*Official* New Zealand in India 2010

[NZTailender]

I tried writing a list of players with more guts than Sinclair off the top of my head, but CW wouldn't let me post it as the list was too long.

A low blow!

 

[Prince EWS]

So agree with this to the maximum extent. Prince has been getting right on his high-horse of late, talking about how much better Sydney grade cricketers are than Kiwi first class cricketers based on Rhodes playing 2nd grade in Sydney. How many of these players has he bloody seen? Boring me ****less.

Haha I was taking the piss with the Rhodes stuff tbh.

 

[Prince EWS]

Oh FFS. Do you really expect to be taken seriously after posting a list featuring probably 70 percent of players you've never ever seen before?

This is the kind of **** that makes CW a complete laughing stock.

It's not that I literally think every single one of them is definitely better than Guptill - it's just that I don't think a player who has soooo many players with better statistical cases to be selected ahead of him should be anywhere near the side, regardless of talent or aesthetics.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Haha I was taking the piss with the Rhodes stuff tbh.

I thought so initially, but the frequency of the same comment occurring convinced me that you actually believed it. Anyway, his 2 runs off 50-odd balls has proven you wrong.

It's not that I literally think every single one of them is definitely better than Guptill - it's just that I don't think a player who has soooo many players with better statistical cases to be selected ahead of him should be anywhere near the side, regardless of talent or aesthetics.

C'mon. James de Terte in there? What sample size makes you happy with your statistics, eh? There's lies, damn lies and Cribb Statistics.

 

[Jono]

Unfortunately don't think India will be able to force the win today. It's still very much possible, however I have a feeling this pair and then Vettori will hang around long enough to make it nigh on impossible to force a win.

 

[Flem274*]

I tried writing a list of players with more guts than Sinclair off the top of my head, but CW wouldn't let me post it as the list was too long.

Oh no you didn't!

 

[BeeGee]

So how big are Dan's balls?

If NZ can survive the first hour without losing more than one wicket (and it's a big if) I'd really like to see them push for the win and not just bat for safety. Be aggressive and set India a difficult, but not impossible, total. I'm thinking 270 from 50 overs would be a good target to set. That would give both sides a chance if they're good enough.

 

[Flem274*]

Would love us to have a crack, but Dan is a pretty defensive skipper atm.

 

[Jono]

Are there any attacking captains in the international game at the minute though?

With Mahela no longer skipper, I don't reckon there is.

 

[Howe_zat]

It's a necessary fault of always picking your best batsman/allrounder to be captain that more often than not they're just not that great.

I've been told that DJ Sammy is a very effective captain at domestic level, and that's one of the reasons he was taken on. I hope so at least.

 

[Days of Grace]

So how big are Dan's balls?

If NZ can survive the first hour without losing more than one wicket (and it's a big if) I'd really like to see them push for the win and not just bat for safety. Be aggressive and set India a difficult, but not impossible, total. I'm thinking 270 from 50 overs would be a good target to set. That would give both sides a chance if they're good enough.

As the lead is only 110 now, it will take until tea to get a the lead of 270 you are thinking of.

Declaring before that would be madness, given the state of the pitch and our bowling attack.

 

[BeeGee]

As the lead is only 110 now, it will take until tea to get a the lead of 270 you are thinking of.

Declaring before that would be madness, given the state of the pitch and our bowling attack.

The lead is currently 115. If NZ could score another 155 runs in 38 overs (that's a RR of 4) then declare, with 2 overs lost due to the change of innings, that would set India a target of 270 in 50 overs.
It would all depend on McCullum batting through, as he would have to be the aggressor to try and score quick runs to get the run rate up before the declaration.

EDIT: It wouldn't be madness. Sure, the wicket is flat and our bowlers aren't great, but that's the point of the declaration: the one thing that can turn a toothless medium pacer into a wicket taker is the pressure to score.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Doubt they'll declare. They'll see Sehwag as too big a risk, I reckon.

 

[Woodster]

Doubt they'll declare. They'll see Sehwag as too big a risk, I reckon.

Yes absolutely, when the opposition possesses a man capable of scoring so freely, any thoughts of a tempting declaration are put to one side. The best thing is for NZ to gain a healthy lead but be bowled out to really set it up, as I don't think there's a chance of them declaring.

If NZ can take India to Nagpur with the series at 0-0, who knows.

 

[BeeGee]

Doubt they'll declare. They'll see Sehwag as too big a risk, I reckon.

You're probably right, but McCullum did have this to say yesterday:

"We'll continue to play positively tomorrow," he said. "It's an important first session for us. If we can have a good one, it sets up the chance to set India something."

India v New Zealand: Brendon McCullum proves top-order credentials | Cricket Features | India v New Zealand | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[BeeGee]

Here's a quote from Steve Waugh after his sporting declaration against NZ at the Gabba in 2001. IMO this is the attitude all Test captains should have:

"You're here to entertain and enjoy yourself and you're trying to win a Test match if you can. I don't see any point playing out a dull draw," Waugh said.

High roller Waugh admits one shot held Test in balance | Cricket News | Global | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[Jono]

Easy to say that when you have Warne and McGrath. It'd still laudable though.

 

[NasserFan207]

Yeah, when you've assembled one of the greatest test teams of all time that attitude is much easier to have.

Unfortunately, Vettori is no Warne and Southee no Mcgrath. New Zealand is a team (no offense) of relatively average test cricketers playing the number one side at home. They should be thrilled with a draw.

 

[centurymaker]

Doubt they'll declare. They'll see Sehwag as too big a risk, I reckon.

I agree.
However, we shouldn't even be worried about sehwag as his 2nd innings record is terrible.

 

[TT Boy]

You're probably right, but McCullum did have this to say yesterday:

Would just focus on scoring a huge double hundred and piling all the pressure on India to produce a wicket for the 3rd test where a positive result is possible.