No not ignoring anything just personally think there’s been a massive decline in the standard of batting in test cricket.
Its Summer! - the Fever Cricket Thread.
No not ignoring anything just personally think there’s been a massive decline in the standard of batting in test cricket.
For the poorer test nations, like NZ & SA definitely 20/20 plays a part. A guy like Devon Conway (even Latham) wants to play all formats, because the money is in white ball cricket. It's hard to suddenly start leaving the ball consistently in test cricket, if you just drop in from 20/20 when it's all about smashing it.
But 3 richer countries - England, Australia and India pay their test specialists big money just to play red ball cricket. Pretty sure likes of Rahane & Pujara are on well over $1M/year, and so they don't need to bother with the white ball stuff.
Actually a brave call by Jamieson to not play IPL this year. Hopefully helps his test career.
Why can’t anyone bat properly in test cricket anymore bar about half a dozen batsmen?
Pretty much. Check out Jarred Kimber’s stats on it. Pace bowling is dominant. Averages in free fall.
As good as we've been this has been pathetic from South Africa. We've effectively won this test before lunch on day 2.
As good as we've been this has been pathetic from South Africa. We've effectively won this test before lunch on day 2.
Not mad at it.
We have a poor record overall v South Africa and I for one am loving them being mushed into the ground at the moment. Wagner took the initiative early in the day and gave us the platform to just bat sensibly for a large chunk of the rest of the day and push that lead up towards 300+.
118/1 in the first session today so far. Great mornings work by the Blackcaps 👍
This, this is what I wanted to see. I remember watching us not so terribly long ago being absolutely humiliated and ripped out for 45 batting first (Newlands I think it was). This is the demolition I wanted to see. Unlucky for Blundell to miss out on 100. But fantastic effort and application from everyone today. Wagner set the tone early and Henry back up his 7fer at the end. Blundell and Nicholls blunted a tired looking attack in between. 366 runs for 7 today and we still get a 30 minute window to try and knick a few off before stumps.
Excellent days cricket and very well played by the Blackcaps so far.
Yeah, this is an absolute Twitting.
Knocked them over for 111 for a massive win - an innings and 276 runs.
That was an absolute Tw atting but at least I don't have to worry about how I'm going to watch it all tomorrow when I'm back at work. Clinical and professional performance. I thoroughly enjoyed that.
Good omen for the Nix v Bling tonight perhaps?
That was an absolute Tw atting but at least I don't have to worry about how I'm going to watch it all tomorrow when I'm back at work. Clinical and professional performance. I thoroughly enjoyed that.
Good omen for the Nix v Bling tonight perhaps?
Far more interesting test developing this time around. The morning session tomorrow will be absolutely crucial.
as S Fleming has repeated said at the start of every session!
Despite the lead of SA being over 400 we're still a chance. I think we'll go for this when given the chance - We don't really have a choice if we want to move towards the pointy end of the WTC table.
And at the time of writing there is still over 135 overs left in play for a result, much like the Phoenix, we won't get anything out of this except a hiding if we sit back and let them bowl at us. The pitch is placid but the new ball will offer a bit of movement. Get established and build a couple of good partnerships. Will be a good chase nonetheless.
And at the time of writing there is still over 135 overs left in play for a result, much like the Phoenix, we won't get anything out of this except a hiding if we sit back and let them bowl at us. The pitch is placid but the new ball will offer a bit of movement. Get established and build a couple of good partnerships. Will be a good chase nonetheless.
one thing the "test championship" has done is make every test win crucial, losing that one against Bangladesh cost us 12 points, so winning this one is vital.
South Africa declare. 426 to win in 131 overs of play available. RRR of 3.25.
Would be a world record chase if it comes off, but a big hats off to South Africa for coming back strong in this one after getting bushwhacked in the first test.
Would be a world record chase if it comes off, but a big hats off to South Africa for coming back strong in this one after getting bushwhacked in the first test.
South Africa declare. 426 to win in 131 overs of play available. RRR of 3.25.
