or 30 from Phillips is better than 0 or 1 from Bracewell.
If Phillips gets away he could do some real damage. -
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Quite looking forward to this one, it's good having test cricket in our summer, so not in (admittedly elongated rugby season), so not a lot of competition for my interest.
And it's TEST cricket and not hit and giggle which I have to admit bores the shit out of me. Not knocking ot or people who like it, just not for me as a rule. -
Big delicious mince pies are obviously the national dish of Pakistan judging by Henry’s selection…..
Look I loved his efforts against SA last year…..but does anyone seriously think he’s capable of anything resembling that in hostile overseas conditions ?
Very harsh on a proven performer like Wags. Not impressed.
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@MN5 said in NZ v Pakistan:
Big delicious mince pies are obviously the national dish of Pakistan judging by Henry’s selection…..
Look I loved his efforts against SA last year…..but does anyone seriously think he’s capable of anything resembling that in hostile overseas conditions ?
Very harsh on a proven performer like Wags. Not impressed.
Wagner was bowling up some juicy pies in the first test himself. He looked either injured or disinterested - on a pitch where I would have thought he might have bent his back and got something out of nothing.
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@Damo actually they interviewed Wags before day two looking at day one, the pitch had no bounce and he couldn’t get the height he wanted, meaning that type of delivery mostly useless. Also why both teams didn’t use it regularly either
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@Damo said in NZ v Pakistan:
@MN5 said in NZ v Pakistan:
Big delicious mince pies are obviously the national dish of Pakistan judging by Henry’s selection…..
Look I loved his efforts against SA last year…..but does anyone seriously think he’s capable of anything resembling that in hostile overseas conditions ?
Very harsh on a proven performer like Wags. Not impressed.
@MN5 said in NZ v Pakistan:
Big delicious mince pies are obviously the national dish of Pakistan judging by Henry’s selection…..
Look I loved his efforts against SA last year…..but does anyone seriously think he’s capable of anything resembling that in hostile overseas conditions ?
Very harsh on a proven performer like Wags. Not impressed.
Wagner was bowling up some juicy pies in the first test himself. He looked either injured or disinterested - on a pitch where I would have thought he might have bent his back and got something out of nothing.
Oh yeah I agree Wags was ineffective.
But is bringing a pace bowler in who has consistently been found wanting at this level the answer ? An average over 40 which INCLUDES the amazing 7/23 is pretty shit reading.
He’s becoming our bowling version of Mark Ramprakash or Graeme Hick.
We’ve had an amazing quartet of pace bowlers play regularly lately, going into a test with just ONE actually playing doesn’t fill me with any confidence at all.
Steady start for the openers so far though.
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@bayimports said in NZ v Pakistan:
@Damo actually they interviewed Wags before day two looking at day one, the pitch had no bounce and he couldn’t get the height he wanted, meaning that type of delivery mostly useless. Also why both teams didn’t use it regularly either
That makes sense. I didn't see him try it at all though, which I thought was surprising.
That sounds like a good reason not to pick him. This wicket has a little more pace but I doubt that will last past day 1.
Henry might be a better bet, Maybe. Not sure who else we would pick ahead of Henry, unless we think we can do with only one fast bowler.
This is a hell of a start from the openers.
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Thank God for DRS, that was a shocker of a decision lol
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@No-Quarter said in NZ v Pakistan:
Thank God for DRS, that was a shocker of a decision lol
Haha I typed out almost the same thing and thought it was a bit harsh.
It looked way too high + inside edge.
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@Damo said in NZ v Pakistan:
@bayimports said in NZ v Pakistan:
@Damo actually they interviewed Wags before day two looking at day one, the pitch had no bounce and he couldn’t get the height he wanted, meaning that type of delivery mostly useless. Also why both teams didn’t use it regularly either
That makes sense. I didn't see him try it at all though, which I thought was surprising.
That sounds like a good reason not to pick him. This wicket has a little more pace but I doubt that will last past day 1.
Henry might be a better bet, Maybe. Not sure who else we would pick ahead of Henry, unless we think we can do with only one fast bowler.
This is a hell of a start from the openers.
Well we have a second seamer in the side, being Mitch Jr. Could therefore gave brought in GP, for extra spin option and better batting.
Reminds me of occasions back in the day when Martin Crowe was the second seamer to SRH. 1985 at SCG for example. MC was reasonably quickish early career until he messed up some other part of his body. (Pretty sure Aus used a part timer to open with Dave Gilbert that test. (Google confirms it eas Simon O'Donnell.) SCG was a dust bowl.) Think he may have done same on the Sub-Continent once or twice.
But I digress.
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Another great start from the openers,
Conway looks just as comfortable as an opening bat than he does at 4, and that is really a stamp of his quality.
Latham we are lucky to have an opener of his ability,I hear negatives against the guy but he has scored more 100s for Nz than any other opener is 4 th on the most 100s scored for NZ overall, averages almost 42 batting in the toughest position.
And as I mentioned last test only one other opening bat has scored more runs in the world over the last 5 years in test cricket.
I am pretty happy we have Tom opening for us. -
@nzzp said in NZ v Pakistan:
Conway gives me a chubby
There is so much to like about him.
The one potential issue is if they keep chopping and changing him in the batting line up. Then again genuine class players can cope with that, Justin Langer springs to mind, I forgot he spend a bit of time moving around before settling with Hayden at the top.
I’m pleased Latham appears to have found form too. He does get a bit unfairly maligned as a flat track bully for my liking.
Hundred up and Latham 50. Well played fellas.
EDIT: Conway too.
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@MN5 said in NZ v Pakistan:
@nzzp said in NZ v Pakistan:
Conway gives me a chubby
There is so much to like about him.
The one potential issue is if they keep chopping and changing him in the batting line up. Then again genuine class players can cope with that, Justin Langer springs to mind, I forgot he spend a bit of time moving around before settling with Hayden at the top.
I’m pleased Latham appears to have found form too. He does get a bit unfairly maligned as a flat track bully for my liking.
Hundred up, well played fellas.
I like Conway opening, when could still pick Young down the order as he has been converted into an opener he batted down the order in domestic cricket.
Or give Phillips a crack as we will not need 3 spinners away from The sub continent, Blundel back to 7.
