India tour of New Zealand - Jan to Feb 2014

[used2bcool]

I think it's a game of percentages, really. I think opposition sides have to realize they have a better chance of exploiting India's weakness - our pace attack - if they don't prepare green pitches that give us a bite. Since one would back their batting to come good in home conditions, why make them go through the extra test of performing in bowler-friendly conditions? Our bowling attack doesn't have the pace or discipline needed to get through decent batters on unhelpful tracks. If New Zealand back themselves to say that their pace attack is better than ours (and it is) in neutral conditions, then there's no real reason for them to prepare a green track that makes it easier for our bowlers to take wickets and test their batters.

Neil Wagner is a twat. You're getting flogged to all parts and your team is losing the game. Shut the fish up and bowl.

 

[War]

I think it's a game of percentages, really. I think opposition sides have to realize they have a better chance of exploiting India's weakness - our pace attack - if they don't prepare green pitches that give us a bite. Since one would back their batting to come good in home conditions, why make them go through the extra test of performing in bowler-friendly conditions? Our bowling attack doesn't have the pace or discipline needed to get through decent batters on unhelpful tracks. If New Zealand back themselves to say that their pace attack is better than ours (and it is) in neutral conditions, then there's no real reason for them to prepare a green track that makes it easier for our bowlers to take wickets and test their batters..

I would think that's bcause NZ quicks perform at their best in seaming pitches too, Southee/Bolt particularly are clearly swing bowlers whose potency is at its optimum on a greentop/seamer. NZ quicks still have to show they can bowl well overseas in asia particularly, although i see signs that they have the skills to do so. Southee took a 7 for in IND the other day i recall & they both bowled well in test match win in SRI also.

 

[SaiSrini]

Neil Wagner is a twat. You're getting flogged to all parts and your team is losing the game. Shut the fish up and bowl.

I agree! After being hit for 4 boundaries in a row by MS Dhoni, he has the audacity to sledge Dhoni of all people! I think Dhoni gave him something back in return (in words). Wish we could know what it was.

 

[ferg512]

I agree! After being hit for 4 boundaries in a row by MS Dhoni, he has the audacity to sledge Dhoni of all people! I think Dhoni gave him something back in return (in words). Wish we could know what it was.

Thats a bit disappointing certainly not a good look having a word when you are getting pummeled, its fair to say preparing that greentop has completely and utterly backfired. I still think it was a strange decision especially when you're 1-0 up.

----------

Also, hopefully thats Peter Fultons last test innings.

 

[SaiSrini]

Suddenly Zaheer is coming to the party! Can we see the old menacing Zak back again? Hope so.... Getting Williamson quickly is very good for India!

 

[Aalay]

Zaheer Khan is bowling very well right now. Even though he is down on speed, he is moving the ball both ways and pitching it just around that good length area.

they both bowled well in test match win in SRI also.

Chaminda Vaas certainly prepared them very well for that series because I haven't seen someone swing the ball that much in Sri Lanka.

I think Dhoni gave him something back in return (in words). Wish we could know what it was.

I don't think Dhoni said anything, he just smiled at him.

 

[SaiSrini]

Zaheer Khan is bowling very well right now. Even though he is down on speed, he is moving the ball both ways and pitching it just around that good length area.

Chaminda Vaas certainly prepared them very well for that series because I haven't seen someone swing the ball that much in Sri Lanka.

I don't think Dhoni said anything, he just smiled at him.

I watched the highlights! Dhoni was replying in words to Wagner's sledge along with a smile. It was that over when Dhoni hit Wagner for 4 fours...

 

[used2bcool]

This period of play is critical. Not too much from the pitch right now, so it comes down to our bowlers' skill, application, and discipline. So far it's not looking bad. I hope we don't come back from lunch looking flat like we did on day 1 in Auckland.

And of course, we drop a catch.

 

[Aalay]

Just when I talk about how our catching has been good this match, Kohli drops a catch. You have to take those Virat if you don't want to bat again.

 

[War]

Mark Richardson: We don't need a green top now - Cricket - NZ Herald News

 

[SaiSrini]

This could be an innings victory which will be really sweet after the defeat in Auckland and all the talk of rattling us with green tops.

Hope the bowlers maintain the intensity and wrap it up before NZ get into the lead.

 

[used2bcool]

Top-notch batting from New Zealand, this. I've actually been quite impressed by our bowling too. We've kept it tight for the most part and bowled to our plans, just haven't had a lot of luck. Two dropped catches didn't help either.

Some bad, reactive captaincy from Dhoni, though. I wanted him to search for wickets more actively.

 

[asprin]

And Brendon does it again. Brilliant innings that could possibly save or even give them a chance to win. A lead of 100 could be tricky score to chase.

 

[SaiSrini]

@War - There is your example. Do you know see how listless our bowlers are when the help from the conditions is next to nil? India might still win this match due to the lead we got, but this keeps proving that to pull India down, render their bowlers ineffective.

This is worrying from India's side because soon other nations will catch up on the trend that we have been discussing about here, and will continue to prepare wickets to not suit India's bowlers. The batsmen might end up with better averages, but our bowlers will always be ineffective when conditions dont help.

 

[playkid12]

Our batsmen will not have better averages if the pitches that we play on are made to be bouncy. Best pitches against India = pacy + bouncy. Worst pitch against India = green. I'd even argue a batsman friendly flat track isn't the best idea due to our batting prowess. India can easily get draws from such tracks. Just like greentops add venom to our bowlers, flat tracks take away the venom from the oppositions bowling, and it ends up evening the bowling units. We do decent on dustbowl pitches as well, but not as much as historically. But honestly, bouncy pacy wickets are definitely our downfall. Sadly, the world cup is in Australia which is full of pace and bounce and unless we can come up with something, I don't see us even making the semis.