Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland

BerniesCorner

@canefan The pitch is a killer though. Sideways movement is fine but the variable bounce is a lottery. The ball is regularly hitting porridge areas and turning into a worm burner.
Other depressing news. I live 10km away and it is currently raining.

canefan

@BerniesCorner said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@canefan The pitch is a killer though. Sideways movement is fine but the variable bounce is a lottery. The ball is regularly hitting porridge areas and turning into a worm burner.
Other depressing news. I live 10km away and it is currently raining.

Rain for 3 days?

BerniesCorner

I heard someone say today was rain, clear and rain again.

MN5

Just got inside word that there's some drizzle.

I'd like to say hopefully three days worth but fuck that mentality. One of Conway, Ravindra, Mitchell and/or Blundell need to pony up, knuckle down and actually get these runs.

Of that bunch and to play that way I'd back Conway and Mitchell most.....in saying that a carefree 60/70 odd from Ravindra would be nice........and NZ bat way down. Phillips is due a big score at test level. Smith has good first class batting pedigree. Jamieson and Henry have 50s at this level.

Catogrande

There seem to have been a few instances of poor shot selection but these made to look even worse by the pitch. The ball that got Bethel in the second innings was a shocker. Vaughan and Nasser are seething about it and reckon that the ECB should take away the rights to test matches at Lords until the MCC get their act together and sort out the pitch, which has been very difficult and inconsistent for some time. This would take a couple of years though.

Imagine a summer or two of test cricket with no Lords test!

canefan

Excuse my ignorance, but how long does it take to improve a pitch block?

Catogrande

@canefan said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

Excuse my ignorance, but how long does it take to improve a pitch block?

According to the article on Aunty's website this morning, Lords would need a couple of years as they would have to dig the whole square up and pretty much go from scratch again -

"What do the ECB do, if they have to dig up the pitch and start again? It means no cricket here for two years," ex-New Zealand bowler Simon Doull told Sky Sports.

canefan

@Catogrande said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@canefan said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

Excuse my ignorance, but how long does it take to improve a pitch block?

According to the article on Aunty's website this morning, Lords would need a couple of years as they would have to dig the whole square up and pretty much go from scratch again -

"What do the ECB do, if they have to dig up the pitch and start again? It means no cricket here for two years," ex-New Zealand bowler Simon Doull told Sky Sports.

So a drop in is out of the question? Surely technology has improved to a point to where that would be better than the pitch they have now

Catogrande

@canefan

I guess that the feeling is that there is so much wrong with the square that a drop in simply wouldn't fix the real issues.

Someone mentioned it earlier. Ravindra is constantly dropping sitters. His dismissals are generally caused by a brain explosions.

No Quarter

It's a combination of a difficult pitch and really poor technique from modern batsmen. I get that there are issues with the pitch, and the up and down bounce can't really be tolerated as it can become dangerous (though I've seen worse on the sub-continent), but professional batsmen should be able to counter the sideways movement a lot better. Cover your stumps, play inside the line and don't follow the ball, and defend with soft hands so if you edge it, it doesn't fly into the slips. Do that until the shine is off the ball, then look to up the ante. This is just test cricket 101, but what I see these days is batsmen playing with hard hands early so every edge flies in the air, failing to cover their stumps (how are they getting beaten on the outside and still get bowled?!), and an inability to concentrate for long enough period of time to survive if the ball moves around for a while. T20 has a lot to answer for...

A 300+ score against a pitch with sideways movement should be well within reach.

canefan

@barky1 said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

Someone mentioned it earlier. Ravindra is constantly dropping sitters. His dismissals are generally caused by a brain explosions.

He was concussed that time in the deep when he missed the catch and it hit him in the head

Donsteppa

The weather might save this one from being a two and a half day Test match.

As for the bounce - a priceless venue with a Temu wicket block.

Bones

Nass and Mel rather disparaging of the umpires and powers that be, as the players leave 11 balls in due to rain, after lunching throughout the sunshine.

canefan

Devan goes at the first ball after the resumption with hard hands. He won't be there long if he keeps this up

canefan

This is a massive challenge, Rachin will hopefully embrace it

canefan

Rachin succumbs to Robinson with another ball going on to hit off stump. A tough assignment is getting tougher. This pitch is a minefield

canefan

Mitch given LBW, review confirms it. He was unlucky, I thought in real time that it was going down leg but the umpire gave him out. If he hadn't he would have been safe. I think you can stick a fork in us

canefan

We like to bag poor pitches on the subcontinent. But this Lord's pitch is not test quality

BerniesCorner

Left Lords 2 hours ago. Crap day, crap pitch.
Paid NZ34.00 for a burger at Lords, wx cold like a miserable Wgtn southerly day.

