Cricket: Official Blackcaps thread the people’s #1

[Kiwias]

Boult reminding us that he is a damned fine bowler in his own right. Three wickets to go.

[Jimmy Smallsteps]

Boult snares one and Pakistan are in even deeper trouble.

Henry has been unlucky in bowling his tight 130kmh deliveries without reward.

[JPNZ]

Its quite sad to think that if NZ somehow don't make the ICC final in June, this unit won't play test cricket again until December 2021 when the Banga's tour NZ.

[Trapper]

I’ve got no issue if KJ gets it either.

Jeez, I’d love to see Southee, Boult, Jamieson and Wagner having a go at the Aussies right now.

KJ gets it easily with a 10 for. Break it down KW scored 36% of NZ's total runs and KJ has currently taken 63% of Paki wickets. Simple

I would also love to see the Aus team stay for a test series after the T20's but it ain't happening sadly.

Fair enough, as I said I’ve got no issue if Ivan Drago gets it, both have been in sublime form this summer and I’m enjoying every moment.

[Trapper]

Hello, the Captians going to roll the arm over.

[mrbrownstone]

Its quite sad to think that if NZ somehow don't make the ICC final in June, this unit won't play test cricket again until December 2021 when the Banga's tour NZ.

India need to win 5 of their next 7 tests to get there (or I think something like win 3 draw 3?). Won't feel right cheering for Aus and England to help us make that final.

[Jimmy Smallsteps]

Could Sine Metu get 11 for?

[Kiwias]

Yes. He will probably end it with a hatrick.

[mrbrownstone]

Could Sine Metu get 11 for?

Forget that, he's got the tail to bowl at and eyes on an 8-for.

[Enzedder]

Can Henry not pitch the ball up?

Wagner he ain't.

Kane W will give it a whirl again.

[Kiwias]

Can Henry not pitch the ball up?

Wagner he ain't.

Kane W will give it a whirl again.

Selfish prick trying to stop KJ from getting 8 wickets

[Kiwias]

Taylor takes the catch from KW.

[Trapper]

Hahaha, KW snares one.

[Kiwias]

Hahaha, KW snares one.

First in five years, apparently

[Jimmy Smallsteps]

Poor old Henry can't buy a wicket can he.

Even has to watch the captain roll the arm over and bag one while he languishes on none for.

[Kiwias]

Poor old Henry can't buy a wicket can he.

Even has to watch the captain roll the arm over and bag one while he languishes on none for.

Southee still has 0 in this innings.

[Kiwias]

Boult gets the last one. A crushing victory but fully deserved.

[Enzedder]

Now we can change that thread title back.

Well done Crappers.

[Gumboot]

That'll do.

[Kiwias]

A second series in a row played in excellent spirit.

[Jb1981]

That will do. Now to be interested observers and hope the cards fall in our favour to make the test championship final. For the good of the inaugural tournament, it needs the top rated side in the final.

[Jb1981]

A second series in a row played in excellent spirit.

The Pakistan side have been all class.

[Kiwias]

KJ is the MotM.

[Enzedder]

That will do. Now to be interested observers and hope the cards fall in our favour to make the test championship final. For the good of the inaugural tournament, it needs the top rated side in the final.

If Aussie win their series, they will be there and be the top rated side.

[mrbrownstone]

Oh yes. Never thought I'd see that day Black Caps were world number 1 in tests - especially after the heady days of the late 90s early 2000s.

KJ MoTM, can't argue with that, thought wouldn't have argued if it was Williamson either.

[Jimmy Smallsteps]

11-117 for Jamieson for the match. Outstanding.

[mrbrownstone]

KW man of the series. Probably a fair way to do it.

[Jimmy Smallsteps]

Poor old Henry can't buy a wicket can he.

Even has to watch the captain roll the arm over and bag one while he languishes on none for.

Southee still has 0 in this innings.

Okay. Henry can take a skerrick of consolation from that, I guess.

[Jb1981]

That will do. Now to be interested observers and hope the cards fall in our favour to make the test championship final. For the good of the inaugural tournament, it needs the top rated side in the final.

If Aussie win their series, they will be there and be the top rated side.

We can only but hope then. I wouldn’t be surprised to see India take that series though. Barring their terrible collapse they have had the better of the first two tests.

[mrbrownstone]

That will do. Now to be interested observers and hope the cards fall in our favour to make the test championship final. For the good of the inaugural tournament, it needs the top rated side in the final.

If Aussie win their series, they will be there and be the top rated side.

