*Official* New Zealand in Sri Lanka 2012

[Bahnz]

Originally Posted by Briony

Thanks. Probably a wise move from the kiwis to back the younger guys.

Yeah, I loved Marto but Boult and Southee make a fantastic opening combo.

[Hurricane]

Need Astle to put together a good over here to get them tentative.

[Bahnz]

Sri Lanka look like they're playing for the draw already. Fair enough I suppose.

[Prince EWS]

Originally Posted by Flem274*

wasn't Warne in the 80s?

a lot of bowlers have a natural speed that works fine for them. Astle is nearing the loopy lolly end though.

I think the main thing for a leggy is pace off the pitch. Obviously if you completely take the piss with how slow you bowl through the air then good batsmen will just get to everything almost on the full, but I don't think Astle quite falls in that territory. His real problem is that even though he's giving the ball plenty of air it's not getting that many revs, so it's turning really slowly off the wicket. Someone like Mishra - who was a failure at Test level anyway - got as many revs on the ball with a flatter path. It's almost like Astle is trying to trick people into thinking he's a big spinner of the ball.

[wellAlbidarned]

That appeal: the dictionary definition of optimism

[Hurricane]

Dave deserves another wicket.

[Flem274*]

Originally Posted by Flem274*

We've got this test in the bag lads. Bracewell will hit his stride, Boult and Southee will continue and Jeets will do ok, and the batsmen will turn up. We're about due a Guptill 74 and a Franklin 53, Baz always manages to average 40 in a test (usually with two 40s), Taylor is due a ton and Flynn looks the goods. Kruger will add one of his 30s down the order and we're looking at 700/7 declared with a Boult special with the bat. Herath will injure himself in the first innings.

New Zealand by an innings. I believe!

stand by this

[Bahnz]

Classic kiwi butthurt on cricinfo right now, after an Aussie pointed out that New Zealand still needs to take 4 wickets to enforce the follow on.

This is so non-threatening from Astle.

[Flem274*]

get the pacemen on

[Howsie]

Hmmm, probably can't bowl Astle for to long here, looks a little tame. Risky obvs but perhaps Taylor should bring a few fielders in, just for an over.

[Bahnz]

Taylor won't, he's too concerned about his bank balance.

[Bahnz]

Originally Posted by Howsie

Hmmm, probably can't bowl Astle for to long here, looks a little tame. Risky obvs but perhaps Taylor should bring a few fielders in, just for an over.

Agree, at least when Randiv is on strike.

[Flem274*]

nah **** the over rate. if the umpires call him out then point the finger right back at the ridiculous time it took to make a call on that stumping.

[Bahnz]

Really want Astle to hit the pads soon so that we can so his epic appealing at least once in test cricket.

[hendrix]

Originally Posted by Bahnz

Classic kiwi butthurt on cricinfo right now, after an Aussie pointed out that New Zealand still needs to take 4 wickets to enforce the follow on.

It's freaking ridiculous how much of an inferiority complex some of us seem to have.

"On the news tonight, a NZer did this insignificant thing today. Wow. Look at that kiwi ingenuity. The little country that could."

"Oh, this is your first time in NZ? What do you think? Isn't this just the most lovely country in the world? Please please please gratify my teenage-girl-esque insecurities"

makes me sick.