Pakistan vs New Zealand 1st TEST

Running Commentary
(END OF DAY FIVE)

Umar Akmal and Malik took PAK close but Bond dimissed Akmal with a good slower ball and O'Brien took wickets in a long spell

Vettori took the last two wickets to wrap up the 32 run victory - one of NZ's best

OBSERVATIONS

• The match was a brilliant example of Test Match cricket. There were runs, wickets, great catches, great heart shown by the 19-year old debutant, O'Brien continuing after a dislocated finger and there was a 99 from Vettori
• Most importantly the advantage changed from side to side at times due to luck, skill and will power
• Bond's influence was the difference for me, he had the extra pace and experience to lead the attack - his c&b of Yousuf in the first innings was one of the best.
• The chase of 251 was similar to a game at Old Trafford last year where NZ didn't have the fire power to win (that game also featured a 4th day collapse by NZ)
• As I write this Bond has been announced as Man of the Match. Lets not forget that Taylor's twin 50s were also crucial to giving NZ a lead and then something to defend, he really is rising to challenge of senior batsman
• The review system was used in this match and will provide writers/commentators with plenty to talk about over the next week. I think it is the right direction

The next game is in Wellington (Thursday) and either Elliot or Fulton should be dropped - there just isn't room for two defensive players in the middle order. Also I would suggest that Flynn and Guptill might trade places in the order but that discussion can be left for another day.
The pitch should be a little faster and there will be more wind. A place may be offered to Tim Southee in that game for his 8-27 the other day, but then who wants to break up a winning team
I should be attending that game in person so won't be able to blog after each session but being there could give a different perspective to my analysis

Keep an eye out for my thoughts on the AUS v WI game playing at the moment (as I finish this post, 19-year old debutant Barath has scored a hundred!)

Well that's it from here and I hope you join me again
It's good bye for now

Pakistan vs New Zealand 1st TEST

Running Commentary
(TEA DAY FIVE)

Bond and Martin inflicted 3 wickets of damage on the PAK batting effort this morning as NZ defended 251

Umar Akmal is playing a blinder though, he took the attack to NZ in the first innings and is leading the chase in the second

OBSERVATIONS

• NZ have let several chances go - a c&b, tough catches. But the worst is a slight defensive nature to Vettori's captaincy. Craig McMillan pointed out how a boundary through 3rd Man was countered by Vettori by moving a fielder there and NOT into the slips. An edge went at catching height through there soon after and a chance was missed
• O'Brien getting Malik just before TEA maybe useful but getting the brothers Akmal ASAP will determine the result
• NZ have not won a Test in 16 instances (discounting 1 win vs BAN) and the ability to go for the throat seems to be lacking. They NEED to win this game plain and simple
• The test has been interesting, thought provoking and a great example of Test Cricket - hopefully the final session will be no different

Pakistan vs New Zealand 1st TEST

Running Commentary
(END OF DAY FOUR)

NZ struggled to 147-8 on a day affected by rain and bad light

Asif and Aamer both bowled very well on a good pitch.

The lead is just 244 which will need to be extended if NZ wish to win or draw the game

OBSERVATIONS

• Peter Fulton may not get another test this series after some average batting but possibly due to his brain melt when he edged an LBW that he could have had reviewed
• Speaking of the review system, this test and that between AUS and WI are providing much in the way of discussion on the limits of the 'review'
• The best example so far was Vettori's dismissal of a tail-ender last night. A ball pitching and hitting the pad in line but only just clipping the leg stump was given out.
• Under review the ball had to be completely missing the stumps to be reversed, but if it had been given not out initially and reviewed by Vettori, most of the ball would have had to hit the stumps (thus either way the decision would have stood)
• This illustrates the point of the review system, to avoid the shocking decisions but give benefit of the doubt to umpires
• In this case it was a close call so either decision would have been understandable. This method should prove popular with both umpires and players - and the public once we get used to it

Pakistan vs New Zealand 1st TEST

Running Commentary
(LUNCH DAY FOUR)

