Test Cricket Prediction and Discussion Thread [self - mod]

[vella85]

Its looking like Australia will clean sweep New Zealand unless they can get Labuschagne out early today. He looked good yesterday and is primed to score big if he is able to reset today. It just goes to show how strong Australia is playing at home with a full strength team unlike the Australian team we saw last summer where India won the series, like I said back then and I'll say it again now, the team they beat was a second rate team and I'm sure that if the Australian team was full strength that the series would of been different. Anyway I am hoping that New Zealand can perform better when it comes to batting when they get their chance and hopefully it will be a close match as the last two have been one sided.

[1714807715]

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[1714807715]

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[ene1980]

Its looking like Australia will clean sweep New Zealand unless they can get Labuschagne out early today.

New Zealand is struggling to pick wickets and it is difficult to assume that they will be able to win the match when some of their players are injured and not playing this match and the way in which Australia is playing in the past few series it is difficult to see them loose unless they are facing India with a full strength team who defeated them last time around in the absence of Smith and Warner.

[Sithara007]

New Zealand finally managed to get Marnus Labuschagne out, but not before he made a double century for himself. 2019 was a fabulous year for him, and now it looks as if 2020 would be even better. New Zealand bowling, struck by injuries to almost all of their strike bowlers (Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, Mitchell Santner) was disappointing as expected. And I don't think that their batsmen would do any better, as Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls are not playing due to injury.

[Juggy777]

New Zealand finally managed to get Marnus Labuschagne out, but not before he made a double century for himself. 2019 was a fabulous year for him, and now it looks as if 2020 would be even better. New Zealand bowling, struck by injuries to almost all of their strike bowlers (Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, Mitchell Santner) was disappointing as expected. And I don't think that their batsmen would do any better, as Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls are not playing due to injury.

@Sithara007 Labuschagne was absolutely brilliant on the pitch, and none of the New Zealand bowlers knew how to stop him from scoring runs and had he not gotten out I’m sure he would have scored a triple century. Australia have now ended their innings at 454 runs and New Zealand have managed to score 14 runs so far, and I feel it’s only a matter of time before New Zealand’s batsman choke and end up loosing their wickets.

 

[onrise]

New Zealand finally managed to get Marnus Labuschagne out, but not before he made a double century for himself. 2019 was a fabulous year for him, and now it looks as if 2020 would be even better. New Zealand bowling, struck by injuries to almost all of their strike bowlers (Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, Mitchell Santner) was disappointing as expected. And I don't think that their batsmen would do any better, as Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls are not playing due to injury.

What a tournament Labuschagne  is having it definitely he would be remembering this for a long time . NZ have started well and playing at 32/0. They would also require a batsman from top 4 to hit century and stay for a longer time on the pitch to help NZ to reach to that OZ score of 454 runs.

[Vishnu.Reang]

I think that the immediate target for New Zealand would be to end the day without the loss of any wickets. They are 52/0 after 23 overs and they need to survive for another 6 overs. So far both Tom Blundell and Tom Latham have batted brilliantly, showing a lot of patience against the pace triad of Starc/Cummins/Pattinson. They are putting up a good show, despite the absence of almost half of their regular players due to injury and illness.

[SaShiRaJaVu]

I think that the immediate target for New Zealand would be to end the day without the loss of any wickets. They are 52/0 after 23 overs and they need to survive for another 6 overs. So far both Tom Blundell and Tom Latham have batted brilliantly, showing a lot of patience against the pace triad of Starc/Cummins/Pattinson. They are putting up a good show, despite the absence of almost half of their regular players due to injury and illness.

New Zealand started really well and if they are able to put on a good partnership that could frustrate the Australian bowlers then it will be easier for them to have some advantage in this match, Marnus Labuschagne went on and scored his first double century apart from his performance and Smith none of the players even score half centuries for Australia.

[Haunebu]

if last wicket partnership gets big even 30 runs more, then its a big plus for them. i would say they are very much in the game if they get close to 290 score.

