Thursday, December 07, 2006
Dinkas Memorial Cricket Coverage
Bond's first test at Lancaster Park, err - Jade Stadium, immediately produces two wickets, with the Sri Lankans reduced to 17/2. Promising! Great to get Jayasuriya, who averages 41 in tests, and Sangakkara, who is even more impressive with an average of 49. You're not on the subcontinent now, boys.
I see the "James Franklin Strike Force"(TM) has also been selected, and no doubt will soon be getting amongst them.
Update: I will no longer try to take the piss out of James Franklin. Overall, he bowled well. Very well after lunch. Reasonable start to the NZ innings too: currently 31/1. I'm hoping that Sinclair will make the most of this opportunity, because it's now or never for him, and he can be an awesome attacking batsman.
Good team effort so far ... I guess Vettori will be looking to make a contribution with the bat, as per the observations of Dinkas and other about his average in recent seasons.
I see the "James Franklin Strike Force"(TM) has also been selected, and no doubt will soon be getting amongst them.
Update: I will no longer try to take the piss out of James Franklin. Overall, he bowled well. Very well after lunch. Reasonable start to the NZ innings too: currently 31/1. I'm hoping that Sinclair will make the most of this opportunity, because it's now or never for him, and he can be an awesome attacking batsman.
Good team effort so far ... I guess Vettori will be looking to make a contribution with the bat, as per the observations of Dinkas and other about his average in recent seasons.
Comments:
89 for 5 now. Can't you tell I have nothing better to do than spending my time on Cricinfo.
Franklin's bowling average of 27.55 which isn't bad (72 wickets in his 20th match). He has a batting average of 23 and for his last 10 matches has a batting average of 33.9 which well isn't that far off some of our top order batsmen. He just picked up 2 wickets while I have been typing this. :)
As much as it pains me to say this, I think our best team is on the field today (if Styris wasn't injured he would come in for Sinclair).
Franklin's bowling average of 27.55 which isn't bad (72 wickets in his 20th match). He has a batting average of 23 and for his last 10 matches has a batting average of 33.9 which well isn't that far off some of our top order batsmen. He just picked up 2 wickets while I have been typing this. :)
As much as it pains me to say this, I think our best team is on the field today (if Styris wasn't injured he would come in for Sinclair).
# posted by 
: 7 December 2006 at 13:41
: 7 December 2006 at 13:41
Interesting. In the their last 15 matches, both Vettori and Fleming have a batting average of 42.5.
# posted by : 7 December 2006 at 13:46
: 7 December 2006 at 13:46
Sinclair in early in NZ's innings ... go on, man, make the most of your opportunity!
Another option is to have Styris and Oram compete for one position, or Styris in to replace Franklin (not that we can complain after he ran through the SL batters after lunch).
Another option is to have Styris and Oram compete for one position, or Styris in to replace Franklin (not that we can complain after he ran through the SL batters after lunch).
DC: Perhaps, you should take the piss out of Franklin more often. :) The moment you do he picks up another 3 wicket bag. Just when I was about to defend his record he got a wicket, so I changed his average. But no sooner had I changed it that he got another wicket.
As long as you don't take the piss out of Bracewell I will be happy.
He did pick up a 6 wicket bag against the Australians. No mean feat.
Oram can be in the side as a batsmen on his own so I wouldn't have him competing with Styris. 3 centuries and a batting average of 42.9 is respectable for a NZ batsmen. His Test bowling average is not outstanding, but as a fifth bowler he is good.
For me 5-11 are fairly fixed. Maybe Mason could come in, Tuffey if he ever gets back to his best, or
Cumming, Papps, or How to open.
Fleming at 3 or 4. If Styris plays, Fleming at 3 and Styris at 4. If Styris does not play, then probably Sinclair at 3 for the moment. Maybe consider Marshall again if Sinclair is not performing and Marshall is. Yes, I know Sinclair as an average international record, but he at least managed 3 big scores. So he might fail 80% of the time, but if he scores a century, he will score big. Better than most of the other no hopers we have had recently, who only consistently fail.
5. Astle
6. Oram
7. McCullum
8. Vettori
9. Franklin
10. Bond
11. Martin
As long as you don't take the piss out of Bracewell I will be happy.
He did pick up a 6 wicket bag against the Australians. No mean feat.
Oram can be in the side as a batsmen on his own so I wouldn't have him competing with Styris. 3 centuries and a batting average of 42.9 is respectable for a NZ batsmen. His Test bowling average is not outstanding, but as a fifth bowler he is good.