Bond and Martin cleaned up the PAK tail to give NZ a 97 run lead

This was quickly overshadowed as both Guptill and Flynn were removed for ducks to have the score 0-2

Taylor and McIntosh rebuilt from there with contrasting styles of attack and defense

OBSERVATIONS

• In the past DAY 4 of a test match has always been the worst for NZ teams and at 0-2 it looked a bit that way in this session. It is important that the batsmen avoid this trap now or risk continuing a regrettable tradition

Pakistan vs New Zealand 1st TEST

Running Commentary
(END OF DAY THREE)

The last session saw Umar Akmal score a brilliant, debut century (129)alongside his brother (82) as 147 runs were added in 40 overs

Vettori and Bond fought back late in the day to reduce PAK to 307-8

OBSERVATIONS

• NZ take the advantage as 8 wickets were taken. They would have liked to knock them over earlier after Bond had them in trouble at 85-5 but the Akmal counter attack was very affective.
• Vettori's reluctance to have a 3rd slip in place proved to be in error as several edges went through the slips
• If NZ can take the remaining two wickets early they will have time to set up a total of about 300-350 for PAK to chase/survive on DAY 5

Pakistan vs New Zealand 1st TEST

Running Commentary
(TEA DAY THREE)

Bond ripped out 3 quick wickets after lunch with pace and skill before the debutant Umar Akmal counter attacked with some thrilling strokes

Score is 160-5

OBSERVATIONS

• Bond's c&b to remove Yousuf was the equal of one he took in an ODI against AUS in 2007
• PAK scored over a 100 runs in the session but NZ will feel they bowled very well
• Vettori's captaincy got a little defensive part way through as the Akmal brothers attacked, PAK were still way behind and the fielders did not need to be pushed back so quickly
• Umar Akmal's innings was not just slogging but filled with some very good strokes, his first ball was a length ball from bond and he cut it for 4!

Pakistan vs New Zealand 1st TEST

Running Commentary
(LUNCH DAY THREE)

PAK reached 54-2 at lunch

NZ bowlers bowled accurately and the PAK batsmen looked in some trouble except when they hit boundaries which were well done

OBSERVATIONS

• Ironically Martin was probably the least consistent bowler but picked up both wickets
• Bond is bowling very quickly with most deliveries in the mid 140s

Australia vs West Indies 1st TEST

Hello and welcome back to my blog



While the 'test of the year' - as cricinfo dubbed it - played out in Dunedin, Australia destroyed the West Indies by an innings in Brisbane. Predictably, once Ponting won the toss and chose to bat, a total of 400+ was racked up on the reliable Gabba wicket. Although I think West Indies bowled well at times, the conditions and their own inexperience prevented them from restraining the flow of runs. After a day and a half in the field the patience and will power required to counter such a total was never on the cards and the game was wrapped up inside 3 days - a result one-sided in equal measure to the even contest across the Tasman

OBSERVATIONS:

• Shane Watson remained as opener despite whispers of Mike Hussey but after his dismissal for a duck - LBW for the 10th time (of 19 innings) - questions may be more vehemently raised as to his future there
• The coverage of the cricket this summer includes a new piece of technology called Gatorade which measures heart-rates of players. No doubt the commentators will enjoy showing us the rates throughout the tests/ODIs/2020s - although I agree with Slater, that it should be used in Bill Lawry while he commentates
• The review system appeared in this game also and highlighted a potential flaw in regard to emotional appeals from batsmen. Chris Gayle appealed unsuccessfully in both innings over his own (plumb!) LBW dismissal and captains and players will learn from his foolishness. No doubt some of his team mates may have been displeased for their own captain to use up their appeals

Australia should proceed to sweep this series in all fairness but then I do hope to be proven wrong for we saw in Dunedin how good an even Test match can be

Well that's if from here and I hope to see you again
It's good bye for now

Pakistan vs New Zealand 1st TEST

Running Commentary
(END OF NZ 1st INNINGS)

Vettori missed out on his 5th century yesterday, sadly dismissed for 99 and rain prevented the innings from ending last night.