We can only but hope then. I wouldn’t be surprised to see India take that series though. Barring their terrible collapse they have had the better of the first two tests.

It's a tricky one. If India win 2-1 we stay top. 3-1 they go top. 2-2 we stay top. Australia win the series by any margin and they go top.

However, 3-1 Australia or 3-1 India is the best result for out WTC final hopes as that would would mean either India have to sweep England 4-0 or Australia have to sweep SA 3-0 in SA.

Might have to take a hit for the greater good.

[Kiwias]

[Enzedder]

I just cannot see the Test Championship final happening

[Jb1981]

I just cannot see the Test Championship final happening

Shift it to Darwin? Healthy and playable.

[Certain Navigator]

KW man of the series. Probably a fair way to do it.

Jamieson has had the most remarkable start to test cricket of any NZer I can remember. Long may it continue.

[Kiwias]

KW man of the series. Probably a fair way to do it.

Jamieson has had the most remarkable start to test cricket of any NZer I can remember. Long may it continue.

Bruce Taylor made a pretty amazing debut with a century and a five-for. The next few were not quite as spectacular though.

[Trapper]

KW man of the series. Probably a fair way to do it.

Jamieson has had the most remarkable start to test cricket of any NZer I can remember. Long may it continue.

Bruce Taylor made a pretty amazing debut with a century and a five-for. The next few were not quite as spectacular though.

I remember John “Mystery” Morrison starting out all guns blazing as well but never really went on with it. More of a batsman iirc but had that famous “mystery” ball when bowling his medium/slooooow pace.

[Kiwias]

Jamieson has had the most remarkable start to test cricket of any NZer I can remember. Long may it continue.

Bruce Taylor made a pretty amazing debut with a century and a five-for. The next few were not quite as spectacular though.

I remember John “Mystery” Morrison starting out all guns blazing as well but never really went on with it. More of a batsman iirc but had that famous “mystery” ball when bowling his medium/slooooow pace.

And of course there is always Rodney Redmond, who only had one chance to strut his goods and definitely made the most of it.

[Certain Navigator]

KW man of the series. Probably a fair way to do it.

Jamieson has had the most remarkable start to test cricket of any NZer I can remember. Long may it continue.

Bruce Taylor made a pretty amazing debut with a century and a five-for. The next few were not quite as spectacular though.

Yes, I was thinking more in terms of sustained performance over a number of tests rather than a one-off (which would bring Matthew Sinclair into calculations), but Taylor is a decent suggestion insofar as his bowling at least continued at a high (if inconsistent) level. Greatbatch and Bond were two who came to mind, but arguably neither had quite the same impact as Jamieson.

The test for Jamieson will come when he has to play away from home.

[mrbrownstone]

Bit slow with the rain delay, so I sat down and worked out the permutations for the WTC final since there's not really a good explainer out there.

NZ are done now with 420 of a possible 600 points (70%).

To beat 70%, India will need to reach 505 of a possible 720. Currently they're on 390, so 115/180 remaining points to bridge the gap. In their remaining tests, a win is worth 30 points and a draw 10. Basically, they need either 4 wins out of 6, or 3 wins and 3 draws.

For Australia, they need to reach 421 of a possible 600 to beat 70%. Currently they're on 322, so 99/180 remaining points to bridge the gap. In the India series, a win is worth 30 and a draw 10, while in their South Africa series a win is worth 40 and a draw 13. The simplest way to get there is win 3/5. 2 wins vs SA and 2 draws vs Ind would also do it. A win vs India, win vs SA, and 3 draws would also be enough. There might be other permutations but with different points for different series can't be bothered working it out.

The spanner in the works with that one is if the SA series is cancelled, I assume they'd just go with % of available points for series completed as they have with other teams. In that case, they would need to get to 337 of 480 to beat 70%, so 15/60 possible points. That'd mean either 1 win or 2 draws.

For England, they need to reach 505 of a possible 720 to beat 70%. Currently they're on 292, so 213/240 remaining points to bridge the gap. In their upcoming Sri Lanka series a win is worth 60 and a draw 20. They must win both of those games to have a chance. In their India series a win is worth 30 and a draw 10. Basically they have to win all 6 tests, or 5 wins and a draw (provided that draw is against India, not Sri Lanka). It's a long shot but technically they're still in contention.

For NZ fans, they takeaway is basically whoever wins this ongoing India vs Aus series should ideally do so 3-1. That would mean either India have to sweep England 4-0 or Aus have to sweep SA 3-0 in SA.

[Kiwias]

mrbrownstone

THanks for your hard work on that explanation. The BCs have done all they can.