Remember the very recent past where we’d get annoyed that Sri Lanka toured New Zealand every summer ( or so it seemed ) and got routinely beaten ?
The tables have turned like a mother fucker and then some.
I’m calling it now.
Will be some decent scores in the second innings but we’ll lose by an innings and 132 runs.
Go to the TAB now.
Conway sneaks his average back over 40.
Kane works his way past Inzaman and Miandad on the top all time test run scorers list.
Wonder how much this is as a result of SL actually playing a test series in England just before. Play test cricket, get better at test cricket etc. these days, all the other cricket these guys play is so far from the concept of test cricket and valuing your wicket etc that it takes time to get used to it again.
I’m desperate for the survival of test cricket and finding some superstars in the nations outside of the Rich 3 would incentivise that I reckon
Williamson now four runs ahead of Virat on the all time top test run scorers.
@Donsteppa said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:
Most of these guys can't bat at Test match level. India is going to be horrendous.
Well, no thats not true.
Latham and Conway average 40 each.
KW speaks for himself.
The jury is out on Ravindra as to how good he’ll be.
Mitchell has had a fantastic start but is probably petering out to his level.
Blundell is in bad form.
It’s a far cry from the days where the ONLY hundreds in the team belonged to numbers 7 and 8 ( McCullum and Vettori ) back when How, Fulton, Papps etc were in the top order.
I think it’s a perfect storm of guys being a bit past it, being found out or not being good enough.
So um yeah, I agree, India will be horrendous.
@Donsteppa said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:
Williamson now four runs ahead of Virat on the all time top test run scorers.
That’s pretty handy. In quite a few less tests too.
Of course the fuck you bloody crowd will mention his amazing ODI record but fuck that, Test cricket is the ultimate and KW is better at that !
I'm not feeling completely contradicted: on that writeup - 'KW, and two guys averaging 40' about to visit Jasprit in home conditions. 
Now fractionally rounded to 40 in Conway's case.
Mitchell's start to test cricket was the stuff of dreams, but there feels like a regression in the mix. Always had slight CdG vibes of 'how long will this last'.
@Donsteppa said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:
I'm not feeling completely contradicted: on that writeup - 'KW, and two guys averaging 40' about to visit Jasprit in home conditions.
Mitchell's start to test cricket was the stuff of dreams, but there feels like a regression in the mix. Always had slight CdG vibes of 'how long will this last'.
I hear ya.
There is also the definite prospect of KW declining in a Tendulkar/Dravid/Ponting fashion too…….they all went from late to mid to early 50s in terms of batting averages too.
I saw that score without actually opening the scorecard, and thought they were doing alright. Expected them to crumble after racking up such a big total in the field. That is the usual way.
This morning I learned that was their second innings
291 behind, four wickets in hand……..and if they somehow got the 291 then Sri Lanka get another bat.
This is as big a fucken hiding as I’ve ever recalled.
Phillips and Santner may as well have a swing, still an opportunity for Southee to get a century late in his career…………
…….and yeah, may as well pick a team for the next test vs India.
Latham
Young
KW
Ravindra
Mitchell
Blundell
Phillips
Henry
Southee
O’Rourke
Patel
Definitely shuffling the deck chairs a bit but something has to change after this atrocious effort.
I’d drop Southee for Sears but that won’t happen.
@MN5 said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:
Bugger, woulda been nice for Phillips to get a debut ton.
It's on for Southee! 10% of the way there...
I think there is a lot of negative Nellie's on here. If these 2 bat for the next day and a half we should easily be able to secure a draw.
@Damo said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:
I think there is a lot of negative Nellie's on here. If these 2 bat for the next day and a half we should easily be able to secure a draw.
love the optimism.
Aged like milk.