today. Starting our 2nd innings on the best day to bat and NZ strike bowler out we had a chance to bat the day and put real pressure on NZ. King's runout was really unfortunate because it looked like Hodge and himself were going to take the the fight to NZ bowlers.

Opportunity lost indeed. May never get it back. Just a handful of guys performing well in the team and the others performing decent or just plain dismal. Hope, Greaves, Roach have been exceptional, while Campbell Seales and Shields have done well in spurts, but Chase, Imlach,Athanaze very disappointing stuff.

Can we tie the series next game? Possibly but we will need to get a good score in the 1st Innings 300+ and our bowlers to bowl out of their skins.

@voiceofreason

Right now, Chase in this batting line up is a real problem. If Tag is fit, bring him in for Chase and put King at 5. Warrican for Anderson/Shields. Reports are the next pitch is more spinner friendly.

@wanchaps

Athanaze for Shields who will struggle on that pitch and Athanaze plays spin well and can bowl a bit too. Anderson Phillip stays. Chase is our Captain and the series is still open to draw the series so we cannot just drop the Captain. Also the pitch is spin -friendly then he must play for his off-spin capabilities. Just bat Greaves ahead of him!

Tage stays out, i would stick with King at the top.

King

Campbell

Athanaze

Hope

Hodge

Greaves

Chase

Imlach

Roach

Phillip

Seales

At the end of the series Chase/Warrican would both have to be replaced as Cappo/VC.

@voiceofreason

Sorry, when has Athanaze ever played spin well??? I am not one for insulting other people on this board but the Athanaze hype has to stop. The man has a test average in the teens. He plays nothing well.

@PalsofMine

Actually his Test average is 23.67 not much different to the others. I am not hyping anyone just giving him a last opportunity to become a part of the core.

@voiceofreason

Although this argument will go on and on about the value of a keeper / keeper-batsman, the main duty of Imlach is to keep wicket and he is doing an excellent job. Leave him where he is, concentrate on improving his batting over time but learn to appreciate the true value of a) his wicket keeping talent and b) the huge bonus on having to hand the gloves to Hope, allowing him to concentrate solely on his batting.

@voiceofreason

Can we tie the series next game? Possibly but we will need to get a good score in the 1st Innings 300+ and our bowlers to bowl out of their skins.

Sorry to burst your bubble, pal....

CAN WE? Yes, we CAN, we have the ability.

WILL WE? Most likely not.

Let's be realistic for once and look at the cards you're dealt.

It took us a historic test match to get a draw... a DRAW that we refer to "feeling like a win"

That won't happen again. We not drawing. We will continue to struggle to keep up with the Kiwis.

You said we need 300+ in the first innings... sure, but won't mean much in the grand scheme of the entire game.

and our bowlers to bowl out of their skins.

Well... when last have they done this? We need another historic match for this... so 2 of them in one series?

You think you getting this in the last match?

Think again......bro.

Sadly, I might sound negative, but at least I know what to expect so I'm not disappointed and lose sleep over this team.

I am REALISTIC. That's all.

Well, when King was dismissed, it felt like the match just changed for the WI, he looked like he was determined to get a big score. It certainly was a missed opportunity for the WI.

@dayne

one man being set getting out is part of the game... you plan for it....

what's your plan when and after that happens? It's not his fault the rest didn't have a proper plan

@4REALQUICKS

maybe try Imlach higher up the batting order? Hope Imlach Greaves Chase

@PalsofMine

I see your reasoning behind that idea...just would be more comfortable doing that if he had better players at 1, 2 & 3...because if the West Indies lose a couple of early wickets, then he would be going in under extreme pressure and for somebody who appears out of form with the bat, it could spell disaster.

Ideally, the top order start to focus and turn starts into scores.