For me 5-11 are fairly fixed. Maybe Mason could come in, Tuffey if he ever gets back to his best, or
Cumming, Papps, or How to open.
Fleming at 3 or 4. If Styris plays, Fleming at 3 and Styris at 4. If Styris does not play, then probably Sinclair at 3 for the moment. Maybe consider Marshall again if Sinclair is not performing and Marshall is. Yes, I know Sinclair as an average international record, but he at least managed 3 big scores. So he might fail 80% of the time, but if he scores a century, he will score big. Better than most of the other no hopers we have had recently, who only consistently fail.
5. Astle
6. Oram
7. McCullum
8. Vettori
9. Franklin
10. Bond
11. Martin
# posted by : 7 December 2006 at 17:49
: 7 December 2006 at 17:49
Not the best second morning. NZ are 172/6, but it is Vettori and Flem who have 59 run partnership and are keeping us in the game with NZ having to bat last. 18 run lead with 4 wickets is reasonable though. They need to push the score closer to 300.
Yes, we know how crap Flem is and his poor conversion rate, but here are Flem's stats for his last 30 matches, a batting average of 50.06 with 5 centuries and 8 50s. Three of his 100s were double centuries. He also has 2 97s.
Yes, we know how crap Flem is and his poor conversion rate, but here are Flem's stats for his last 30 matches, a batting average of 50.06 with 5 centuries and 8 50s. Three of his 100s were double centuries. He also has 2 97s.
# posted by : 8 December 2006 at 13:54
: 8 December 2006 at 13:54
Dinks - yep, and Fleming just showed his value again. His career average is over 40 as well now ... very respectable, especially given he has so few not outs to inflate his average. Vettori knows how to handle a bat too. McCullum is a worry. And I'm uneasy about Astle.
At 41/1 the 52 run lead didn't look good, but at 46/5 it looks so much better.
Yeah, Astle's position is not certain as he only averages 34.12 in his last 20 matches. Who to replace him with though? His ODI position is more certain with his average of 35 not varying for a while - he can bowl as well. His position of being a bowling option in tests is not so necessary with Oram and even Styris playing. If Styris is fit then maybe Sinclair, Astle and Styris competing for the same 2 positions.
Braces seems to have abandoned his policy of converting middle order batsmen as openers.
Yeah, Astle's position is not certain as he only averages 34.12 in his last 20 matches. Who to replace him with though? His ODI position is more certain with his average of 35 not varying for a while - he can bowl as well. His position of being a bowling option in tests is not so necessary with Oram and even Styris playing. If Styris is fit then maybe Sinclair, Astle and Styris competing for the same 2 positions.
Braces seems to have abandoned his policy of converting middle order batsmen as openers.
# posted by : 8 December 2006 at 16:50
: 8 December 2006 at 16:50
McCullum has only played 23 tests, but for the sake of interest I decided to look at his last 15: averaging 26, with 1 100, 2 50s, and 3 ducks (make that 4 after yesterday).
DC: 26 isn't too that bad for a NZ wicket-keeper. Gilchrist has only averaged 29 in his last 15 matches.
I just don't think that there is anyone else out there who can replace McCullum for the moment.
I just don't think that there is anyone else out there who can replace McCullum for the moment.
# posted by : 9 December 2006 at 14:55
: 9 December 2006 at 14:55
Did you guys know that Fleming is one catch away from equalling Mark Taylors world record for most catches by a non wicket keeper?
He equalled Border in 2nd spot with his second catch yesterday.
He's on 156 from 103 tests. Taylor took 157 from 105? tests or thereabouts.
He should go on to set a mark that is not bettered for a very, very long time.
He equalled Border in 2nd spot with his second catch yesterday.
He's on 156 from 103 tests. Taylor took 157 from 105? tests or thereabouts.
He should go on to set a mark that is not bettered for a very, very long time.
Yamis: I knew Flem was in the top 5, but didn't know he was that close to overtaking Taylor. The issue of Flem and catches only brings to mind dropped catches whereas with Taylor I remember this catch.
# posted by : 10 December 2006 at 01:49
: 10 December 2006 at 01:49
Dinkas - thanks for the link, don't think I ever saw footage of that one. On Radio Sport the commentators were prattling on when Fleming equalled Taylor's record about how he (Flem) doesn't drop catches. Errrrr ... crap.
I also seem to recall him being dismissed very, very cheaply during the NZ patented "top order collapse" on many occasions ... incl of course against Sri Lanka in the second innings.
I also seem to recall him being dismissed very, very cheaply during the NZ patented "top order collapse" on many occasions ... incl of course against Sri Lanka in the second innings.
Post a Comment