Test Cricket Prediction and Discussion Thread [self - mod]

[Haunebu]

Lastly the current score is 122 for 5 wickets, and if India don’t post a respectable total then i feel that suddenly New Zealand will become the favourites to win this test match.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/black-caps/119709967/new-zealand-vs-india-dream-debut-for-kyle-jamieson-with-virat-kohli-wicket

They are already the favorites to win this one. The Indian bowlers are skilled enough to dismantle the NZ batting lineup, but the batsmen need to post something close to 300 to provide them an opportunity to do so.

Lol Rain came to rescue but small drizzle not going to save match for India.

Agreed. I am disappointed with Pant being selected over Saha and even more disappointed to see the Indian team change their batting lineup drastically. NZ are playing against a young Indian side who have been under-performing lately(Practice match gave us a preview).

[eaLiTy]

Thanks for the rain that the first innings did not get over for 170 all out...But looks like India will get sometime to think where they went wrong as 122 for 5 is a horrible score. They need atleast another 150+ runs but only with 2 batsmen out there, it's going to be tough. Disappointed with Virat and Vihari both great batsmen getting out for digits.

The debutante Kyle Jamieson made his presence felt for India and with the weather like this forecast throughout this match we might loose match time everyday i guess and the match depends upon how New Zealand is going to play in the first innings as India too have some quality fast bowlers.

Why is Jadeja not playing? Was depending on him to make 20 more runs like he always does

Ravichandran Ashwin is not a bad batsman as he have 4 Test centuries to his name and with a green wicket you cannot include two spinners.

[pakhitheboss]

Prithvi Shaw out for 16 and Mayank Agarwal out for 34, what on earth were they thinking? Both have been playing pathetically from the one day series. Kyle Jameson destroyed the Indian middle order, this how you debut.

Rain saved the Indian team today otherwise they would have been all out for less than 200 runs. All hopes are now with Ajinkya Rahane and Rishab Panth tomorrow.

[Vishnu.Reang]

Why is Jadeja not playing? Was depending on him to make 20 more runs like he always does

I would regard Jadeja as the most under-rated player in the current squad. He makes crucial contributions but always get overshadowed by the others. I don't understand the selection of Ravichandran Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari for this match, as these two players have not performed in overseas tracks. They could have selected Jadeja in the place of Vihari and Yuzvendra Chahal in place of Ashwin.

[mersal]

Why is Jadeja not playing? Was depending on him to make 20 more runs like he always does

I would regard Jadeja as the most under-rated player in the current squad. He makes crucial contributions but always get overshadowed by the others. I don't understand the selection of Ravichandran Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari for this match, as these two players have not performed in overseas tracks. They could have selected Jadeja in the place of Vihari and Yuzvendra Chahal in place of Ashwin.

Vihari played better in the warm up match this is the reason why he is included into the squad,Ashwin also played better than Jaddu and he is clearly better all rounder than Jadeja in test format so why need to skip him? Mistakes done by the batsmen so blaming the selection of bowlers has nothing to do with it for now.

[Vishnu.Reang]

Vihari played better in the warm up match this is the reason why he is included into the squad,Ashwin also played better than Jaddu and he is clearly better all rounder than Jadeja in test format so why need to skip him? Mistakes done by the batsmen so blaming the selection of bowlers has nothing to do with it for now.

Performing against a second-string side is one thing and doing the same against an attack which consists of Boult, Jamieson and Southee is another. I was pointing out the selection of Ashwin, because historically he has performed poorly outside the sub-continent. And this time the New Zealand curators prepared a pitch that is very conductive to pace bowling.

[erikalui]

Ravichandran Ashwin is not a bad batsman as he have 4 Test centuries to his name and with a green wicket you cannot include two spinners.

Ashwin is good for test matches but Jadeja is also needed when we have so many inexperienced batsmen and we can see the obvious results in the ODI and now these Test matches. Jadeja helps to pick up the game unlike anyone.

I would regard Jadeja as the most under-rated player in the current squad. He makes crucial contributions but always get overshadowed by the others. I don't understand the selection of Ravichandran Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari for this match, as these two players have not performed in overseas tracks. They could have selected Jadeja in the place of Vihari and Yuzvendra Chahal in place of Ashwin.

Vihari was good in the warm-up match but don't know why they chose the same opening batsmen when they have not been performing since long. Kohli also has not been performing and not been watching his own form. Pant could be replaced by Saha here as Saha is so much better in tests. The selection team needs to rethink about their choices.

[Vishnu.Reang]

^^^ Don't know what happened to Virat Kohli. He used to be the only Indian batsmen who performs consistently abroad. I guess he is now finding it difficult to manage both captaincy and his own batting. Regarding Jadeja, I think that he could have added more variety to the bowling attack, in tandem with the off-spinner Ashwin.

[eaLiTy]

Ashwin is good for test matches but Jadeja is also needed when we have so many inexperienced batsmen and we can see the obvious results in the ODI and now these Test matches. Jadeja helps to pick up the game unlike anyone.

There is no doubt that Ravindra Jadeja is an impact player and he will perform with the ball bat and a tremendous fielder but in foreign pitches they will not have the luxury to play two spinners and Ashwin is only playing Test matches for India and hence he got the nod to play i guess.

Pant could be replaced by Saha here as Saha is so much better in tests. The selection team needs to rethink about their choices.

Pant is still in the crease and if he could play a huge innings and recover the team then everything will change, Saha is a much better wicket keeper and Pant really needs improvement on his keeping skills and if he could play a better innings and contribute with the bat then it will change how we view his selection.