Would be a world record chase if it comes off, but a big hats off to South Africa for coming back strong in this one after getting bushwhacked in the first test.
Would be a world record chase if it comes off, but a big hats off to South Africa for coming back strong in this one after getting bushwhacked in the first test.
Well for the first test they had no prep. No warm up game. Just rolled up after only being out of MIQ for 3 days.
They are not a bad side (if rebuilding yes), esp in these sort of conditions that are not too dissimilar to South Africa, ie pace bowler friendly.
And if they have a strong enough domestic system where likes of Wagner & Conway weren't really getting a look in for the national team, then yeah they will continue to produce pretty good players.
This one is done.
No Kane no party.
What a bizarre summer it’s been.
Inexplicably losing to Bangladesh before pumping them by an innings inside three days.
Then South Africa rock up and we obliterate them in seven sessions, only to be embarrassed by them a week later.
Inexplicably losing to Bangladesh before pumping them by an innings inside three days.
Then South Africa rock up and we obliterate them in seven sessions, only to be embarrassed by them a week later.
What a bizarre summer it’s been.
Inexplicably losing to Bangladesh before pumping them by an innings inside three days.
Then South Africa rock up and we obliterate them in seven sessions, only to be embarrassed by them a week later.
Inexplicably losing to Bangladesh before pumping them by an innings inside three days.
Then South Africa rock up and we obliterate them in seven sessions, only to be embarrassed by them a week later.
I reckon rustiness from MIQ are a big factor in those two results. Whether they’d still have lost/won is up for debate, but it has to be a factor in the large margins
What a bizarre summer it’s been.
Inexplicably losing to Bangladesh before pumping them by an innings inside three days.
Then South Africa rock up and we obliterate them in seven sessions, only to be embarrassed by them a week later.
Inexplicably losing to Bangladesh before pumping them by an innings inside three days.
Then South Africa rock up and we obliterate them in seven sessions, only to be embarrassed by them a week later.
I reckon rustiness from MIQ are a big factor in those two results. Whether they’d still have lost/won is up for debate, but it has to be a factor in the large margins
Keeping in mind Bangladesh beat us in the first test of that series of course...
Crap days play today. Top order non existent, really need Williamson back and quick smart. Latham for how good he has been is just a small team bully, has a poor average against the big boys - as shown by his 3 poor outings in this series. Terrible batting at the top by everyone to be honest. Mitchell was an interesting case, and I thought he looked good and positive early on, backed by looking for scoring opportunities and having a solid defence - was 13* off 7-8 balls there and then regressed until he was dismissed for 24 off 72...
We let them bowl at us, and to have no plan to counter that is disappointing. Conway (who's been put down a couple of times in the field too) was decent, but quite nervy for his 60 so far. He will pretty much have to bat all day tomorrow if we're to save this one.
Think Ravindra needs to come into the squad in some sort of role in that middle so that we have a spin option. CDG been good, but he's 35/36 now so won't be around too much longer I feel - Mitchell will get his spot (but he needs to bloody well bowl more!!!) And then bring Ravindra into that lower middle order until he's got a bit more experience under his belt, as he is an opener at provincial level.
Think we're on a hiding to nothing tomorrow, but I hope we can put some spine out there and be a little bit more positive with the bat than we have been today.
Trouble with playing Ravindra is he’s not yet been convincing in the games he played, either in India or vs Bangladesh. He needs bedding in time but I’m not sure he’d be given the patience to do so, so it’d have to be at first class level. I think they’re desperate for him to be the next young gun, because it’s an otherwise old team, and there aren’t too many guys coming through.
Wagner is 36 in two weeks, Boult & Southee 33, the batsmen likewise. The next batsman in this squad is Hamish Rutherford for example, like surely there’s someone younger, even if it’s just to run drinks, bat in the nets and get in the environment. It’s been the price to pay for having a settled team for almost a decade, that eventually you’ll need to replace it almost entirely at once. Jamieson has seemingly regressed to the mean after bossing it last year, once teams have scouted him more and figured how to better play him. There’s a reason the joke is that the next big thing in NZ cricket is currently playing in South Africa.
