Expect the expected
It is important in sport to be realistic about what is likely to not go your way; so e.g. when one of the top 6 scores heavily against you, you don’t despondent, you just factor it in. Just because Tendulkar scores 160, you shouldn’t then let your shoulders droop and allow the tail to score 80-odd.
This applies not just within a match, but also to bigger pictures. Currently, the Black Caps are 166 runs behind with 7 wickets in hand. Pretty discouraging for the first match in the series. However, if you recall that we generally lose a match by an innings in every series, things don’t look any worse than usual. We’re not really doing that bad.
March 20th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
agree with you completely…tailenders think differently than batsmen…and going in next match they will carry the confidence that they can hit out on this attack…
vettori’s fixation with 6 over spell of pacers is baffling to say the least…o’brien was in good rythem in that spell (he took wickets of dhoni and sachin) when he was taken out of attack…
isn’t polishing tail and sitting in dressing room is better way of resting bowlers?
March 20th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
Ben, we haven’t yet safely navigated the dreaded “3rd innings collapse” that’s befallen the Black Caps so often in the past. That’s what I think of when “expecting the expected”.
I guess I’m the blind pessimist to your blind optimist!
March 21st, 2009 at 12:40 am
ben,
i would rather go ahead and say, that other than allowing zaheer to score 50 odd runs that he did, NZ bowlers bowled pretty well!
sachin has been in a flow all through out the series, so that could be forgiven!
March 21st, 2009 at 6:09 am
One of my concerns is that Franklin and Mills have been listless with the ball and don’t seem to offer much with the bat either. I suppose that could change if they get conditions more helpful than what we’ve seen at hamilton, but the odds are not great.
The way the test has developed so far has been pretty much in line with NZ’s results against the top sides of late – conceding a 200 plus lead first up. For once, if we see the batsmen apply themselves and at least wipe out the deficit with a 300 plus total it would represent a step forward. A collapse might be understandable if they’re up against genuinely threatening bowling, but that dismissal of Guptill when well set yesterday pretty much sums up the current kiwi approach to test cricket.
March 21st, 2009 at 9:08 am
Ben, we haven’t yet safely navigated the dreaded “3rd innings collapse” that’s befallen the Black Caps so often in the past.
But surely that only happens when NZ is looking strong after the first two innings
.
The game is lost (obviously, and I expect it to be over before the third session today), but we could be treated to a classic NZ too-little-too-late 3rd innings partial redemption.
I guess I’m the blind pessimist to your blind optimist!
The only optimism I am holding onto at the moment is that the next two tests won’t be quite so embarrassing.
March 21st, 2009 at 9:25 am
i would rather go ahead and say, that other than allowing zaheer to score 50 odd runs that he did, NZ bowlers bowled pretty well!
That is true, but they chose their moments to bowl poorly. By all accounts (I wasn’t following it at the time) the bowling to the tail was pretty rubbish.
sachin has been in a flow all through out the series, so that could be forgiven!
Y’know, I actually think Tendulkar is looking vulnerable to pressure early on. While he was sublime yesterday, he was not so impressive the day before. Though maybe it is just that the Black Caps bowled well.
March 21st, 2009 at 9:31 am
One of my concerns is that Franklin and Mills have been listless with the ball and don’t seem to offer much with the bat either.
Franklin’s best days with the ball may be behind him. But Mills utter lack of impact in tests is a real concern. It could be that he needs to play himself in, as he did with ODIs, but in the meantime we need a decent strike bowler to partner Martin. Maybe O’Brien should be taking the new ball.
March 21st, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Ben, I think we both got what we were expecting. Half-collapse, half-redemption. Nice of them to be so considerate ;P
March 21st, 2009 at 9:46 pm
Ben, I think we both got what we were expecting. Half-collapse, half-redemption. Nice of them to be so considerate ;P
Lucky us. Let’s hope there are some surprises in the next match.