[mersal]

Vihari played better in the warm up match this is the reason why he is included into the squad,Ashwin also played better than Jaddu and he is clearly better all rounder than Jadeja in test format so why need to skip him? Mistakes done by the batsmen so blaming the selection of bowlers has nothing to do with it for now.

Performing against a second-string side is one thing and doing the same against an attack which consists of Boult, Jamieson and Southee is another. I was pointing out the selection of Ashwin, because historically he has performed poorly outside the sub-continent. And this time the New Zealand curators prepared a pitch that is very conductive to pace bowling.

So India should have played with four pacers but they dropped Yadav who has the pace to create impact on pitches like these and Saini who bowled really well in the shorter form of this series but selection made to the wrong and experimental side.India is going back to old era when they only relied on Sachin too much to win a game now its Kohli.

[Haunebu]

They could have selected Jadeja in the place of Vihari and Yuzvendra Chahal in place of Ashwin.

Seriously? Ashwin is a spinning legend. He is not as good as he is back at home, but he is still a lethal spinner abroad. However, I do agree that Jadeja should have been in the squad since I love their combo a lot.

Don't know what happened to Virat Kohli. He used to be the only Indian batsmen who performs consistently abroad. I guess he is now finding it difficult to manage both captaincy and his own batting.

Kohli under-performed in just a couple of matches recently which is not really a big deal. No one can perform consistently all the time. Kohli and Smith are not perfect, but are the most consistent players across all formats to have graced the sport.

[erikalui]

Looking at the stats here, we can see Taylor, Ashwin and Rahane. They had a choice between Jadeja and Ashwin so they picked the latter which seems fine now even though the top-order batsmen were a sheer disappointment. Last moment the one who you have least expectations from ends up performing well.

NZ have got a brilliant bowler in the form of Jamieson. Can't believe it's his first match and he has already managed 3 wickets.

[BitSat19]

^^^ Don't know what happened to Virat Kohli. He used to be the only Indian batsmen who performs consistently abroad. I guess he is now finding it difficult to manage both captaincy and his own batting. Regarding Jadeja, I think that he could have added more variety to the bowling attack, in tandem with the off-spinner Ashwin.

As now IPL coming this is also big issue with Kohli his team never perform good in this event so he is also effect by this but still its long way to go now this Rain could be survivor or bring some more troubles for India now we have few hours as second day play is going to start hopefully something good will happen for them.

Oh dear what you done Pant run out and Ashwin first ball out bowled by Southee.

[JSRAW]

Bloody hell...... 132/7

Rishabh Run out and next ball Ashwin clean bowled.

Now golden opportunity for kiwis to beat India with innings.

[BitSat19]

Bloody hell...... 132/7

Rishabh Run out and next ball Ashwin clean bowled.

Now golden opportunity for kiwis to beat India with innings.

Rahane is culprit for this all as this was his call and Pant sacrifices today I was thinking Pant is doing good he can stay for some long time which could be frustration for kiwis but suddenly all gone in just two balls now 200 is very difficult as tail enders cannot stay for long time.

[JSRAW]

Bloody hell...... 132/7

Rishabh Run out and next ball Ashwin clean bowled.

Now golden opportunity for kiwis to beat India with innings.

Rahane is culprit for this all as this was his call and Pant sacrifices today I was thinking Pant is doing good he can stay for some long time which could be frustration for kiwis but suddenly all gone in just two balls now 200 is very difficult as tail enders cannot stay for long time.

It happens when you have some trust issue.   Both acted like retarded couple.. Rahane running like a crazy person and not looking at his partner on the other hand Rishabh didn't even wanted to run. It was single anyway...... Now 144/8

Edit : 165 All out..

[Vishnu.Reang]

As expected the absence of Jadeja is showing up, both in the batting and bowling departments. Ashwin has failed to pick any wickets, but that was expected. He loses his venom in overseas conditions. The pitch looks very green, and it surprises me that Bumrah and Shami have gone wicketless till now. Ishant has picked all the three wickets and he has bowled in a well-disciplined manner.

[onrise]

As expected the absence of Jadeja is showing up, both in the batting and bowling departments. Ashwin has failed to pick any wickets, but that was expected. He loses his venom in overseas conditions. The pitch looks very green, and it surprises me that Bumrah and Shami have gone wicketless till now. Ishant has picked all the three wickets and he has bowled in a well-disciplined manner.

Really unexpected show of batting display by Indians who just managed to get 165 runs in a test match. India have made much better score than this in T20 matches. Rahane was only batsman who showed sign to stay on the pitch and made 46 runs. NZ in reply have started very well and already lead by 22 runs and 6 wickets left. Williamson was out at 89 runs and played captain’s innings.

[eaLiTy]

New Zealand is leading by 31 runs, Kane Williamson missed his century by 11 runs and Ross Taylor too lost his wicket after getting a good start, Ishant Sharma is the pick up bowler for India but the rest of the bowlers were disappointing and the fielding is sub par and if New Zealand is able to built a good first innings lead then India will be in trouble and the match could end in the fifth day.

[Vishnu.Reang]

New Zealand is leading by 31 runs, Kane Williamson missed his century by 11 runs and Ross Taylor too lost his wicket after getting a good start, Ishant Sharma is the pick up bowler for India but the rest of the bowlers were disappointing and the fielding is sub par and if New Zealand is able to built a good first innings lead then India will be in trouble and the match could end in the fifth day.

Leading by 51 runs with 5 wickets in hand at the end of second day's play. The would have been in an even better position, but the wicket of Ross Taylor changed the course of the match. If the Indian bowlers can limit the New Zealand lead to less than 100, then they will be having a chance in this match. Anyway, batting fourth can be very tricky at the Basin Reserve.