That being said, test cricket nowadays is basically so in favour of the home team, through doctoring the pitch, the conditions, that the real judge of a team/player is in the away tours, and they won in England, but lost in Australia and India since 19/20. Things are cyclical, so after some pretty unprecedented success from 2015 onwards, it could be a downturn to the 2008-2013 days, and then you recover again.
Wagner is 36 in two weeks, Boult & Southee 33, the batsmen likewise. The next batsman in this squad is Hamish Rutherford for example, like surely there’s someone younger, even if it’s just to run drinks, bat in the nets and get in the environment. It’s been the price to pay for having a settled team for almost a decade, that eventually you’ll need to replace it almost entirely at once. Jamieson has seemingly regressed to the mean after bossing it last year, once teams have scouted him more and figured how to better play him. There’s a reason the joke is that the next big thing in NZ cricket is currently playing in South Africa.
That being said, test cricket nowadays is basically so in favour of the home team, through doctoring the pitch, the conditions, that the real judge of a team/player is in the away tours, and they won in England, but lost in Australia and India since 19/20. Things are cyclical, so after some pretty unprecedented success from 2015 onwards, it could be a downturn to the 2008-2013 days, and then you recover again.
At least no one can take away the first WTC scepter!!
Pathetic effort at saving a test on the final day.
Women's world cup starts today, NZ vs WI..... given our current team we'd be strong candidates to make the finals, Aussie, England, India probably the biggest threats.
Interestingly Spark sport do to have the coverage of the competition, Sky TV has it - so much for being NZ's home of cricket.
Interestingly Spark sport do to have the coverage of the competition, Sky TV has it - so much for being NZ's home of cricket.
Sky have the deal with the ICC for ICC events - Spark has rights to NZC run matches.
Joe Root is such a beautiful batsman to watch. Flawless technique.
Pakistan were incredible last night.
Their bowling was clinical and disciplined, and their batsmen had a job to do and took their time to do it right.
Sucks we lost but they are real contenders for the win if they can pull that performance off again.
Their bowling was clinical and disciplined, and their batsmen had a job to do and took their time to do it right.
Sucks we lost but they are real contenders for the win if they can pull that performance off again.
Pakistan vs NZ is always a hit or miss game, one team will falter and not perform and the other will be on fire. Exactly as happened last night, Pakis were on fire and we played ok
What a nice post!
Hope some of you are down watching this! Sounds like a stunning day in Wellington.
gutted I couldnt be at the basin today!
Test cricket is just so boring, don't you think ...
Incredible scenes at the Basin Reserve. A thrilling end to the 2nd Test in Wellington 🏏 #NZvENG pic.twitter.com/tyG7laNtdP
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) February 28, 2023
Well in lads 👏👏👏
Some finish and some fight back from our lads.
Got away with that wide call though.
Got away with that wide call though.
great fight back from the lads, especially after the first test trouncing and the concerning batting in the first innings. Was concerned that our bowling attack didnt have the mongrel to knock the tail over - proved me wrong though.
Was mowing the lawns with the radio commentary on but once it got down to the final 3 overs I thought bugger the lawns I better get in and watch this. Did not disappointment. Two games in a row. "The last day of the test" is quickly becoming my favourite entertainment genre.
I got offered a ticket to Queens of the Stone Age on Friday 1st of March at TSB. I'm not a massive fan but thought I might go down and try and make a weekend of it, as I see the Phoenix are teed up to play Adelaide on the Sunday. Was hoping to make it really worthwhile by catching the Blackcaps vs Australia. Seeing the blackcaps live at the Basin is a bucket list one for me, but to my surprise the Friday and Saturday of that test are completely sold out. I mean good for the health of the game I suppose. A bit of a long shot but don't suppose any of the Wellington locals on here would have the inside scoop on whether there's likely to be more tickets released down the line or if there's a legitimate resale place.... or even at a stretch if someone had a spare ticket they were willing to part ways with?
We are proper shark these days.
