Well the Black caps played the last test match against Sri Lanka using every man and his dog in the field and still couldn't win this is a bit of a problem, but having several players who aren't even playing at domestic level leads to some major problems as they proved in this match.
The Bat above is exactly what it seems the Black Caps are using at the moment, they can't hit anything
What does Chris Martin put in his hands to guarantee a wicket every ball???
A bat of course
Former Hawke's Bay and Wellington representative Edward "Jim" Newbigin couldn't hide a wry smile this week as debate raged over Brendon McCullum's controversial run out of Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan.
Jim himself was involved in a similar situation many years ago and believes that it is all part of the game, he thinks that kids need to be taught to play to win. In Australia this is the case, but here in New Zealand it seems that they aren't. I remember when they decided to stop scoring at Primary school sport, now this is ridiculous they should be taught that you play the game to win, and this is the same in life, why bandy around and play at good sportsmen and women when this is necessary and a part of the game, but sport is about the winning and this is exactly what McCullum was doing.
Good on you McCullum, play to win.
New Zealand made a great game of the test match against Sri Lanka and came out on top, but all the commentators can do is bitch about McCullum dismissing Muttaih in the second innings as he went to congratulate Sangakarra on making his century. I agree completely with McCullums actions, the rules of the game stand and this talk of 'spirit' of the game is a load of crap in the days of the chronic players not leaving when they know they edged it, in the past this was considered extremely bad sportsmanship. In this day and age all batsmen hang around til that finger goes up.
So good on McCullum and the critics can shut up. Oh and also does anyone think Sri Lanka would be complaining if they had won?
And I agree completely with Flemings statement, "If we threw and Overthrow on that ball I am sure they would've taken the run."
I posted that I thought New Zealand would get walloped in the first test, but it seems like the result could swing the other way instead. At stumps on Day 1 Sri Lanka have been bowled out for a measley 154 after electing to Bat who knows why when the Groundsman has been saying all week that it would be a bowlers pitch on day one, and in reply New Zealand is 85/2. With Fleming on 7 and Cumming on 37.
This is almost the opposite of what I predicted though a big first innings lead will be New Zealands aim now, and kicking on to try and win by an innings
Well now the Rugby season is over we are into the Summer of Cricket. New Zealand is about to begin its first test of the season against Sri Lanka, personally I don't think that the games are going to be as high scoring as commentators are seeming to suggest. Both teams have very potent bowling attacks, but New Zealands top order is still yet to fire. I have a suspiscion that New Zealand will go down big time in the first test as they just can't keep up with the Sri Lankans. Our Bowlers are where we have to beat them, and probably the batting will end up resting on McCullum, Oram, Vettori and Franklin again, So maybe our team can just rely on our bowlers, oh and wicket keeper. The specialist batsmen that have been selected for this series still worry me, yes picking younger players is a good idea, but How and Cumming have both failed before, and Sinclair is not much better. Lets get some completely new faces into the picture, how about Jesse Ryder???
I think making the changes was necessary, but I just don't think the right ones were made.
