New Zealand v India, 2nd test, Napier, March 26-30

Here goes Ishant.

As I said Ishant was not a good choice.

Time for VVS to hit out at his detractors. His bat is silent for quite some time now.

Final over of the day coming up.

"IMO Ishant is poor choice for a night watchman."


Nightwatchman is usually a bad idea anyway.

However bad Yuvraj bats or fields in this test, he is sure of his place in the team for the last test.

Why?

Because India doesn't have a single extra batsman for this trip.

Absolutely shameful selection.

Tendulkar left to negotiate last 2 balls of the day.

Thats it.

Its stumps.

Tomorrow's morning session would be so very crucial for India, and for NZ.

Good day of cricket by NZ but my money remains on the draw.

Yep, they won all 3 sessions today.

HTF do you reply or send anything other than a 'quick reply'. This multiquote takes about five minutes to think about it and by that time I've shut the magibox off.

Ishant isn't a good enough batsman to be a nightwatchman. Harbhajan or Zaheer should do the job.

Yep, either of them were capable enough not only to survive till stumps today but also to frustrate NZ tomorrow morning.

Poor tactics by Sehwag and Kirsten.

SG wrote:Yep, either of them were capable enough not only to survive till stumps today but also to frustrate NZ tomorrow morning.

Poor tactics by Sehwag and Kirsten.

Isn't it amazing. When India is doing well there is no mention of Kirsten, but let one thing go wrong.

You name a South African and he'll be out of his woodwork.

India have lost many wickets and matches before. Don't remember if any of us blamed Kirsten for that.

But this was a poor tactic whether your SA bias lets you to see it or not.

PS: Probably this was forgotten amidst this blind nationalism that I actually blamed an Indian before Kirsten but lets leave it at that.

SG wrote:You name a South African and he'll be out of his woodwork.

India have lost many wickets and matches before. Don't remember if any of us blamed Kirsten for that.

But this was a poor tactic whether your SA bias lets you to see it or not.

PS: Probably this was forgotten amidst this blind nationalism that I actually blamed an Indian before Kirsten but lets leave it at that.

What bias

The point is I made a post during the Aussie tour about how Kirsten had improved Indian cricket but for some reason you and your fellow Subis were up ion arms about it.

?? kirsten wasnt coach on the aussie tour

The One wrote:?? kirsten wasnt coach on the aussie tour

The Aussie tour to India?

17 wickets to go

taipan wrote:

The One wrote:?? kirsten wasnt coach on the aussie tour

The Aussie tour to India?

ah. kirsten overall has been good for india. he seems to be more in the john wright mould than the chappell one and the players like him since he gives them their space but is always there to help them when they need him. proving to be a good choice. his combination with dhoni is quite similar to the ganguly-wright one as well, with a strong captain and a quiet, intelligent and supportive coach

he had a poor start to his coaching career with the series against south africa and lanka but has grown into his job

Trev and SG - Regarding Ishant as night watchman.

Frankly speaking he was the best choice. Zaheer and Bhajji are pretty good with the bat and capable of either attacking [if wickets in hand] or staying put and frustrating for the bowlers if they see the situation needs it. In case India is nowhere close to the Kiwi target they will be more valuable down the order should India need some handy runs or time spending. No point sacrificing either as a night watchman when they are better rearguard options in the tail should a specialist batsman like Laxman need someone dependable in the tail. So who does that leave us with? Munaf? We know he would be quite useless with the bat.

I suppose then the only one barring Ishant would have been DK. He is a good specialist batsman in his own right.

Personally I would have loved to send in Yuvraj - punishment to his atrocious fielding that cost India 350 runs between Ryder and Taylor and put us in the dock.

JGK wrote:Yes, the pitch looks a belter and the ground is tiny. A run a ball triple from Viru wouldn't surprise.

Nice woof.

Save these for the Ashes, please JGK.

Prolly be a woof but this is a turn-around of Aus v SAf proportions from the 2nd to 3rd Test.

619!!!! Lordy!!

Kirsten has been great for India and a comparison with Gangs/Wright is on the cards. Only that relationship soured towards the end. Chappelli was on one ego trip and crap from the word go. Dhoni, IMO, is the separating factor between Wright and Kirsten.

The man has motivational skills and a level head. Its obviously being missed in this test. Sehwag might be a batting success of and on, but as a captain he's as bare as his head. His field placements were definitely not "street smart". When you're trailing by 619 with almost 3 and a third days left, you don't have to whack every ball to the fence or over it. You are not sending the right message as captain. Making Ishant Sharma a sacrificial lamb is neither fair nor motivational to him as a bowler. I've never believed in this night watchman stuff. Its a farking "we're-scared-of-you" give away.

The Snoozers have broken two world record this series for the highest partnerships for a wicket achieved on the FIRST day of a Test. And Jessie Ryder has been involved in both. Tidy.

7th wkt - 186 JD Ryder/DL Vettori NZ v Ind Hamilton 2008-09
4th wkt - 271 LPRL Taylor/JD Ryder NZ v Ind Napier 2008-09