*Official* New Zealand in Sri Lanka 2012

[Prince EWS]

Originally Posted by Bahnz

I admire Guptill's determination to improve as a batsman in the longer form of the game, but if he seriously wants to get better, he'd be better off signing up for some Ranji Trophy cricket rather than playing for Gloucestershire.

He's still got major issues with his defence around off stump too so playing for Gloucs is hardly the worst idea in the world. You have to walk before you can run so I think it's better that he does iron out the faults that keep getting him out at home before he tackles this sort of stuff.

[Bahnz]

Originally Posted by Flem274*

oh come on

that better have been off the fielders helmet otherwise mccullum can gagf. what a useless ****, especiallly since the likes of watling and flynn bat all over the shop to suit the team.

if this **** wants to be an opener, he needs to start batting like one or we'll pick a less talented **** who actually wants to put the work in.

Maybe some ego-pricking headlines would help. How about:

Braindead McCullum continues to bat like a massive dick

[Flem274*]

Originally Posted by Bahnz

Maybe some ego-pricking headlines would help. How about:

Braindead McCullum continues to bat like a massive dick

make him 12th man for a test imo.

at least nicol tries not to be a bad test batsman; he's just not equiped as it stands in the first place right now. mccullum can play at this level and chooses to be an idiot.

i mean wtf was that shot? we already had 6+ from the over to a well placed shot, and he goes and hits the poorer ball straight down the throat of the outfielder waiting out there for him to repeat that exact same shot.

what a complete muppet.

[Flem274*]

yay stumps

[wellAlbidarned]

Originally Posted by Bahnz

I admire Guptill's determination to improve as a batsman in the longer form of the game, but if he seriously wants to get better, he'd be better off signing up for some Ranji Trophy cricket rather than playing for Gloucestershire.

Might as well send the whole top 7 tbh

[Kippax]

Takes a unique batting mind (either his or Timmeh's tbf) to go up there tbh. Two runs between 4 and 6 ffs. Well done. Press Esc and have another game.

[Bahnz]

Originally Posted by Flem274*

make him 12th man for a test imo.

at least nicol tries not to be a bad test batsman; he's just not equiped as it stands in the first place right now. mccullum can play at this level and chooses to be an idiot.

i mean wtf was that shot? we already had 6+ from the over to a well placed shot, and he goes and hits the poorer ball straight down the throat of the outfielder waiting out there for him to repeat that exact same shot.

what a complete muppet.

I don't necessarily mind that he decided to go after the ball, but someone seriously needs to tell him that you still get 4 for hitting it along the ground.

[AndyZaltzHair]

all the makings of a fascinating test match

[Howe_zat]

Putting it down to the second innings alone probably puts it further in Sri Lanka's favour.

[NZTailender]

As I'm pessimistic about our second innings performances, (and that I feared he would've also been out before stumps) I'm just going to go ahead and throw out a super-jinx call and say Williamson will produce a how-to-play-spin-gem of a century that will set us up with a good shot at winning. I hope...

[Bahnz]

New Zealand need Taylor to go big today. With McCullum out he's easily the best player of spin left in the side.

[straw man]

Agree Taylor is the main hope. After that first test against India and second test century he's clearly decided he's going to play hyper-aggressively in the subcontinent - perhaps too early in that first innings dismissal. Still, will roll the dice and it could come off. If he scores 130 we might get 250 and set up a 220 run chase. SL would still be big favourites but we'd have a chance.

[Flem274*]

After seeing Jimmy James "no confidence" Franklin gain 10kph after taking a wicket Athlai's prediction might have some merit. Once he got that first score in ODIs he started churning them out.

Hopelessly optimistic, but come on please work...

[chaminda_00]

Brillant come back from Mahela and Mathews, would have been nice for some more runs from the lower order. But any lead is good lead. Hearth once again nabs a wicket just when we need it.

Re: Migara and Cribbs from 10 pages back before the all one line dribble, regarding Mathews batting position and Chandimal.

I don't necessary disagree that Mathews would do a good job at opening as he is better against pace then spin and he has the technique to succeed as a opener. So would Jayawardene if that was the main logic required.

Yes it would mean freeing up a middle order spot to get in Chandimal. But this one the reasons innings is why we need him down the order because of his ability to rescue the team if we lose a couple wickets.

Also if he opened the a batting and started to bowl more regularly. He would be injured every five minutes like Watson. His best position for the overall team is 4-6.

Yes Chandimal needs to be in the side someone where, as he is too good to sit on the bench. But that position for time being is as keeper at 7. Yes Prassana has done a brilliant job, but he will never be more then a low 30s keeper. There comes a point when you have to start picking someone that can take your team forward, rather then rely one someone because they have done a decent job.

I know they openers have yet to really show their potential at International level and the previous openers have been poor. So it seems a easy spot to put in a new batsmen or push someone up the order. But if players are scoring runs heavily in a certain position at domestic level, they deserve an extended run. It is not as if we are trying to promote 35 FC average openers like Tharanga, Vandort or Warupura. These guys are averaging in their mid 40s and deserve an extended run. The last opener to average that in domestic cricket was Atapattu. Not saying these guys anywhere near that standard, but surely if your performing at that level, you deserve a chance. Though for Paranavitana that chance may be over after this Test series, unless he scores a hundred soon.

[Flem274*]

There wasn't much Karunaratne could do with the ball he got. Bastard of a delivery to get in your debut innings.

Pirana was a bit disappointing.

btw I'm going to butcher many of these Sri Lankan names this series because I cannot spell them. Sorry.