MN5

@canefan said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

We like to bag poor pitches on the subcontinent. But this Lord's pitch is not test quality

Agreed, but if the rain saves NZ they don't deserve it. After all England played on exactly the same pitch.

199 further runs look a million miles away.

Twin failures from Latham, Ravindra and Mitchell are hugely disappointing. We can't always rely on KW miracles.

MN5

@nzzp said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@MN5 said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

Twin failures from Latham, Ravindra and Mitchell are hugely disappointing. We can't always rely on KW miracles.

KW was 0 and 18. That's hardly a non-failure.

For sure. What I'm trying to say is that will happen every now and again. If it does someone else should stand up.

Although the Indians on FB are taking great delight in pointing out KW fails overseas and talking up Kohli as being better ( conveniently forgetting his average record in the last few years of his test career )

canefan

@MN5 said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@Bones said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@MN5 said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@Bones said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

Alright Nigel

Glad you're here. Can you give us a weather report please ?

It's a miracle. I can see the sky.

Hallelujah !!!!!

I mean......fuck !!!

....that's not the only miracle we'll need today.

alt text

Too much to ask some of our specialist batters to grow a spine?

MN5

@canefan said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@MN5 said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@Bones said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@MN5 said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@Bones said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

Alright Nigel

Glad you're here. Can you give us a weather report please ?

It's a miracle. I can see the sky.

Hallelujah !!!!!

I mean......fuck !!!

....that's not the only miracle we'll need today.

View image

Too much to ask some of our specialist batters to grow a spine?

Well they've all fucken sucked so far this test.

Help us Obi Wan Conway. You're our only hope !

canefan

@MN5 said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@canefan said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@MN5 said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@Bones said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@MN5 said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@Bones said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

Alright Nigel

Glad you're here. Can you give us a weather report please ?

It's a miracle. I can see the sky.

Hallelujah !!!!!

I mean......fuck !!!

....that's not the only miracle we'll need today.

View image

Too much to ask some of our specialist batters to grow a spine?

Well they've all fucken sucked so far this test.

Help us Obi Wan Conway. You're our only hope !

He looks so out of sync. Nasser broke it down by comparing his Lords double ton innings to now. His prep and footwork are all at sea

Bones

Clouds incoming. We can only hope.

MN5

@canefan said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@MN5 said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@canefan said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@MN5 said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@Bones said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@MN5 said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@Bones said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

Alright Nigel

Glad you're here. Can you give us a weather report please ?

It's a miracle. I can see the sky.

Hallelujah !!!!!

I mean......fuck !!!

....that's not the only miracle we'll need today.

View image

Too much to ask some of our specialist batters to grow a spine?

Well they've all fucken sucked so far this test.

Help us Obi Wan Conway. You're our only hope !

He looks so out of sync. Nasser broke it down by comparing his Lords double ton innings to now. His prep and footwork are all at sea

Nassar Hussein played close to 100 tests for England as a specialist batsman and averaged 37. He doesn't know shit.

( ok, he is is actually an outstanding pundit to be fair )

canefan

@MN5 said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@canefan said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@MN5 said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@canefan said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@MN5 said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@Bones said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@MN5 said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@Bones said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

Alright Nigel

Glad you're here. Can you give us a weather report please ?

It's a miracle. I can see the sky.

Hallelujah !!!!!

I mean......fuck !!!

....that's not the only miracle we'll need today.

View image

Too much to ask some of our specialist batters to grow a spine?

Well they've all fucken sucked so far this test.

Help us Obi Wan Conway. You're our only hope !

He looks so out of sync. Nasser broke it down by comparing his Lords double ton innings to now. His prep and footwork are all at sea

Nassar Hussein played close to 100 tests for England as a specialist batsman and averaged 37. He doesn't know shit.

( ok, he is is actually an outstanding pundit to be fair )

It was a good piece. Devan doesn't get his front foot set early enough, so instead of then stepping into the ball he's still trying to get balanced. Nasser said that's why he can't "locate" the ball. It reminded me of the last time he was out of form in a NZ test series. Just lacking confidence, getting hit or trying not to get hit. Hard hands.

MN5

@canefan said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@MN5 said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@canefan said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@MN5 said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@canefan said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@MN5 said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@Bones said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@MN5 said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@Bones said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

Alright Nigel

Glad you're here. Can you give us a weather report please ?

It's a miracle. I can see the sky.

