Amazing test match. I feel it truly signified what this Blackcaps side has became in the past year or so. A team that relies heavily on its aging stalwarts (and the occasional moment of brilliance) to make up for what is sometimes overwhelming mediocrity, caused by a system that is seemingly grinding to a frustrating end.
All of this whilst having the pure ticker to on occasion rise to the occasion and shock the world.
A pretty accurate representation of Kiwi's in general I think.
Good synopsis Dylan, and it feels like a night to bask in the afterglow than pick holes, though I would be keen for you to put together a piece on “where to from here” for the Black Caps sometime soon!
On the positives it’s hard to go past a brilliant collective performance from the top seven (Will Young aside) to drag us back into the match. I thought Williamson was everything you said he was and I reserve second place for Tom Blundell. That might seem unfair on the guys that wore down the new ball and England’s bowlers up front, but his batting is currently on a high-plane, and I think he deserves more dues than he gets (largely because of his humble style).
As for the bowling I’m pleasantly shocked we got there, albeit with the benefit of England’s fatigue and a Day 5 pitch to bowl on. The balance and form of the attack simply did not suggest they could get up but they did. I thought Southee and Wagner were both excellent, and agree with you Dylan (because of signs of wear and age) that it would be an appropriate curtain call for Wagner, but what a warrior he’s been.
Outstanding result - but certainly a strange test match. Could not take my eyes off the screen during the Leach/Foakes partnership.
In your notes from Day 2 you referenced the poor balance of the side with Mitchell as the fourth seamer. I like Mitchell at six but wonder if the role we should really be questioning is Michael Bracewell. He is our fourth bowler in this setup - do we think he is actually the best spinner in the country?
If we go in with 6 bats, a keeper and four bowlers, surely we need to pick the four best bowlers, not a bowler who might whack a couple of boundaries, which seems to be Bracewell's fit? Your comments regarding spin bowling, and its development in NZ, seem so appropriate given the recent run of test spinners consisting of Santner, Astle, Patel, Somerville, Sodhi and Bracewell with no spinner being given a decent run (except maybe Santner), or the faith of the captain to perform.
With the match vs SL at Hagley coming up, will we go back to 4 Seamers (Ticker in for Bracewell?) or will we drop Will Young, for Tickner and play Bracewell as a bit of this, bit of that, batting at 7?
On a separate note - is Ravindra the next cab off the rank? Another hundred, what would he have to do to take the spot given to Will Young this test?
Final Comment - Give me more of Shane Bond in commentary. The high level coaches seem to provide fantastic insight into the game.
Wow what a test match ..that is one of the greatest test matches you will ever see .. I was very lucky to be sick for the whole test match so saw 96 percent of it . I been watching test cricket since 1980 ..this one of incredible test matches you ever see ..
I think there was soo many heroes in our test team, as a former keeper I can’t go past tom as the player of the match .. to stand up to our opening bowlers and not to concede a bye .. on that wicket is just crazy .. actually both keepers were outstanding.. I was worry about Tom form with the bat after the world test championship, but he has gone an another level ..
yes we can definitely still worry about our Test team especially in a year time, we go on about finding a test spinner etc ..but just going to soak up the sun as they say ..
finally shout out to both sides for there sportsmanship.. it’s so refreshing to see both teams play hard cricket but never cross the line .. which just shows nice guys don’t have to win at all costs unlike some country we know of ..
I’m not fan of spark sports commentary team, but having bond, Gower and Alison Mitchell definitely added to the commentary..it wasn’t biased ..they gave you insight without the normal biased you receive on Tv ..
finally bring on the basketball this Friday,, go the breakers ..eye of the tiger
Amazing test match. I feel it truly signified what this Blackcaps side has became in the past year or so. A team that relies heavily on its aging stalwarts (and the occasional moment of brilliance) to make up for what is sometimes overwhelming mediocrity, caused by a system that is seemingly grinding to a frustrating end.
All of this whilst having the pure ticker to on occasion rise to the occasion and shock the world.
A pretty accurate representation of Kiwi's in general I think.
Good synopsis Dylan, and it feels like a night to bask in the afterglow than pick holes, though I would be keen for you to put together a piece on “where to from here” for the Black Caps sometime soon!
On the positives it’s hard to go past a brilliant collective performance from the top seven (Will Young aside) to drag us back into the match. I thought Williamson was everything you said he was and I reserve second place for Tom Blundell. That might seem unfair on the guys that wore down the new ball and England’s bowlers up front, but his batting is currently on a high-plane, and I think he deserves more dues than he gets (largely because of his humble style).
As for the bowling I’m pleasantly shocked we got there, albeit with the benefit of England’s fatigue and a Day 5 pitch to bowl on. The balance and form of the attack simply did not suggest they could get up but they did. I thought Southee and Wagner were both excellent, and agree with you Dylan (because of signs of wear and age) that it would be an appropriate curtain call for Wagner, but what a warrior he’s been.
Outstanding result - but certainly a strange test match. Could not take my eyes off the screen during the Leach/Foakes partnership.
In your notes from Day 2 you referenced the poor balance of the side with Mitchell as the fourth seamer. I like Mitchell at six but wonder if the role we should really be questioning is Michael Bracewell. He is our fourth bowler in this setup - do we think he is actually the best spinner in the country?
If we go in with 6 bats, a keeper and four bowlers, surely we need to pick the four best bowlers, not a bowler who might whack a couple of boundaries, which seems to be Bracewell's fit? Your comments regarding spin bowling, and its development in NZ, seem so appropriate given the recent run of test spinners consisting of Santner, Astle, Patel, Somerville, Sodhi and Bracewell with no spinner being given a decent run (except maybe Santner), or the faith of the captain to perform.
With the match vs SL at Hagley coming up, will we go back to 4 Seamers (Ticker in for Bracewell?) or will we drop Will Young, for Tickner and play Bracewell as a bit of this, bit of that, batting at 7?
On a separate note - is Ravindra the next cab off the rank? Another hundred, what would he have to do to take the spot given to Will Young this test?
Final Comment - Give me more of Shane Bond in commentary. The high level coaches seem to provide fantastic insight into the game.
Wow what a test match ..that is one of the greatest test matches you will ever see .. I was very lucky to be sick for the whole test match so saw 96 percent of it . I been watching test cricket since 1980 ..this one of incredible test matches you ever see ..
I think there was soo many heroes in our test team, as a former keeper I can’t go past tom as the player of the match .. to stand up to our opening bowlers and not to concede a bye .. on that wicket is just crazy .. actually both keepers were outstanding.. I was worry about Tom form with the bat after the world test championship, but he has gone an another level ..
yes we can definitely still worry about our Test team especially in a year time, we go on about finding a test spinner etc ..but just going to soak up the sun as they say ..
finally shout out to both sides for there sportsmanship.. it’s so refreshing to see both teams play hard cricket but never cross the line .. which just shows nice guys don’t have to win at all costs unlike some country we know of ..
I’m not fan of spark sports commentary team, but having bond, Gower and Alison Mitchell definitely added to the commentary..it wasn’t biased ..they gave you insight without the normal biased you receive on Tv ..
finally bring on the basketball this Friday,, go the breakers ..eye of the tiger
Briliant. Open it up and flick it around to give newbies a taste.