India tour of New Zealand - Jan to Feb 2014

[Left_Hander]

As an Aussie, I've always liked Williamson. Not sure why but he seems to be entertaining to watch. Glad he got a hundred today and helped New Zealand into a good position.

 

[Biggs]

Williamson is the right mix of Andrew Jones, Roger Twose and Hamish Marshall. He'll never be a show stopper but he'll score runs and win us games. Long may he continue.

 

[asprin]

Can Williamson ever fail in this series? Looks like he can do no wrong.

 

[karolkarol]

Rutherford, Fulton, Williamson, Taylor, Anderson, Watling, Mcculum, Vettori, Southee, Bracewell/Wagner/Henry/McClenaghan/Mills, Boult.

^ Let's take that as a rough team, it looks more solid than England at this point.

Stronger middle order certainly but absolutely not so the rest of the team.

Just as one good series does not make guys good players, one bad series does not make guys bad players either.

 

[greymatter776]

I am fed up with India.When the fielding is good bowling is pathetic.When bowlers are performing good fielders drops too many

 

[playkid12]

Ishant Sharma selected and gets two wickets where the batsmen threw away their wickets. But he'll get selected again now.

Zaheer Khan getting a lucky scalp as well. He's lost so much pace. Bowling at 120 is a joke. I don't see any other team where their lead bowler bowls at 120k's.

 

[Aalay]

Zaheer Khan getting a lucky scalp as well. He's lost so much pace. Bowling at 120 is a joke. I don't see any other team where their lead bowler bowls at 120k's.

He has not looked threatening at all after that 1st inning in Jo'burg test against South Africa. He was poor in the second inning and than again poor in the 2nd test. Here again, he starts off poorly. It's time that we give someone like Umesh Yadav a consistent go overseas. And as soon as Zaheer retires, I would immediately make him the bowling coach of India because he has played all around the world and there is no better mentor for our bowlers than him.

I also read on Cricinfo that Jadeja wasn't up to the mark and that is very unlike Jadeja. Jadeja is generally very consistent with his line and length but was bowling a lot of bad deliveries yesterday. All we can pray for is a collapse from NZ now because I don't see any other way back in the game for us.

We have also made it pretty clear that we will at least drop 2 catches in every test which could cost us the game.

 

[playkid12]

And as soon as Zaheer retires, I would immediately make him the bowling coach of India because he has played all around the world and there is no better mentor for our bowlers than him.

That's if he wants to coach. He's going to be in the IPL, which is going to bring him $$. He might take a year or two off just enjoying playing in the IPL making easy money and not doing much for the rest of the year.

 

[abhi_jacko]

This was expected though, wasn't it ?
You are playing with 3 'fast' bowlers, and one part-time spinner in a Test Match. The only way you will get 20 wickets is by fluke. Ishant is all set for another 10 games thanks to Rahane and Sir.

 

[SaiSrini]

Just H.O.P.E.L.E.S.S! The transition phase for this team is truly on and kicking. But the bad part is, the ill effects of the transition is not happening where its supposed to be, in the batting part. Its happening on the other side, the bowling side. After the retirement of the batting greats, we expected our batsmen to be troubled with all problems. But they look more assured as of now. Its our bowlers and fielders who are wilting under pressure.

If they bat till 400+, this game is a goner. When India come into bat, they will be under pressure and wickets will start falling.

 

[playkid12]

I don't think it's only the bowling. India's batting is really weak as well. This was exhibited in the ODI's, where every batsman aside from Dhoni and Kohli failed, and the last test series in SA, where every batsman aside from Pujara and Kohli failed.

In short, only Pujara and Kohli fire in tests abroad, and only Dhoni and Kohli fire in ODIs abroad. Kohli and Pujara are so good that they can pick up for the slack in Tests. Weak knee or not, this is why Pujara is needed in the ODI's.

I said it before, and I'll say it again - India need to go in with a 4 pacer attack. That is the only way we can discover the best pacers we have in the 15 man squad. Ishwar Pandey was left out in the ODIs through the entire series. Now, we have other pacers that are just sitting in the sidelines. The new names are just going to warm the benches. Not only that, but our spinners are no longer so good that they are automatically selected - like Ashwin, who struggles getting wickets. Take him out, put in a pacer. We're running out of time, and the extra slot can help us give chances to more pacers and hopefully discover a new talent. It's worth the gamble.

 

[Biggs]

On the plus side for Indian fans, if McCullum can score 150+ today we'll never dismiss Kohli on this pitch, so hopefully you can't find another batsman in your team that wants to stick around with him, otherwise pick a god and pray for rain...

 

[used2bcool]

I know Dhoni gets a ton of flack for defensive captaincy (and some of it is deserved), but I think we all underestimate just how difficult it is to be a good and/or aggressive captain with shit bowling. There is virtually no team in the history of cricket who have been successful with the quality of bowlers we have at the moment.

 

[Epic]

Ishant and Zaheer have got to go, but knowing Dhoni, their places are probably more secured at this point than Pujara and Kohli's.

 

[Aalay]

On the plus side for Indian fans, if McCullum can score 150+ today we'll never dismiss Kohli on this pitch, so hopefully you can't find another batsman in your team that wants to stick around with him, otherwise pick a god and pray for rain...

Kohli is 2nd best when it comes to test batting. Pujara is our best test batsman.

I know Dhoni gets a ton of flack for defensive captaincy (and some of it is deserved), but I think we all underestimate just how difficult it is to be a good and/or aggressive captain with shit bowling. There is virtually no team in the history of cricket who have been successful with the quality of bowlers we have at the moment.

THIS.

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They are bowling bouncers at the speed 127 Km/h. I mean WTH is wrong with them?