Hallelujah !!!!!

I mean......fuck !!!

....that's not the only miracle we'll need today.

View image

Too much to ask some of our specialist batters to grow a spine?

Well they've all fucken sucked so far this test.

Help us Obi Wan Conway. You're our only hope !

He looks so out of sync. Nasser broke it down by comparing his Lords double ton innings to now. His prep and footwork are all at sea

Nassar Hussein played close to 100 tests for England as a specialist batsman and averaged 37. He doesn't know shit.

( ok, he is is actually an outstanding pundit to be fair )

It was a good piece. Devan doesn't get his front foot set early enough, so instead of them stepping into the ball he's still trying to get balanced. Nasser said that's why he can't "locate" the ball. It reminded me of the last time he was out of form in a NZ test series. Just lacking confidence, getting hit or trying not to get hit. Hard hands.

Yeah, one must wonder if the four tons him and Latham ( who has been even more shit ) got vs the Windies at home have flattered to deceive ?

canefan

@MN5 said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@canefan said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@MN5 said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@canefan said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@MN5 said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@canefan said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@MN5 said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@Bones said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@MN5 said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@Bones said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

Alright Nigel

Glad you're here. Can you give us a weather report please ?

It's a miracle. I can see the sky.

Hallelujah !!!!!

I mean......fuck !!!

....that's not the only miracle we'll need today.

View image

Too much to ask some of our specialist batters to grow a spine?

Well they've all fucken sucked so far this test.

Help us Obi Wan Conway. You're our only hope !

He looks so out of sync. Nasser broke it down by comparing his Lords double ton innings to now. His prep and footwork are all at sea

Nassar Hussein played close to 100 tests for England as a specialist batsman and averaged 37. He doesn't know shit.

( ok, he is is actually an outstanding pundit to be fair )

It was a good piece. Devan doesn't get his front foot set early enough, so instead of them stepping into the ball he's still trying to get balanced. Nasser said that's why he can't "locate" the ball. It reminded me of the last time he was out of form in a NZ test series. Just lacking confidence, getting hit or trying not to get hit. Hard hands.

Yeah, one must wonder if the four tons him and Latham ( who has been even more shit ) got vs the Windies at home have flattered to deceive ?

I think his footwork is generally not strong. Perhaps that's why he never got picked in SA? When his eye is in it covers up the footwork flaws. But when he's not seeing it as well, those lucky inside edges and late shots morph into what we have right now

MN5

@canefan said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@MN5 said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@canefan said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@MN5 said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@canefan said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@MN5 said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@canefan said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@MN5 said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@Bones said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@MN5 said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

@Bones said in Black Caps Test Tour to England & Ireland:

Alright Nigel

Glad you're here. Can you give us a weather report please ?

It's a miracle. I can see the sky.

Hallelujah !!!!!

I mean......fuck !!!

....that's not the only miracle we'll need today.

View image

Too much to ask some of our specialist batters to grow a spine?

Well they've all fucken sucked so far this test.

Help us Obi Wan Conway. You're our only hope !

He looks so out of sync. Nasser broke it down by comparing his Lords double ton innings to now. His prep and footwork are all at sea

Nassar Hussein played close to 100 tests for England as a specialist batsman and averaged 37. He doesn't know shit.

( ok, he is is actually an outstanding pundit to be fair )

It was a good piece. Devan doesn't get his front foot set early enough, so instead of them stepping into the ball he's still trying to get balanced. Nasser said that's why he can't "locate" the ball. It reminded me of the last time he was out of form in a NZ test series. Just lacking confidence, getting hit or trying not to get hit. Hard hands.

Yeah, one must wonder if the four tons him and Latham ( who has been even more shit ) got vs the Windies at home have flattered to deceive ?

I think his footwork is generally not strong. Perhaps that's why he never got picked in SA? When his eye is in it covers up the footwork flaws. But when he's not seeing it as well, those lucky inside edges and late shots morph into what we have right now

Without going off topic too much from reading Wags book there was definitely quota systems in place in SA.

I can't think of another nation that has provided more playing talent for other countries.

But yeah, if Conway goes early NZ are absolutely fucked.

Catogrande

I wouldn't be too hard on your batsmen, ours have been just as unconvincing on this pitch. The difference has been those shocking missed catches. If you take even half of those we'd be looking at a totally different picture.

Donsteppa

Our batsmen could neither bat nor catch.

Ravindra might need to bowl a bit, because he's a very pedestrian specialist fielder.

MN5

Conway and Phillips having a crack.

Blundell reverted to type prior to this.......