I don't know. 290 seems pretty low for an innings score and South Africa are riding on a win. England are in trouble here. I am expecting South Africa to win this one though it will go right down to the wire.

New Zealand started really well and if they are able to put on a good partnership that could frustrate the Australian bowlers then it will be easier for them to have some advantage in this match

Advantage? They only scored around 63 and still have a long way to go which is why Australia is in full control at present. New Zealand batsmen have to play spectacularly if they wish to upset the Australians which I doubt will happen.

[Vishnu.Reang]

Considering the fact that the English bowlers are in top form, I would say that a score of around 300 would give England some sort of an advantage against South Africa. During the last match, they were shot out for 181 in the first innings and they should be happy that they have managed to score 250 plus this time. Scoring another 38 runs to take the total to 300. It is going to be tough. But if James Anderson manages to give most of the strike to Ollie Pope, then this target can be achieved.

[JSRAW]

if last wicket partnership gets big even 30 runs more, then its a big plus for them. i would say they are very much in the game if they get close to 290 score.

I don't know. 290 seems pretty low for an innings score and South Africa are riding on a win. England are in trouble here. I am expecting South Africa to win this one though it will go right down to the wire.

Yeah its low but in recent time South African batting line up is not up to mark. both team's batting line-up are more or less same so don't expect much from batsmen here.


Big sign of relief in South Africa camp, last wicket added hardly added 10 runs this morning. now time for English bowlers to do their magic because I don't have much expectation from SA's openers.

England 269 All out

[AB de Royse777]

¬snip¬
I don't have much expectation from SA's openers.

Malan was catch practicing with root (I think he is a debutant, that what I heard from the commentary. So, obviously SA management was trying to bring something new in the opening setup. First innings it's a fail of-course when they lost him at 26 runs), there were no need for this shot when just two/one ball before Elgar was dropped at the first/2nd slip.

Now 2nd one gone at 38 runs (I missed to watch it how it fall, my TV has moved to another room so I will need to go there to see few more overs.), not looking good for SA. Since I have not seen their match for long time, I am not sure how Faf is performing in the recent time. Whatever it is, SA needs a partnership now.

PS: No Archer, will this give some advantage to SA batting unit? (stupid question LOL, of course SA will get advantage but real question is...) can they take the advantage of not facing him in this Test?

[JSRAW]

~snip~

Competition is between batsmen, so display of less shitty batting in comparison of opposition and they can win the match for their respective team. after 3 wickets and 18 overs SA need to build partnership and its not impossible task as ball getting old and balling change going to help South African batsmen. its up to them if they play sensible cricket or not.

[onrise]

~snip~

Competition is between batsmen, so display of less shitty batting in comparison of opposition and they can win the match for their respective team. after 3 wickets and 18 overs SA need to build partnership and its not impossible task as ball getting old and balling change going to help South African batsmen. its up to them if they play sensible cricket or not.

Can the less score of England still help them to be in the match. As England started well by picking up the three quick wickets and now score is 60/3. Though even a 50 runs partnership here will help SA to make atleast 250 + runs and might be even they can take some lead too in first inning as England was all out for a score of 269.

[onrise]

I think that the immediate target for New Zealand would be to end the day without the loss of any wickets. They are 52/0 after 23 overs and they need to survive for another 6 overs. So far both Tom Blundell and Tom Latham have batted brilliantly, showing a lot of patience against the pace triad of Starc/Cummins/Pattinson. They are putting up a good show, despite the absence of almost half of their regular players due to injury and illness.

New Zealand started really well and if they are able to put on a good partnership that could frustrate the Australian bowlers then it will be easier for them to have some advantage in this match, Marnus Labuschagne went on and scored his first double century apart from his performance and Smith none of the players even score half centuries for Australia.

NZ would be happy with their batting so far as at the end of the day they are 63 without any wicket which is a good thing. If they can play sensibly, they would be able to reach near OZ score or try to minimize the difference between both team score and end up the match in a draw if they cannot win it.

