Pakistan vs. New Zealand in UAE (3 Tests, 2 T20, 5 ODI)

[LukeParkerno1]

Is there not someone else in the squad that can open. McCullum is wasted as an opener.

 

[Kyptastic]

Vettori is back!

Wonder if he can get through a day of bowling, let alone 5 days of test cricket. Still, I'll definitely want to see him do well, it hasn't been the same without him.

 

[Hellgood]

Word on the street (ie. Cricinfo) is that Ronchi is going to replace Neesham for the third Test. Would be Ronchi's debut and complete his goal of playing Test cricket when he relocated across the ditch. Definitely agree with replacing Neesham, as good as he's been in his previous Test before this series, he's looked all at sea against the spinners. Would also mean NZ would be fielding four wicketkeepers in the XI . Watling's had a tough series with the gloves, so I'd be inclined to give them over to Ronchi (ideally McCullum) and move Watling up the order. Ditch Craig, want to see Wagner have a crack at them.

McCullum*
Latham
Williamson
Taylor
Watling
Anderson
Ronchi+
Sodhi
Southee
Wagner
Boult

Although for the home Tests against Sri Lanka, Neesham returns as a batsman and Bracewell plays as the third seamer. Both far more suited to NZ conditions than those in the subcontinent. I'd be happy to trial the Anderson and Neesham in the same XI experiment at home.

I like that even though I'm pretty optimistic about Neesham. His bowling just isn't effective or mature enough just yet to make a significant impact and his batting has a long way to go to be capable of succeeding in these conditions against the quality of Zulfiqar. Would be thrilled to see Ronchi get his opportunity and agree that it makes a fair bit of sense to have him keep - IMO he is a high quality keeper and it in theory frees up Watling to focus more on playing the support role he plays so well in the lower to middle order. Interesting with Vettori looming as a likely inclusion as well, will be a bigger threat than Craig with the ball and offers a similar level with the bat.

Good to see that Bracewell seems to have his life in order and has been performing strongly in domestic and all the recent A-series they've been playing recently. If all the problems there are sorted he'd be an ideal candidate for the third seamer role.

 

[DrVanNostrand]

Is there not someone else in the squad that can open. McCullum is wasted as an opener.

Rutherford is in the squad, is an opener, but currently not being selected after a poor series in the West Indies. Watling actually played his first few Tests years ago as a specialist opener before he started keeping, so there are options, but I like McCullum's attitude towards opening, especially in these conditions where flogging the new ball around before the spinners come on is a sound strategy. I'd have no problem with Watling opening and McCullum at five, however. Rutherford would be a sitting duck against their spinners.

....

VETTORI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I actually dreamt about this last night, seeing as he was right across the road with the NZA squad playing against the UAE. Will be NZ's most-capped Test player if he plays tomorrow, moving past Fleming. He'd replace either Craig or Neesham. You'd think...

 

[DrVanNostrand]

Vettori is back!

Wonder if he can get through a day of bowling, let alone 5 days of test cricket. Still, I'll definitely want to see him do well, it hasn't been the same without him.

I'm desperately hoping he plays and becomes NZ's most capped Test cricketer, but it's certainly in the back of my mind that he could easily injure himself here and put the World Cup campaign in huge jeopardy. He's played lots of domestic T20 this year in the West Indies and in New Zealand, and played the two ODIs against South Africa last month. Still, easily my favourite cricketer ever, and can't wait to see him don the whites one more time.

 

[Ronnie Baby]

I'll be ropable if Vettori gets hurt and can't turn out for the Heat.

 

[dashing_man]

What do you guys think will happen in the 3rd Test now that old man Vettori has comeback Rocky style

This post will get you banned in PP

 

[The GOAT]

Why has Vettori missed 2 years of test cricket - Bad injury? He's played 20/20 in the mean time though?

 

[The_Reaper]

What do you guys think will happen in the 3rd Test now that old man Vettori has comeback Rocky style

This post will get you banned in PP

tenfer

 

[Pera]

Pitch is another road. Impossible to watch.

 

[ioppolo]

Why has Vettori missed 2 years of test cricket - Bad injury? He's played 20/20 in the mean time though?

Body wasn't right for the long haul game wise.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

As a left arm spinner myself it's good to see Vettori back in the side. Good to see him get an early wicket as well!!

 

[DrVanNostrand]

Did anyone else see the caught-down-the-leg-side appeal against Hafeez off Vettori's bowling? Given not out, NZ reviewed, and to me it looked like a definite deflection off the edge. Always impossible to get a thin edge overturned without HotSpot or Snicko. *ers.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Did anyone else see the caught-down-the-leg-side appeal against Hafeez off Vettori's bowling? Given not out, NZ reviewed, and to me it looked like a definite deflection off the edge. Always impossible to get a thin edge overturned without HotSpot or Snicko. gooses.

I actually thought it wasn't out. I didn't see a deflection and the noise was negligible.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Vettori is such a legend.

 

[DrVanNostrand]

Vettori is such a legend.

This.

My most painful memory of any game of cricket I've attended was the 'Gabba Test of 2011. Vettori on 96*, doing his usual late order rescue job after the reliably incompetent top order was rolled by James Pattinson. Nails a Nathan Lyon half-volley off the front foot straight to Mike Hussey at mid-off, inexplicably sets off for a run, and as ******* usual Hussey throws the stumps down. Run out. 96. Was sitting directly behind Hussey at long off at the time and I could see it all unfolding before Hussey had even picked up the ball. campaigner.

Plus, Brisbane Heat stalwart

 

[ioppolo]

Did anyone else see the caught-down-the-leg-side appeal against Hafeez off Vettori's bowling? Given not out, NZ reviewed, and to me it looked like a definite deflection off the edge. Always impossible to get a thin edge overturned without HotSpot or Snicko. gooses.

Not even snicko?

 

[Bomberboyokay]

Play suspended for at least one hour

 

[DrVanNostrand]

As much as I want them to play and to watch some cricket today, no problem if they cancel the day or even the Test. As Murgers and Ramiz pointed out, world cricket is such a tiny community compared to other sports and something like this would send shudders through every cricketing nation. Pakistan played against him only last month, they'd be pretty shell-shocked.

 

[Bastians]

Play abandoned for the day it seems.

 

[Bomberboyokay]

Play suspended for the day. Tomorrow will be day 2.

 

[dashing_man]

Pitch is another road. Impossible to watch.

What do you mean another road, the previous two weren't road at all

 

[Tulip]

Therapeutic to watch the first ball by DV.

 

[danielnajdek]

NZ players look really upset

Must be hard to go out there and play while having Hughes in their minds.

 

[The Passenger]

You will never see a more sombre start to a days play.