Black Caps batting problems against Spin

I was expecting Black Caps batsman to draw the test on the fifth day. Mural & Mendis (as expected) troubled the batsman and won the test for their country.

Good positives from the test:
Vettori scores 100+ runs in the match
McIntosh gets a fifty
NZ batsman played 116 overs in 1st innings

Black Caps spent lot of time in the middle but could not score runs freely. They were unable to read Mendis (in particular). All of them got beaten by the spin of Murali & Mendis.

What can be done now?

- Black Caps should be more aggressive while batting in the 2nd Test
- Dilshan Factor: Short ball stuff to Dilshan. I think Vettori can think of this to combat him for 2nd Test
- Tuffey should be brought in for 2nd Test
- Ryder can be asked to bat at No: 3 ; Flynn can be used at No. 5 or 6

Black Caps vs Srilanka 1st Test Match Preview

It will be a true test of character for NZ batsman against Srilankan bowlers. Match live on Ten Sports at 10:00 AM IST. I am very much looking forward for this match.

Come on!!!!!!!!!! BLACK CAPS


My Expected playing XI for this match:

Black Caps Expected XI

1 Tim McIntosh, 2 Martin Guptill, 3 Daniel Flynn, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Jesse Ryder, 6 Brendon McCullum (wk), 7 Jacob Oram, 8 Daniel Vettori (capt), 9 Jeetan Patel, 10 Iain O'Brien, 11 Chris Martin.

Black Caps Fixtures 2009/10

Check these Black Caps Fixtures list for the year 2009-10

Black Caps Fixtures 2009-10 (New Zealand Cricket Fixtures)

Blackcaps vs Srilanka Cricket Development 11 - Day 3 Match Drawn

I followed the match from Cricinfo as there is no live telecast on television in India.

Day 3 Highlights

- Vettori gets the last Srilankan wicket and takes 3 wickets in the innings. Jeetan also took 3 wickets
- As usual, the NZ openers did not last enough time at the middle. Tim McIntosh was the only bastman who showed some grit to stay at the wicket.
- Taylor, once again scored 50 on this tour. He is looking in good touch but needs to bat longer in the test series against Srilanka.
- Cumming is a flop story
- NZ should take positives from these tour matches before they play against Srilanka in the first test.

All the best to Vettori's team..You ROCK!!!

Blackcaps vs Srilanka Cricket Development 11 - Day 2

Highlights

- Jeeten Patel did not reach 100. He was dismissed on 73
- Jeeten Patel gets 3 crucial wickets
- Martin & OBrien cleans up tail before the day closed



Sri Lanka Cricket Development XI 324 for 9 (Chandimal 109, Dilshan 68, Prasad 73, Patel 3-81) lead New Zealanders 297 by 27 runs

Blackcaps vs Srilanka Development 11 - Day 1

Day 1 clearly belongs to Srilankan Spinners. The spinners bowled well to take 8 NZ wickets. It stunning that the most of the top order batsman are out leg before wicket. That clearly is some indication to Srilanka to study before the test series begin.

But, having said that; NZ batsman scored at a good rate without getting bogged down with the fall of wickets. Martin Guptill was good at the top with an half century. He played some good shot against seam bowlers.

Ross Taylor and Guptill built some good partnership in the middle before some late collapse happened on the day. Ross, Guptill, McCullum, Cumming (who replaced Ryder) lost the wickets one after the other to the spinners.

Earlier in the day, Jesse Ryder nursed an upset stomach before the start of the play. I personally thought, it is a good opportunity for Craig Cumming to score runs and show to selectors that he is ready to go! But, he could capitulize.

Blackcaps Moment of the Day: Jacob Oram and Jeetan Patel added 61 for the eighth wicket, the first phase of a lower order fight back.


The Score:

New Zealanders 283 for 8 (Taylor 75, Patel 68*, Guptill 54, Prasanna 3-66) v Sri Lanka Cricket Development XI

Full Scorecard

Blackcaps Openers Struggling for Form

Before the first test begins vs Srilanka, NZ Openers have last chance to find form in the last practice match starting tomorrow.

vs Srilankan Development, Tim McIntosh & Martin Guptill collectively scored just 27

Andy Moles insists the Top-3 NZ batsman to bat out 40 overs in the test match. But, that's looking too much of ask for the Blackcaps Opening batsman.

"We just need Tim and Martin to come into some form," captain Daniel Vettori said before the team underwent a strenuous four-hour workout at the match venue today.

Vettori on O'Brien

"O'Brien has done really well for them and that's good for us that guys can go away and perform in all competitions. Now we hope he can replicate that form," Vettori said.

New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (captain), Tim McIntosh, Martin Guptill, Daniel Flynn, Ross Taylor, Jesse Ryder, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Jeetan Patel, Iain O'Brien, Chris Martin.

Blackcaps start the tour positively

vs Sri Lanka Cricket Development XI at Colombo 7,8,9th 09.

Day 1

I am pretty excited about this match for two reasons.
1. NZ are playing a first class match after a long time. I have been waiting for this tour for many days.
2. Daryl Tuffey - He was given a chance to play for NZ again. I am a great fan of his bowling and I am expecting him to perform well on this tour.

Its has been good start for NZ getting those quick early wickets. Chris Martin was bowling well along with Daryl Tuffey. Eventhough, Daryl was little bit wayward initially, he got early wicket for NZ.


NZ bowlers were able to got those wickets at regular intervals. All the bowlers bowled very well. It has been good start to the tour.


At the end of the day's play:

New Zealand 43 for 1 trail Sri Lanka Development XI 159 (Chandimal 64, Tuffey 3-41) by 116 runs

Day 2

Good batting practice for NZ batsman:

Daniel Flynn - Looking good; willing to stay at the wicket for longer hours
Ross Taylor - Loved his innings; He should be the mainstay of the NZ innings for the rest of the tour

Jacob Oram - Disappointed me with the bat...
Brendon McCullum - Looks to me as a class act. However, needs to prove lot in tests
Daniel Vettori - I love him.... He bats with total commitment.

New Zealand 437 for 7 (Taylor 93, Vettori 96*, McCullum 78, Flynn 75, Mendis 4-73) lead Sri Lanka Development XI 159 by 278 runs

Day 3

Its a good chance for NZ to win this match. Leading by 278 runs, NZ can go allout for a win. The first thing I would expect is Vettori getting his 100.

As expected, Vettori gets his 100

Surprisingly... after that Jeetan Patel hit some glorious shots

Sri Lanka Cricket Development XI 257 for 6 (Nawela 64*, Paranavitana 51, Udawatte 47, Oram 3-32) and 159 (Chandimal 64) drew with New Zealanders 493 (Vettori 106, Lakshitha 4-96, Mendis 4-91)