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CricBattle Daily Fantasy Cricket League Tips

New Zealand v West Indies on December 9

·         West Indies are focused on surviving Neil Wagner’s short-ball barrages as they look to square the series against New Zealand in the second and final Test starting in Hamilton on Saturday. The Caribbean visitors have historically been known for their own fast, intimidator bowling, but were troubled by Wagner’s rising deliveries in the first Test primarily from his short ball that angles in towards the rib cage. Wagner was New Zealand’s chief destroyer in Wellington with seven wickets in the first innings and nine for the match, which the hosts won by an innings and 67 runs. New Zealand have been boosted by the confirmed return of swing bowler Tim Southee, who missed the first Test for the birth of his second child, in the only change to their lineup. But despite the lop-sided result in the first Test, New Zealand are braced for a West Indies fightback similar to the way the tourists recovered in England just four months ago

·         Best economical pick – Playing his maiden test match, the New Zealand wicket keeper batsman Tom Blundell played the waiting game. His 107 came off 180 deliveries. Blundell hit 13 fours and a solitary six in his knock.

·         Top captains & vice captains – Neil Wagner wreaked havoc in Windies camp in the first innings and returned with the figures of 7/39. The visitors were bundled out for just 134 after being 59/0 at one stage courtesy the fierce spell from the fast bowler. Fittingly, he also took the last wicket of the innings which was his seventh and registered best figures by a left-arm pace bowler in New Zealand. Kraigg Brathwaite, the opener, showed some serious spirit and temperament to stay at the crease for 221 deliveries. Brathwaite scored a fighting 91 with 8 fours and a six during his stay at the crease. He lost partners from the other end and eventually was trapped lbw by Mitchell Santner.

·         Smart pick – Colin de Grandhomme absolutely blew away the opposition with his hard hitting in the first test. He smashed a quick fire 105 off just 74 balls with 11 fours and 3 sixes to his name. He batted with a strike rate of over 140 in the innings.

·       Cautious Pick – Sunil Ambris had an unforgettable Test debut at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on the first day against New Zealand. He was dismissed hit-wicket off the first ball of his Test career which agonizingly cut short his dream to play a memorable knock for his country. However, it was also the first ever instance in the history of Test cricket when a debutant was dismissed hit-wicket for a golden duck.

My XI – Neil Wagner (Captain), Kraigg Brathwaite (Vice-Captain), Colin de Grandhomme, Tom Blundell, Ross Taylor, Shimron Hetmyer, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Jeet Raval, Shai Hope, Roston Chase