New Zealand Tour of India, November 2010/11

[subversive]

Since Zaheer Khan is out of the last test in Nagpur, it'll either be another boring draw or (gasp!) a NZ win

 

[aussie1st]

To take out the Indian result you basically need to get Sehwag in the 1st innings or win the toss and bat first and bat well. Still very tough beating India as they have the class batsmen to stay at the crease for long periods.

 

[Chewie]

How do they get results in Indian FC cricket?
Considering those matches are only four days long...

Our ODI squad looks more or less the best we could pick, except Oram who's still out.

Our line-up will porbably look like:

1. Brendon McCullum (wk) (or Gareth Hopkins if he gets injured)
2. Jesse Ryder
3. Martin Guptill (or Jamie How)
4. Ross Taylor
5. Scott Styris
6. Kane Williamson
7. Daniel Vettori (capt)
8. Nathan McCullum
9. Kyle Mills
10. Daryl Tuffey (or Andy McKay/Grant Elliott)
11. Tim Southee

I guess they may try and bulk up our batting with either Elliot or How over Tuffey or Southee. You'd probably back Ryder, Stryis, Williamson and Elliot to get through 10 - 20 overs, therefore you'd only need the four bowlers/bowling AR's, hence Tuffey or Southee would miss out. Oram would really just link our batsmen and our bowlers in at seven, as Vettori's not really suited there in the ODI game.

They won't chuck Jamie How in there I don't think. Guptill performed in the last test so he'll probably play 3. Also, I'd swap Williamson and Styris around. Styris would be better lower down because he can hit it harder, whereas Williamson is more the nudge the ball around and take singles and hit fours on the bad balls.

Also, Tuffey probably won't play I don't think. The selectors seem to have lost confidence in him, so I'd think McKay or Elliott would play. The problem with playing Elliott is that you have 3 number 5 batsmen in positions 5-7.

 

[Left_Hander]

I've got to admit, I thought McCullum opening the batting was a peculiar move. Probably because he used to be a wicket keeper, but I'm extremely happy to see him scoring runs. Always a good player to watch in full flight.

Is anyone else hoping that Harbhajan finishes with the most runs in the series? It would defiently be one of the strangest things to happen in cricket.

 

[Chewie]

Is anyone else hoping that Harbhajan finishes with the most runs in the series? It would defiently be one of the strangest things to happen in cricket.

Definitely not, tweaking hack.

Oh and I remember reading somewhere that McCullum might not be opening in ODIs anymore? That would lead to:

Ryder
Guptill
How
Taylor
Williamson
Styris
McCullum
Vettori
Mills
Southee
McKay/McCullum

 

[Left_Hander]

Definitely not, flinging hack.

Obviously being a Kiwi supporter I had a feeling you wouldn't respond kindly to that.

 

[SaiSrini]

How about a win for New Zealand No one's considering that and it is definitely possible.

NZ squad for the ODIs named:

Good to see Styris and How there. I don't think there's anything wrong with that squad really.

Considering the runs they are giving to Harbhajan, I dont see them winning the next test.

 

[CG123]

Oh and I remember reading somewhere that McCullum might not be opening in ODIs anymore?

I just heard that on the radio before as well.

 

[CG123]

India's attack without Zaheer:

Ojha - 7 wickets @ 46 (S/R 112)
Sreesanth - 6 wickets @ 50 (E/R 4.01)
Harbhajan - 6 wickets @ 51 (S/R 117)

To have your second best pace bowler in the country operating at over four runs an over in test matches, against what some of you Indians are calling a defensive NZ team is just a disgrace.

I can't really see either team winning the third test, unless NZ play terrible cricket. India's bowling just simply isn't good enough, while their batting is too good for NZ, hence I'd this series is really heading towards a nil nil scoreline.

I just have to put this in here, but look at Vettori, most wickets, second best average, best E/R.

Vettori - 11 wickets @ 30 (E/R 2.34)

Him and Zaheer are quite far ahead of the field in terms of the bowlers on show this series.

 

[Chewie]

Martin's figures aren't too bad either, 7 at 32 odd. And all of those have been top order wickets as well

 

[LongLegs?]

How do they get results in Indian FC cricket?
Considering those matches are only four days long...

They don't. Some teams are just way stronger, and thus are able to get results, though one or two teams do prepare sporting pitches, but the rest just settle for the first innings lead, which gives you a good no. of points. Pitches are dire at most of the main grounds. However, last year's FC final was brilliant because of the amazing pitch created at Mysore - I don't know the capacity at that stadium(Gangothri Glades) but it really should be used as an international venue.

 

[subversive]

Aside from the pitches, there's another main reason there are mainly draws in Indian FC cricket. And that is teams being overly defensive. Take the recent Mumbai vs. Saurastra match for instance, Mumbai could have enforced the follow-on and tried for a win but they didn't.

 

[riz7khan12]

Oh and I remember reading somewhere that McCullum might not be opening in ODIs anymore? That would lead to:

Ryder
Guptill
How
Taylor
Williamson
Styris
McCullum
Vettori
Mills
Southee
McKay/McCullum

If McCullum doesn't open ODI's then he will definitely would want to come at 4 or 5 and mess up the balance of the side again.

 

[Chewie]

He needs to play down the order so we have a finisher. Vettori, Williamson and Elliott aren't suitable for that job.

 

[aussie1st]

Bit of a fail by cricinfo.

New Zealand 1 Tim McIntosh, 2 Brendon McCullum, 3 BJ Watling, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Jesse Ryder, 6 Kane Williamson, 7 Daniel Vettori (capt), 8 Gareth Hopkins (wk), 9 Tim Southee, 10 Andy McKay, 11 Chris Martin

NZ have already named their 12 and BJ Watling certainly isn't in it. Tough place to debut for McKay but I did like what I saw of him, generated some good pace and hes a lefties which adds variation to the attack.