Unhappy hour:
Who carries the can for a ‘‘crazy hour’’ of batting that costs a team a test match?
Black Caps batting coach and 55-test batsman Craig McMillan was a target for some online commenters, in the wake of their 90 all out against Pakistan legspinner Yasir Shah in the second cricket test in Dubai.
Conversely you could argue the players are big boys and no one can bat for them when they stride to the crease in a high pressure situation, equipped with batting plans and video analysis of the bowlers and fortified by endless throwdowns and net sessions.
That process resumes with urgency as they transfer to Abu Dhabi for Monday’s third and deciding test at 1-1, after Pakistan reclaimed the upper hand with an innings and 16 run victory in Dubai.
‘‘You have to be so precise and clear with your batting plan, especially against Yasir Shah. ‘‘He’s going to test you early on so that defence has to be so tight, it has to be spot on because if you make a mistake it’s pretty vital,’’ McMillan said.
‘‘We saw some improvement in that second innings from the likes of Taylor and Nicholls and Latham who batted a long time and showed what was possible.’’
Then you have to tip your cap to some outstanding bowling, which Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur labelled some of the best leg-spin you will ever witness.
Shah took 8-41 in the first