Same old, same old. Zim's poor opening bowlers fail to claim more than a single wicket each! That was very much predictable! (I keep saying this, just find it funny that some actuallly expect them to do better when the trend is that they won't!). It's irrelevant to judge their second innings performance because NZ won't need it! Won't bother going into the no-balls, that's meant to be Shingi's speciality - how the roles are quickly reversing. A sign of what's come perhaps?
Glad to see Cremer toiling unsuccessfully as well. Wasted plane ticket. Utseya should've been receiving warm-up for the ODIs! What more can you expect from Meth! It seems Shingi is really determined!
He together with Meth & Elton took the 3 real wickets in that NZ XI lineup - Kane, Ross & DV! Such a pity that only two out of those three, along with Price, WILL have to do all the work in the Test match!
If(and I hope) Elton is included, he'll have to seriously do something about that pathetic run rate. He's our best bowler against LH batsmen, but NZ have just one if I'm not mistaken, Daniel Vettori! He's got his work cut out because tight, effetive overs WILL be required of him!
I fancy Matsi getting a spot ahead of Regis & Forster. His part-time spin, together with Waller can relieve BT of the pressure. With Jarvis & Vitori, plus maybe Shingi if he's included, being shown to all ends of the ground wicketless, I doubt they'll bowl that many overs per day.
Meth has done well, so unless they drop Vitori(which wouldn't be unfair but logical), Shingi WILL sit this one out. We're far too thin on batting to consider dropping Elton for a bowler - the balance will be totally wrong, that's important! METH IS NOT AN ALL-ROUNDER, SHINGI'S BATTING SHOULD NOT BE VALUED!!!!!!
1.Tino, 2.Hami, 3.Taylor, 4.Taibu 5.Waller, 6.Matsi, 7.Elton, 8.Meth, 9.Price, 10.Jarvis 11.Vitori
I would've liked to see Rob Nicol being brought in to open with Guptil, while McCullum drops down the order, but BJ Watling, looks to be up to it. Nicol will have to wait, while McCullum gives one of Vitori/Jarvis a chance of their only wicket!
Smart move by NZ to give our batsmen a bunch of nothing bowlers! Chris Martin's figures highlighting the gulf between the attack we'll face and this rubbish (if an early wicket falls during the Test, Taylor has to be moved out of the order to get him forced out of the attack). Real pity to see us making heavy work of it. Harsh, since the positive efforts of our bowlers are commendable, but we should really be going hard at sub-standard bowlers. It's a 3-day game not a Test match, and we'll have to make a sporting declaration! NZ had lost three wickets in roughly the same amount of time, but kept going - overall SR 62! I expect to see us go at over 4rpo, force the NZ technical team to think defensive.
Wells looks handy, so if Ryder messes up something in training while trying to bowl again he should be should push Franklin for the replacement slot. They're proper all-rounders. So if it does come to that, at least our guys have had a look at him.
Good batting so far from Mawoyo & Hamilton, hopefully they can get some exposure to Vettori tomorrow before the test match.
