*Official* New Zealand in Sri Lanka 2012

[SteveNZ]

Originally Posted by Bahnz

It's sad to see what Williamson's fallen to. Taking the number 3 spot has proven to be too much and too soon, which isn't really that surprising in retrospect. Also, someone should give him a new bat, his current one has seen better days.

Poor management of Kane has got him to where he is now. He's been up and down the order in all formats, whereas a permanent home may have given him the solidarity he needs. It's sad because we're ruining a precious asset, of which we're not exactly flush with.

Agreed that Watling should be flown over. Don't care the cost, don't care if he's playing for ND now - which he isn't (why? Milne is). It's an investment we need to make when he's in form at international level and could be our number six, with gloves or otherwise, for the next 6-7-8 years. I guarantee he goes to SA with the Test side so pre-empt it and take him now. But they won't.

And anyone who thinks McCullum is going to change his game hasn't met his bank manager.

[Bahnz]

Watling may help a bit, but the real problem is (as per usual) in the top 3. You can't hope to consistently make 300+ scores when you start every innings at 40/3.

[Blain]

I was saying to my mate that if NZ Cricket didn't have to worry about losing income, the best thing would be to cancel international cricket for NZ for at least half a season, send everyone back to domestic cricket. Then pick a fresh side where the true cream of the crop rises to the top. I cant remember the last time any in the batting line up scored consistant runs due to the fact we get bowled out for 150 half the time.

Is Guptill really the best we have? When was the last time Kane had a decent bat? (South Africa in March I'd say) When did Franklin have a good run of form? etc. We dont know because they are never playing domestic cricket and are having ****ty tours against competant opposition playing twice the games and dominating us.

[Blain]

It starts from the top also. Selection is a farce, Nichol as the only back up batsman?? He was hopeless in his previous tests and we have better options. Oram and to a lesser extent Mills are clipping their ticket riding into retirement. How is Nathan McCullum always a consistant selection in One dayers when his record is poor? Decent back up, but shouldnt be first string. Kruger Van Wyk, solid player but is hardly test quality and is already 32, when a guy like de Border or Watling actually have bright looking futures.

[straw man]

Originally Posted by Bahnz

From this article:

Black Caps fold: Taylor hints at changes - Sport - NZ Herald News

"Leg-spinner Todd Astle looks a good bet to come in to the side for the second test and could potentially replace James Franklin given his ability to bat at No 6 if required."

Although it's a stupid idea in general, I really wouldn't care if they dropped Franklin for Astle just for the next match. Franklin scored 3 & 2 and looked completely mentally absent, with no idea whatsoever as to what he was supposed to do out there*. And bringing in Astle would mean I get to watch an NZ legspinner on tv, which is obviously the most important thing . Plus it would still be better than dropping Franklin for Nicol which is probably what will actually happen.

In saying that, my team for the next test is unchanged.

* It is a little odd considering he looked calm and in control a lot of the time vs India - so I expected him to do ok against SL. But as he would be fodder against both SA and England later in the summer it's hard to see him having a future in the test side. A pity because his bowling at last seems to have some semblance of control to it.

[Hurricane]

I don't feel any need to deeply analyse where we went wrong. Or who did ok - or who sucked. I stand by what I said at the time of our demise. We always needed to see off their seamers without loss and bat positively against the spinners until you got an unplayable ball. But for reasons unknown to me we lost two wickets to the fast men. That was the undoing of us. Too much pressure then on Taylor and he was always going to get out as he has lost the skill of rebuilding temporarily.

I think Hesson needs to take some accountability for this. Williamson and Franklin were simply not in the right frame of mind the entire match long and surely the coach has a hand in that.

[Flem274*]

We can't blame the coaches anymore. This lot have repeated the same mistakes under Moles, Vettori, Greatbatch, Wright and Hesson. The problem is solely at the batsmans' end, as it always was and as it always will be until they take responsibility and do the work.

[hendrix]

Originally Posted by Prince EWS

Failing that, Franklin has to play the second Test. Nicol is not a serious option and when you get rolled for 221 and 118 but keep the opposition to 247 the last thing that should be on your mind is dropping a batsman for a leg spinner.

Exactly.

I expected more from Franklin after he looked pretty good in India. Considering he's a left hander I'd hoped he might get us out of trouble a bit against Herath. Oh well.

The one batting positive is that Flynn seems to have developed a bit. The only thing I'd change in the lineup is for Flynn to come in at 3, send Williamson in at 5. I might consider Astle for Bracewell. Maybe.

[Bahnz]

Originally Posted by hendrix

Exactly.

I expected more from Franklin after he looked pretty good in India. Considering he's a left hander I'd hoped he might get us out of trouble a bit against Herath. Oh well.

The one batting positive is that Flynn seems to have developed a bit. The only thing I'd change in the lineup is for Flynn to come in at 3, send Williamson in at 5. I might consider Astle for Bracewell. Maybe.

The pitch for the 2nd test is meant to be more seamer friendly, so there's probably not much point in playing a 2nd spinner.

[Mike5181]

I'd consider replacing Franklin if we actually had a proper replacement over there. There's not much point if Nicol is the only option though. If Ryder's not available, why not send over someone like Neil Broom or the in form player, BJ Watling? Surely they can't do any worse.

[Bahnz]

Originally Posted by Mike5181

I'd consider replacing Franklin if we actually had a proper replacement over there. There's not much point if Nicol is the only option though. If Ryder's not available, why not send over someone like Neil Broom or the in form player, BJ Watling? Surely they can't do any worse.

Meh, Franklin was probably our second best batsman in India recently, so it'd be a bit rough to give him the heave-ho after one admittedly awful test. I'd give him a last chance in the 2nd test.

[Hurricane]

Some venting in this post -

Guptil's dismissal in the final test against India against a full toss was cringeworthy. His dismissal in both innings was head scratchingly bad in this test. All three dismissals put his team mates under uneccessary pressure and created momentum for the opposition.

If we hadn't have lost Kane and Guptil to crap shots we could have made a decent go of the game.

Both Kane and Guptil were terrified of failing and weren't prepared to take calculated risks by playing some shots. Perhaps mcCullum was villified overnight and they didn't want to be like him.

Even if we had've made 150 odd yesterday I wouldn't feel so disillusioned with the lads. The score was so bad that southee couldn't be bothered aggravating a niggle and didn't want to come out to bowl.

Changes for the next match

I am torn on whether to make changes. Bringing in Astle for Bracewell could lead to a couple more wickets but it sends a bad message.

Really I don't think there is much we can do. Watling unlucky he was sent home. Even then his track record against spin is not good.

[Days of Grace]

No changes.

Let the batsmen all go out there and right the wrong themselves.

[Flem274*]

New Zealand to win the second test. Taylor will score a double hundred at a run a ball and Dougeh will do the rest.

[Days of Grace]

We won't win, but we will be competitive before finally losing to a better team.

That's the way we roll: a shameful performance in the first match followed by a worthy loss in the second.

New Zealand since I have been watching them have never been good in the first match of a series or tour. Ever. Period.

So, why we don't play a warm-up before the test match to get the **** out of our system is beyond me.

Remember when we would tour Australia, get rolled by a state side, but be somehow competitive against an alltime great team in the first test?

If there is no warm-up before the first test in South Africa, then I will smash something.