PAK bowled NZ out early this morning for 429 after some fun from Bond and O'Brien

Chris Martin registered another duck for his 'unique' batting career

OBSERVATIONS

• It will be interesting to see how much the rain on DAY 2 affects the pitch when the NZ bowlers begin this morning - Bond could be a handful if he can get swing or seam movement to an inexperienced batting line up

Pakistan vs New Zealand 1st TEST

Running Commentary
(LUNCH BREAK)
Day TWO began with a good contest between the PAK bowlers bowling short (and accurately) at Vettori and McCullum

This strategy began to work but the bowlers failed to then bowl good length balls to capitalise on the batsmen sitting on the back foot (one G. Boycott would have been vocal on this point)

After getting through the first 30 minutes the two expanded their shots and their 150+ partnership was not broken till the last over before lunch

OBSERVATIONS

• 375-7 at LUNCH is a strong position but PAK will take heart from the final delivery of the session when Umar Gul produced a beautiful, inswinging yorker to remove McCullum. Vettori will need to take most of the strike if the ball is going to reverse-swing

Pakistan vs New Zealand 1st TEST

Running Commentary
(END OF DAY ONE)
NZ end a fascinating days cricket on 276 for 6 having recovered well from 211-6.

After Guptill's dismissal, Taylor continued to play well until - right after Ian 'deep extra cover' Smith suggested bowling wide of the off-stump to him - he edged to slip on 94 (174)

Fulton and Elliot fought hard but fell to poor stokes during a PAK fight back after TEA

Vettori, in what may prove to be a turning point in the game, was dropped first ball at slip and with McCullum they scored 65 runs to bring the game back into ballance

OBSERVATIONS

• Pakistan should be disappointed with 3 dropped chances but bowled quite well otherwise
• A moment of interest occured with the 2nd to last ball of the day when McCullum was dismissed LBW only to appeal for a review and be given not out by way of 'hit outside off'. In the past PAK would have celebrated 7 wickets in the day - instead the new system allows NZ to resume on DAY TWO with their most experienced players in tact
• The first 30 minutes tomorrow will be crucial - 350+ and NZ are in the game, if they are bowled out quickly they will be in trouble

Pakistan vs New Zealand 1st TEST

Running Commentary
(TEA BREAK)
171-3 at the break after a 100 run partnership between Guptill and Taylor.

Taylor is not out on 85 and has played well

Guptill played some very good strokes, the cover drive to bring up his (maiden) 50 was of the highest class. A pity that he was dismissed hooking once again - he really needs to work on that.

Fulton looks in all sorts of trouble early on and the test will be if PAK can dismiss him and Elliot quickly after the break

OBERSERVATIONS
The first review was conducted and Taylor was not given out from a ball not quite hitting in line with off stump. The system is supposed to erase poor decisions and this was not one of those
I will enjoy having Craig McMillan in the commentary box all summer and the reformed Dilmah Tea Party should be interesting as well

Pakistan vs New Zealand 1st TEST

Running Commentary
(LUNCH BREAK)
Pakistan put New Zealand in to bat on a grass covered wicket. Cool, windy conditions suggested little swing would be available but PAK backed their talented bowling line-up against an inexperienced NZ one

McIntosh was undone first ball to a good yorker but after 4 overs the score was already 20-1

Flynn fell victim to an inside edge after a bit of seam movement

Guptil and Taylor played carefully for the first hour before lifting the total to 75-2 at Lunch. Note that Guptil has been dropped twice

OBSERVATIONS
The review system has returned and ANY technology is now available! Even the predicted path of Hawkeeye and Hot Spot. Only TWO unsuccessful reviews available
Mark Richardson is filling the post of 'Deep Extra Cover' the equal of England's 'Third Man' commentary position

Just a Note

I neglected to mention the fact that Hasan is also the current captain of Bangladesh. If I didn't know better I would have thought that Daniel Vettori was receiving pay cheques from two different countries given the similarities