New Zealand v England 28 Nov- 18 Dec 2024 (3 Tests)

[yabsy]

2 for Smith with the big one of Root!

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[PhatBoy]

Darren Lehmann would've enjoyed that one

To be honest that was one of the great uninformed comments.

I still don’t get that line of thinking.

Let’s take Smith as read: we all know what his peak was and where he will ultimately end up - as one of the all time greats, that’s not and never will be in dispute.

But every player has gaps somewhere if you look hard enough. Smith doesn’t have a fourth innings hundred and averages somewhere around 34. He’s played only one fourth innings knock of real note - and it was to me a sensational innings and he STILL copped criticism for it because Australia lost.

Joe Root has made runs everywhere, against everyone, and he’s actually made scores frequently in Australia - he’s just never converted this numerous 50s into 3 figures. That’s it, that’s the only gap.

Lara struggled relatively in India - bizarrely as he was perhaps the best player of spin many modern fans have seen - and South Africa.

Ponting struggled in India.

Tendulkar didn’t play the sort of definitive overseas knocks that his contemporary Dravid did.

Williamson has holes in his record.

Kohli’s average has dropped clearly below 50.

It was a dumb comment by Lehmann like a Twitter commenter

 

[Bedi]

To be honest that was one of the great uninformed comments.

I still don’t get that line of thinking.

Let’s take Smith as read: we all know what his peak was and where he will ultimately end up - as one of the all time greats, that’s not and never will be in dispute.

But every player has gaps somewhere if you look hard enough. Smith doesn’t have a fourth innings hundred and averages somewhere around 34. He’s played only one fourth innings knock of real note - and it was to me a sensational innings and he STILL copped criticism for it because Australia lost.

Joe Root has made runs everywhere, against everyone, and he’s actually made scores frequently in Australia - he’s just never converted this numerous 50s into 3 figures. That’s it, that’s the only gap.

Lara struggled relatively in India - bizarrely as he was perhaps the best player of spin many modern fans have seen - and South Africa.

Ponting struggled in India.

Tendulkar didn’t play the sort of definitive overseas knocks that his contemporary Dravid did.

Williamson has holes in his record.

Kohli’s average has dropped clearly below 50.

It was a dumb comment by Lehmann like a Twitter commenter

I agree and seems like a personal gripe more than anything. He was coach in 2013 for the Warner-Root nightclub altercation so wonder if it stems from that. But Smith/Kohli/Williamson/Root are unquestionably the best batsman of the past decade, and hard to seperate one as being the best.

 

[yabsy]

According to the FTP, after this series NZ only have 4 tests scheduled up into May 2026;

2 tests in Zimbabwe (July/Aug 25)
2 tests in NZ vs WI (Nov/Dec 25)

That's some slim pickings, especially at home



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[corbies]

According to the FTP, after this series NZ only have 4 tests scheduled up into May 2026;

2 tests in Zimbabwe (July/Aug 25)
2 tests in NZ vs WI (Nov/Dec 25)

That's some slim pickings, especially at home



On Redmi Note 8 Pro using BigFooty.com mobile app

Off the back of playing 13 this year (well 13 scheduled with the Afghan Test being fully rained out). The 2nd most in a calendar year in their history. Including the current patch where they're playing 9 Tests over 13 weeks.

 

[yabsy]

Off the back though of playing 13 this year (well 13 scheduled with the Afghan Test being fully rained out). The 2nd most in a calendar year in their history. Including the current patch where they're playing 9 Tests over 13 weeks.

Should spread them out a bit better


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[Stig O'Hara]

O’Rourke a bit too quick for that sort of shot from Duckett.

4/71……we are at the very interesting stage of the test.

 

[PhatBoy]

I agree and seems like a personal gripe more than anything. He was coach in 2013 for the Warner-Root nightclub altercation so wonder if it stems from that. But Smith/Kohli/Williamson/Root are unquestionably the best batsman of the past decade, and hard to seperate one as being the best.

Actually that’s a great point I’d forgotten about that.

And they are, they separated themselves from the pack - Pujara may have been the next best of the era perhaps.

I still think Smith probably just has too much of an unquestionably strong record and his peak was just so dominant but all of them have their strengths and look at a guy like Kohli and how he’s managed to come to Australia and carry India on his back time after time and Williamson has led the way in NZ going from also-rans to a genuinely world class team who fears nobody etc.

 

[Plugger35]

A bit surprised that Pope has come in ahead of Stokes but with Pope's recent form he might be in soon anyway.

 

[Stig O'Hara]

Shoulda’ taken that Phillips.

Brook gets a life.

 

[yabsy]

A bit surprised that Pope has come in ahead of Stokes but with Pope's recent form he might be in soon anyway.

Being the captain, Stokes probably chose to bat at 7...He's not in the best of form either

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[PhatBoy]

Shoulda’ taken that Phillips.

Brook gets a life.

Was a strange shot - it was probably there for the sort of on-the-up kind of shot he normally plays through the covers and for some reason he flashed it square like he was giving catching practice - and to a bloke who often catches everything

 

[yabsy]

Surprised Philips dropped one straight to him like that

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[Plugger35]

It looked like Phillips didn't pick it up, rare for him to drop a catch like that.

 

[Stig O'Hara]

O’Rourke is bowling lightning.

Poms just get a tap on it & it sails away.

 

[Bedi]

Dont want to be dropping Brook

 

[katana]

loose shot from brook and some looser fielding.

 

[PhatBoy]

Can see Brook turning this chancy 40 into a match turning score here. That’s a couple now

 

[western royboy]

Dropped catches proving costly

 

[Plugger35]

Brook dropped twice now, can't keep giving someone as damaging as him that many chances.

 

[Stig O'Hara]

Brook dropped for the umpteenth time.

Kiwis couldn’t catch a cold today.

 

[Plugger35]

It's Brook's lucky day, 3 chances now.

 

[PhatBoy]

Geez that was shit cricket. Half tracker that he could have put anywhere, somehow top edged it, Conway gets there in plenty of time and shells it.

I’m a big rap on Brook but boy he’s had some help today.

 

[Stig O'Hara]

A deadset screamer!!!!

Phillips the man.

 

[katana]

i'd be aggrieved if i was pope after watching brook get dropped time after time, then you cop a screamer like that.