[Haunebu]

Competition is between batsmen, so display of less shitty batting in comparison of opposition and they can win the match for their respective team. after 3 wickets and 18 overs SA need to build partnership and its not impossible task as ball getting old and balling change going to help South African batsmen. its up to them if they play sensible cricket or not.

South Africa are struggling yet again. Honestly, majority of the South African batsmen excluding De Kock and Van Der have been performing badly from quite sometime now including Du Plessis which is why the leadership change has not helped them.

AB did a better job in comparison though Smith took it to another level when he was captain. I still believe that South Africa will win this though.

[sureshnsnet]

I think that the immediate target for New Zealand would be to end the day without the loss of any wickets. They are 52/0 after 23 overs and they need to survive for another 6 overs. So far both Tom Blundell and Tom Latham have batted brilliantly, showing a lot of patience against the pace triad of Starc/Cummins/Pattinson. They are putting up a good show, despite the absence of almost half of their regular players due to injury and illness.

New Zealand started really well and if they are able to put on a good partnership that could frustrate the Australian bowlers then it will be easier for them to have some advantage in this match, Marnus Labuschagne went on and scored his first double century apart from his performance and Smith none of the players even score half centuries for Australia.

NZ would be happy with their batting so far as at the end of the day they are 63 without any wicket which is a good thing. If they can play sensibly, they would be able to reach near OZ score or try to minimize the difference between both team score and end up the match in a draw if they cannot win it.

The Sydney pitch looks like batting friendly because we can saw that Australia 1st innings and now New Zealand both teams batsman playing very well but bowlers are still struggling to get wickets I think that this test match going to end with draw.

[mersal]

Competition is between batsmen, so display of less shitty batting in comparison of opposition and they can win the match for their respective team. after 3 wickets and 18 overs SA need to build partnership and its not impossible task as ball getting old and balling change going to help South African batsmen. its up to them if they play sensible cricket or not.

South Africa are struggling yet again. Honestly, majority of the South African batsmen excluding De Kock and Van Der have been performing badly from quite sometime now including Du Plessis which is why the leadership change has not helped them.

AB did a better job in comparison though Smith took it to another level when he was captain. I still believe that South Africa will win this though.

Compared to England's batting performance RSA also looks same at the moment and opened is still in the crease and faced more than 100 balls so he can score some more runs if he can bat more longer and also need to be supported from other end.South Africa team are no where near the capabilities of 2000's squad but still they are trying their best and young players needs time to adapt to longer format of the game.

[SaShiRaJaVu]

New Zealand started really well and hope they can continue that opening stand and built a good partnership.
South Africa lost three quick wickets but now they are able to stabilize as Dean Elgar and Rassie van der Dussen are trying to built a partnership and they need to play a longer innings as they are still trailing by 144 runs.

[JSRAW]

South Africa lost three quick wickets but now they are able to stabilize as Dean Elgar and Rassie van der Dussen are trying to built a partnership and they need to play a longer innings as they are still trailing by 144 runs.

Both looking good now, they are close to 100 runs partnership for 4th wicket  so its positive sign for SA. Rassie van der Dussen got one lifeline due to no-ball, he should take this opportunity from both hands.

Umpiring is shit in the match so far, they are even missing the big no balls. Time has come that ICC should fix the role of 3rd umpire for every no-ball check even in Test Match.

I still believe that South Africa will win this though.

My money is on SA as well but who knows if something goes wrong during the 4th inning, chasing target is tough in any condition.

[Haunebu]

Both looking good now, they are close to 100 runs partnership for 4th wicket  so its positive sign for SA. Rassie van der Dussen got one lifeline due to no-ball, he should take this opportunity from both hands.

Great news indeed. Dussan and Elgar are playing well and they still have De Kock which is why England are under pressure now.

Umpiring is shit in the match so far, they are even missing the big no balls. Time has come that ICC should fix the role of 3rd umpire for every no-ball check even in Test Match.

Not surprised at all. The umpiring has become an absolute joke these days. At his point, I feel like the camera-man can make better decisions when compared to the umpires. I don't expect lazy ICC to do anything about this though.