India tour of New Zealand - Jan to Feb 2014

[asprin]

320 to win with 9 wickets in hand and 2 days to go doesn't feel even to you?

I agree. 320 in 2 days is not a big challenge. The only thing to factor in is whether the Indian batsman have it in them to be not daunted by the 400+ target and not let it affect them psychologically. Otherwise 320 in 2 days is very much achievable.

Stretch the game as long as possible?

That could be the only reason that would justify the decision to not enforce the follow on.

 

[grkrama]

I would continue with Ishant, and drop Zaheer Khan. He has looked totally un-threatening this test. In fact, more of his wickets this test were gifts than that of Ishant's. Ishant has bowled well in this game and should get his chances in the upcoming tests.

That's the end of the day, and I would dare to say now, this match is even stevens. And the most boring of the results, a draw, is almost ruled out. India have tremendously blown the door open and are now with a major shout to win this test match. WHATTA DAY'S PLAY!!!

Hasnt Zak actually got the priceless wickets of williamson and Taylor,havnt yet watched the highlights missed the match ,but figures seem decent enough or did he bowl badly,im not worried much about his pace as long as he is in rythm

 

[ferg512]

I would say its probably 60-40 in Indias favour right now. Our bowlers looked really peeved off out there (especially Boult) and they were pretty flat (understandably) in that last session. The batsman should be personally apologising to the bowlers for that sorry effort. Even if we do somehow sneak a win, Rutherford and Fulton both simply have to go, they are walking wickets every time they are out there. I mean both of them barely scored anything against a West Indies B attack. I'm all for keeping a winning side but it gets to the point where you can't keep picking players that are doing nothing. Bailey in the Ashes is a good example. I would go with Latham and either Papps or Flynn for the next game.

 

[Ohm]

9th February 2014 = First celebration day in 2014 for Indian fans.

 

[surendar]

I don't think NZ were even close in that game. Despite that Astle knock they were never in it. Cairns was injured and batted at 10 or 11 that game if i rememver right. It was with him that Astle scored a bulk of his score and NZ were well out of it by then. Plus add to the fact that Christchurch was a ridiculously small ground for test cricket.

They got defeated by 2 digits margin( around 90 or 95 I guess ) while chasing 550. That was indeed close(reaching 450) considering the mammoth target! It was the game that I watched it live & can never forget that classic one, never!

 

[asprin]

^ I was witness to that match too. Astle was mesmerizing.

 

[aditya123]

They got defeated by 2 digits margin( around 90 or 95 I guess ) while chasing 550. That was indeed close(reaching 450) considering the mammoth target! It was the game that I watched it live & can never forget that classic one, never!

So did I. My point was not to take anything away from that Astle knock but just said that while he was getting those runs, NZ were never realistically in it. Kind of similar to Agarkar`s hundred at Lords.

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I would say its probably 60-40 in Indias favour right now. Our bowlers looked really peeved off out there (especially Boult) and they were pretty flat (understandably) in that last session. The batsman should be personally apologising to the bowlers for that sorry effort. Even if we do somehow sneak a win, Rutherford and Fulton both simply have to go, they are walking wickets every time they are out there. I mean both of them barely scored anything against a West Indies B attack. I'm all for keeping a winning side but it gets to the point where you can't keep picking players that are doing nothing. Bailey in the Ashes is a good example. I would go with Latham and either Papps or Flynn for the next game.

No way its in our favor. We have`nt yet reached 100. Add two wickets to this and 400 is a long long way. India will only have a realistic chance of winning once they reach 250-odd without much damage. Even we are 300/5, I would say its game over for us. The Indian lower order (Dhoni onwards) is`nt worth more than 15 runs. You get Pujara and Kohli out before we reach 300 and NZ have it in their bag. I predict a finish before tea tomorrow. NZ to win by more than 100 runs.

 

[Aalay]

I don't know why people are saying it's in India's favour. We still have to chase 320 with an inexperienced batting line-up outside subcontinent. Yes, we have started well yesterday but there is still a long way to go in this test match. The first session today is very crucial and we can't afford to lose any wickets in that session. Dhawan and Pujara needs to add at least another 100-125 runs before we can even think about win.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

it's definitely not in india's favour imo. it's a massive target, they definitely need a couple of 100s and even then some substantial scores around that. the tail isn't exactly solid either. one wicket in the opening session and they're already looking in trouble, that's not exactly a big ask for new zealands bowlers.

 

[Samuels]

The current situation is quite a lot like the nailbiter between India and South Africa last year. Anybody's game but the difference here will be the morning session which is when the wickets have fallen like nine pins. Plus, India have not shown good form in NZ to make their case strong. The bad thing for NZ is that their bowlers depend too much on the conditions to take wickets and looking at the way it performed in the last session, I do not see the fast bowlers getting much of a help from the wicket if the Indians can see off the overcast conditions till lunch tomorrow. The way the last ball of the day turned and bounced for Ish Sodhi, we can say spinners will be doing a lot of work tomorrow and day after but alas, NZ don't have too many good spinners in their ranks. Ish and Williamson and that is it I think.

 

[playkid12]

Completely with you. This was NZ chance to say they weren't scared of India's batting and send them in again. They'd only bowled 20 overs in the morning, none of the bowlers had been overworked, and they were 300 in front. Perfect time for it really and I thought McCullum as an aggressive captain might have gone for it, but no...Seems the follow on is way out of fashion right now Wonder if ticket sales and ratings have anything to do with it. Stretch the game as long as possible?

It's just poor captaincy, and you're searching to find excuses.

 

[SaiSrini]

So did I. My point was not to take anything away from that Astle knock but just said that while he was getting those runs, NZ were never realistically in it. Kind of similar to Agarkar`s hundred at Lords.

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No way its in our favor. We have`nt yet reached 100. Add two wickets to this and 400 is a long long way. India will only have a realistic chance of winning once they reach 250-odd without much damage. Even we are 300/5, I would say its game over for us. The Indian lower order (Dhoni onwards) is`nt worth more than 15 runs. You get Pujara and Kohli out before we reach 300 and NZ have it in their bag. I predict a finish before tea tomorrow. NZ to win by more than 100 runs.

That's way too pessimistic, adi! I know where you're coming from (rather say to yourself "I said so" if something wrong happensD), but here we do have a genuine chance.

India when they come out to bat today, will be looking at it as 320 to win with 9 wickets in hand. And that doesn't seem hard. Yes, few wkts can still rock us and give NZ the charge, but as I said before, it looks pretty even to me ATM.

 

[abhi_jacko]

320 runs in the fourth innings is never ever easy regardless of the kind of wicket you are playing on - the only chance India has of winning is if they are able to get through the first session without losing more than a couple of wickets. Dhawan will have to hang on and fight it out and make this start count. Pujara has all the ability needed to grind it out

 

[asprin]

the only chance India has of winning is if they are able to get through the first session without losing more than a couple of wickets.

Nope. A couple of wickets and India will go in defensive mode, which would mean a couple of more wickets and we are into the long tail which cannot even score 20-30 runs.

 

[abhi_jacko]

Nope. A couple of wickets and India will go in defensive mode, which would mean a couple of more wickets and we are into the long tail which cannot even score 20-30 runs.

I guess you are right - was being generous lol

I would say its 80-20 in NZ's favor. Which is still better because the odds were even worse when NZ skittled out India for 200 runs in the first innings